Post by: Craizeehair on June 29, 2025, 03:06:26 PM
I managed to pick this up for a very reasonable price, they aren’t a bike I know anything about but I thought it might make a nice next again project for when I’ve finished my other, more straightforward CB350.
As a novice I feel a bit out of my depth looking at this lot, lots of odds and sods in boxes, nothing at all is labelled, it looks as through the harness has been mullered, the carbs not complete etc,etc…
Not sure what handlebars these are as they don’t look like anything else I’ve seen.
It isn’t for now so I have time to try and get my head round it.
I know these aren’t the lifeblood of the forum but does anyone have any advice or nuggets of wisdom for me to take on?
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250629/daab05bfa44ea247fbab63e710bb565b.jpg)
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Post by: Rozabikes Tim on June 29, 2025, 05:04:55 PM
Post by: Bryanj on June 29, 2025, 05:18:39 PM
Post by: Laverda Dave on June 29, 2025, 07:17:59 PM
I echo Tim's comment, it will be nice to see the restoration of this on the forum and will make a nice change from the fours.
You've got your work cut out though but I'm sure you'll do it with your skills👍.
Post by: Craizeehair on June 29, 2025, 07:52:26 PM
I hope to improve my skills but they’re nothing to write home about now!
Post by: royhall on June 30, 2025, 07:33:45 AM
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Post by: Toko_Jo on June 30, 2025, 02:51:39 PM
Very few imported officially to UK even though it was featured in the Honda UK brochure.
Ash did put an nice scan of that brochure on here a few years back but it's sadly got lost in the server swap.
Member RGP750 ( Richard) on here has a genuine UK one he is just finishing totally rebuilding with lots of NOS goodies (exhausts) . Ash rebuilt the starter and coil for it and softened the inlet rubbers I believe.
Post by: Craizeehair on June 30, 2025, 03:08:51 PM
Is there any way of finding out for sure the country of origin of the bike?
Post by: Toko_Jo on June 30, 2025, 04:30:01 PM
I’m pretty sure the handlebars aren’t genuine but not certain. The wiring from them is a braided type cable.
Is there any way of finding out for sure the country of origin of the bike?
Hard to say as a bit of a mish-mash of parts. Does it have km/hr speedo ? If so it could be French or JDM (very popular in Japan), doesn't have a UK rear lamp bracket and hasn't got the German style rear lamp arrangement. Bars look typical Yank aftermarket though.
Probably about 1971 manufacture I reckon.
Post by: Craizeehair on July 01, 2025, 12:41:40 PM
I’m going to leave this for now as I have the CB350 on the lift and this one is taking me away from that.
But one last thing if I may?
DSS has carbs for the French, German and Swedish models. Does anyone know, it matter if this bike isn’t one of those, what would be the difference if fitting them?
Post by: Toko_Jo on July 01, 2025, 01:00:33 PM
It has a km/ph speedo, I was talking to the chap I bought of from and he has some recollection of there being talk of French origins but he can say for sure.
I’m going to leave this for now as I have the CB350 on the lift and this one is taking me away from that.
But one last thing if I may?
DSS has carbs for the French, German and Swedish models. Does anyone know, it matter if this bike isn’t one of those, what would be the difference if fitting them?
This is the carb sheet you need attached. Make sure you have PW18 carbs not PW20 and check for the correct needles etc in this table. Often subtle carb setting changes to suit different regions exhausts but I would forget about that and just go by this table particularly on the jet needles.
[attachimg=1]
Post by: Craizeehair on July 01, 2025, 01:39:27 PM
Post by: Toko_Jo on July 02, 2025, 09:04:42 AM
[attachimg=1]
Post by: Craizeehair on July 02, 2025, 09:28:12 AM
Thanks for that.
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on July 02, 2025, 11:46:57 AM
Post by: Toko_Jo on July 02, 2025, 09:51:54 PM
Post by: Craizeehair on July 03, 2025, 11:29:35 AM
Post by: Craizeehair on November 09, 2025, 09:54:42 PM
I sorted through the assorted tubs and boxes of bits and managed to gather up all the carb parts and reassembled them and fit to the bike. The throttle cable hadn’t been fitted properly and wouldn’t move so that came apart and put back correctly. Popped a battery on, checked compression, checked for spark, all good there, which surprised me. Hooked up the remote fuel tank and connected to the carbs, a quick tap on the bowls stopped the right hand side overflowing.
I’m not sure if it it’s necessary but there is no electric start on this, so I gave it a few prime kicks before turning the key on and I kid you not, it coughed on the first kick and fired into life on the second, the old gentleman I bought it from said it had been sitting for many years as it was one of his late fathers projects that had never been got round to, so I really wasn’t expecting it to spring into life quite so easily, I was massively surprised and impressed.
I do have a couple of questions though if anyone could help?
The exhausts seem to be one piece, there are no clamps joining the silencers to the down pipes, the left hand one is solid and one piece, the right hand one, separates and pulls apart and is leaking at that join (circled in red below)when running, is there a way to join / reseal this connection?
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251109/3338f9e320001a7a97b539cccc37fbee.png)
Also, the coil is producing spark at both plugs but the right hand lead does have play in and out of the coil if pulled , I was convinced it wouldn’t work as there is so much free play in and out of the coil… for want of a better phrase. I was thinking I could maybe epoxy around the lead where it enters the coil to stop the movement and preventing any issues down the line, I’m not sure if that makes sense reading it back but I don’t know how else to explain it!
I have a feeling that if I decide to keep it and finish the job, finding all the bits I might need could be a bit of a job.
Post by: TrickyMicky on November 09, 2025, 10:34:00 PM
Post by: Craizeehair on November 09, 2025, 10:36:40 PM
Yep definitely French, the VIN plate on the rear of the frame is in French, I didn’t notice that when I first got the bike.
Post by: TrickyMicky on November 09, 2025, 10:44:29 PM
Post by: Craizeehair on November 09, 2025, 11:21:20 PM
Post by: Johnwebley on November 23, 2025, 07:59:42 PM
If you decide to get a new coil, ensure it has a low ohm primary circuit,
I think close to 3,
I had a coil with a higher resistance, and it wouldn't spark above 7k
Took me ages to find out the issue
Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk
Post by: AshimotoK0 on November 24, 2025, 07:38:17 AM
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=13200
Post by: Craizeehair on March 30, 2026, 11:23:38 PM
I did have a bit of a job getting the paperwork sorted but nothing majorly difficult, just time consuming, so it now has a V5 in my name.
I’ve not 100% decided what I’m going to do with this one yet but I’m pretty sure I will sell it as a runner with paperwork. I will hopefully be getting the frame back for the CB350 K2 that I bought last summer after its had some welding done and been powder coated, so that will need putting back together and I’m also meant to be picking up an XL350 soon, I just don’t have enough room for everything.
It’s been really interesting working out what was in the various boxes, what was needed, what goes where etc… I even had a go at shortening the brake and clutch cables, which worked a treat.
Thanks as always for the help and guidance here.
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Post by: Bryanj on March 31, 2026, 12:07:58 AM
Curing an exhausr leak at the original joint will probably be difficult, possibly carefully packing with exhaust past may work
Post by: AshimotoK0 on March 31, 2026, 06:57:14 AM
Just to eventually answer one of your first questions, must have missed this post, the original exhausts were one piece but you could buy at one time pattern silencers that looked the same and slid over the original front pipe.
Curing an exhausr leak at the original joint will probably be difficult, possibly carefully packing with exhaust past may work
Pretty sure they were two piece Bryan i.e. not welded together ( like the 1st CB250K0 ones) ... they were held together by a crimped band.
That's a rare bike ... Lord knows why Honda UK only sold a few dozen even though it was in their brochure. 5-speed gears and twin carb head sought after by CB92 owners.
Post by: Craizeehair on March 31, 2026, 08:19:28 AM
Curing an exhausr leak at the original joint will probably be difficult, possibly carefully packing with exhaust past may workThanks Bryan,
I did wonder if something like that may be a possibility, I also came across JB Weld High Heat whilst looking for a solution, I did think that might even be a possibility? I haven’t done anything with it yet, I doubt I’ll get too many chances, so it’s still getting a good thinking about.
I have been trying to get gauge what a fair price might be for it now it’s complete and has a V5 but I can’t find any others for sale!
Post by: Spitfire on March 31, 2026, 09:55:26 AM
Cheers
Dennis
Post by: Laverda Dave on March 31, 2026, 02:46:03 PM
They are really nice looking bikes considering it's only a 125 with big bike features such as a TLS front brake.
Is that the same bottom end as the 160/175/200?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on March 31, 2026, 03:04:37 PM
Post by: AshimotoK0 on March 31, 2026, 06:16:35 PM
Is that the same bottom end as the 160/175/200?
No .....similar to SS125 and earlier Benly CB92 and C92 with camchain running at the side not inbetween the cylinders like CB160 / CD/CB175. It has twin carbs and 5 speeds though.