Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB350/400 => Topic started by: Ken4004 on April 24, 2026, 10:38:56 AM
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Hi everyone have been looking through the old posts about removing points and fitting various manufactures electronic ignition systems .
I have fitted a new set of original points from DS and set them up as per manual with no issues and then finely tweaked using a stone light and all seems good and the bike runs well.
I know that the point will probably need resetting every 1500 miles but apart from not having to keep resetting the points is there any performance diffence between correctly set original points and the electronic type ?
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Nope, but you will get more of an electrical drain on the battery/charging system and points will only need regapping about every 3000 plus once you have everything set right you will only need to regap and not reset timing
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I have owned my bike for 38 years, still using the points system. The only problem I had was when I chose to fit a fully fitted new backplate rather than fartarse around with new points. It lasted 3 days and resulted in me coming back home on an RAC recovery truck. Original backplate was re-installed with new OE points and the world became a better place. Hoping it's not the kiss of death, but, it's still running the same condensers that it left the factory with.
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I have no long term experience to share, but after new points and properly setting timing, I installed one of Hondaman's electronic ignitions. It essentially uses the points, but you disconnect the condensers, and they are always there should the electronic ignition ever fail (doubtful). It seems good, things are a little more crisp if that's a good description.
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Hondamans ignition is great as it doesnt draw extra power and drops the volts accross the points so the contacts dont wear our, if you are "handy" at soldering the Vellman electronic kit does the same job but you do need 2 of them
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Oops, I should have said that it was a pattern backplate that failed.
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Thanks everyone for to the feedback , probably a case of if it’s not causing an issue stick with what you know, I enjoy tinkering with the do no big deal having to adjust something every once and a while.
Going up h to o box hill on Sunday morning another 60 mile round trip to continue with my running in .
There might be alot of scooters there as well I am told , got to make y to he most of this good weather
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If your points system is all well and good, stick with them, decent points and condensers are harder to find now, but I have used Boyer bransden ignitions on a number of bikes and highly recommend them
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Didn’t I read somewhere that Boxhill is either banned groups of bikes or are attempting to do so.
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Didn’t I read somewhere that Boxhill is either banned groups of bikes or are attempting to do so.
Was there a couple of weeks back and nothing obvious then.
Bikers are virtually all of the customers at the cafe there in bottom carpark on a Sunday. Most activities are organised around that.
National Trust carpark and facilities etc at top of the Hill, clientele essential separated by that.
General police presence around there to grab any extreme behaviour and number plate "irregularities" always available :)
All pretty civilised with various group interest using the area, green laners, cyclists, walkers, all evident in decent numbers, balance seems ok.
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I have been going to Box hill since my early twenties do over 40 years and in the early days it was wild and there were accidents and do the police clamped down and there is now a average 50 MPH speed cameras.
Sunday is usually really busy with all sorts of people and I know that tomorrow will be know different.
It usually good natured and the raucous behaviour is long gone as far as I can see.
The last time I went up there the vintage Japanese motorcycling had a meet and there were some great looking bikes especially a stunning RD 350 YVPS in orange.
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If you search boxhill residents trying to ban bikes you’ll see what I found. They appear to have obtained a PSPO which bans certain things, like riding in convoy would you believe.
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I’ll report back after tomorrow
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www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy417dzkwe1o#:~:text=Bikers%20will%20be%20banned%20from,spaces%20protection%20order%20(PSPO)%20will
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Mmmm how many constitutes a convoy? How rapidly is rapid? Does it apply to cars as well as bikes? Do tractor drivers get prosecuted because they cause a convey to form behind them.
They don’t sound either enforceable or well thought out.
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I am not familiar with Box Hill, other than the reference to it in the song, "Vincent Black Lightning!" But I agree that the PSPO is unenforceable due to its vagueness. OTOH, if local law enforcement elected to do so, they could arbitrarily "enforce" it to the point where it would be almost impossible to operate a motorcycle. Of course, that may be exactly what the locals wish to occur - no more motorcycles.
The same sort of thing has occurred in the US on well known "motorcycle roads." Typically they post low speed limits and install speed bumps.
Frankly, IMO the biggest cause of the issue is the internet. Some "influencer" writes/shows video on his website about some great road. Suddenly, the road is inundated with bikers. There are roads near us in the US that two-three years ago you could enjoy any time for the twisties/lack of traffic; now the same roads are slow, crowded and no fun at all to ride.
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A couple of years ago I was walking around box hill on a six mile hike with about 10 other people as part of our training to do the three peaks. Whilst we're were walking on a road around the back of the hill through a small hamlet a guy came out of his drive and began shouting abuse at us for walking through what he thought was a road only for him and his neighbours. We weren't shouting or being noisy we were in our 50’s & 60’s keeping ourselves to ourselves. Some if the people who live around there think because they are rich enough to live there they therefore own it.
I've been going to box hill on my bike and to have a walk for 50 years, it's the nouveau rich and LOMBARDS who have moved to the area and think nobody else has a right to be there and raise partitions etc to keep us away.
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On a much brighter note, this short film is well worth a watch for anyone interested in the late 70’s early 80’s Box Hill biking scene. Some fantastic bikes used to attend from MV's, Laverda's Cossacks, Guzzi's and countless Japanese bikes.
A perfect film to watch on a sunny day like today and a great soundtrack by The Police. This was made as a B movie back in the day when cinema's would show a b movie prior to the main feature.
https://youtu.be/f6UdyTk28aI?si=UWbN32IVQ4qyMdxK
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Great afternoon at Box hill and because of the weather it was absolutely tamed, I saw one police bike all day and he waved to us on the road which was nice.
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Lots of bikes and lots of scooters and a few cars that made the mistake of coming into the car park.
Great ride home which is about 40 miles from box hill with loads of twisty roads may this weather continue, hope everyone else had a nice weekend.