Benefits of a Buddy Bike

Had a few spare moments and pulled out the K4 this weekend; popped in the battery to check the electrical system and found the horn, light, and starter work. Finn liked the horn in particular. Nice rich blast. So good to hear this thing coming back to life.

Despite the 45 degrees, the late afternoon sun made that bike glow. It also revealed a few more things to resolve, like a missing cover of some sort just below the side cover. I also got to pull out my new mufflers and look at how they mount. Looks like i'm missing mounting brackets and perhaps a few other parts.

Lucky for me my buddy Andrew, who turned me on t this bike, also has 72 CB350K4. Makes it easy to see what I'm missing and what I need to fix. That's his bike above, just before he bought it. Andrew, I'm coming by tonight to stare at your bike. 'Hope you don't mind.

Charged Up

I'm slowly making progress. Bought a battery this past weekend and charged it up. Haven't hooked it up yet, but I am itching to hear this bike turn over. Must be patient...

Moto Mojo

In the few short weeks that I've owned the CB350, I've come to realize the special following this bike has. Not that I'm going to be bartering this any time soon for a tattoo, but I thought this Craigslist ad summed up some of that passion (thank you, 2Bike, for sending it my way). Sure, it makes sense that as perhaps the most popular model motorcycle ever sold in the states it would have the most fans. But there is more to it than shear numbers. I think people love this bike because:

1. Nostalgia: It was probably a lot of motorcycle owners first bike (being a smaller bike and all)
2. Value: It was relatively inexpensive to buy and maintain
3. Timeless: It looks good and is still an economical ride
4. Mojo: Some things have it, some don't; I think the CB350 has got a magical essence to it.

Perhaps I have a CB350 tattoo in my future? Not likely. Katie and the kids come first. But it is kind of fun to think about.'Wonder if he'd be willing to do a tatt or two for some old hockey equipment...

Pipe Dreams

Back from a long weekend with the Katie and the kids in Florida, I was greeted this morning by the arrival of a package to my office -- my tail pipes from Sirius Consolidated in Canada. Perhaps it was the backdrop of Toy of the Year winners featured in Disney FamilyFun, my wonderful employer, that gave it a Christmasy kind of feel, but pulling those shiny chrome mufflers out of their respective boxes made me feel slightly dizzy.

Here I am with my new pipes...

The Good Book

Yesterday, I felt a bit closer to actually getting started on the restoration project with the arrival of my Clymer manual. The book is as advertised -- simple, straight forward, not a lot of extraneous information.
After I put the kids to bed, I plopped down on the couch and started reading. Torque pressure, gaps, you name it, everything is covered. Lots of handy illustrations about things like the drum brake assembly, etc. 'Gets me itching to to start breaking down the bike.
But this is all part of the preparation. I need to get the space ready, get a few parts together, and then jump into it.

Connections

I have no idea whether the electrical system is working on the bike, but I just came across this incredible wiring diagram and I want to save it before it disappears. I am such a pack rat...

Nice Pipes

It's funny how even the smallest asthetic touches can end up sending a message about you and your bike. Handle bars, sissy bar, color -- they all are part of the picture. But for me, nothing brings it to life like the tail pipes you choose because you see and hear them.
And because I need a set for my bike, I am starting to shop. I am firmly headed toward a traditional approach, something I'll get from an aftermarket source, but I love the different looks you get from various options -- I just wish I could hear them. For instance, here's a nice YouTube video of an Honda 350G with JC Whitney Dunstall Megaphone Mufflers on it. Too bad muffler sites didn't offer this option -- to see and hear them in action.

It's a K4!

Okay, after some prodding from Andrew "2Bike" Kesin, it seems my motorcycle is a K4 model. How do I know? The vin (40xxxx) and info on the web. This is actually pretty important info since I am tracking down parts and I want my bike to be as original as possible. I also kind of like looking at this picture and thinking of the day my motorcycle will sparkle like this.

Space Invader

Between winterizing the boat and doing lawn clean-up, I stole away to look at the CB350 tucked into the garage. Okay, I also sat on it and visualized the road beneath the wheels a half dozen times or so, just because I find it irresistible. I am stoked to get working on this bike.
It's particularly exciting with such a wealth of information on the web. And with the shop manual on the way, and the tracking of parts, I am starting to debate where I will do the work. Currently, the bike is in the garage, next to assorted bicycles and boat paraphernalia. But I'm thinking about moving the CB350 to my shop, which is heated and has better light. The move also frees up space for the snow blower, sleds, and other seasonal gear. But perhaps most importantly, it removes the bike from direct view of Katie, who does not share my enthusiasm for the project.
Debate over. Time to clean up the shop and make space for the 350.

To Do List

One of the reasons I love this bike is that it was clearly used. I mean, it has only 8700+ miles on it, but you can tell by its dings and dents, the wear on the grips, seat, and pegs, that someone road it and probably loved it. It seems like it has good karma.
That said, it has a few issues, as you might imagine. The right side of the handle bar is bent slightly (perhaps from the bike falling over?), the tail pipes on both sides are missing, the cables are cracked and old, and I'll need to give the fuel system a thorough review. The tank, on initial inspection looks pretty clean and void of junk, but given the visible wear and tear, carb work is probably in order. Oh yeah, needs a battery, too. That said, Michael, the motorcycle mechanic I bought the bike from (stand up guy, so bummed he moved off to Kentucky!) says the bike was running when he got it, and that it has good compression.
I love this kind of project -- straight forward, relatively simple. Time to start hunting for a manual and parts. Found lots of great stuff already on the web, like Ben Miranda's page of links, an article about building a vintage CB350 racer, a site for getting a Clymer manual (must have), and one for just plain oogling...

Also found this CB on eBay, which could be good for parts...thanks for sending it my way, Andrew!

Shock Waves

So you are probably wondering what my wonderful wife, Katie, the woman of my dreams, the most important person in my life, thought when I announced I had bought -- and brought home -- an old motorcycle. Let's just say it was not good. It was not so much the words, which sliced and diced like a Ginsu, as it was the look: It went from "what were you thinking?" to battle stations! faster than I could prepare my mental foxhole. I had no place to hide and she was rolling out the artillery. That's when my six-year-old son jumped on the back of the CB, still strapped in to the back of my Toyota truck, and grabbed hold of the handlebars. "This is awesome! A racing bike!" Not exactly what she wanted to hear, see, or experience in even her worst nightmare, but I suddenly had an ally, and my foxhole feelings melted with the vision of my son against a cloudy sky, bent over that old blue gas tank, wind in his whispy hair, heading down that imaginary road. He looked really good. So damned cute. And I bet Katie was thinking the same thing, though she was never going to admit it.
There are still many conversations to come about why I bought the bike, what I was thinking, and promises forgotten. But that's part of the journey. Every meaningful trip has trials and tribulations. This is one of them -- one that requires skillful driving and spot on navigation. Take it slow. Ride during the day. Avoid bad weather. Will she ever come to love the CB? Maybe. Will she ever forgive me for bringing it home? Probably not. Will it be okay, though? I hope so.

The End of Innocence

Among the hundreds of emails I get everyday are the important ones (from my boss, my boss's boss), the really important ones (my wife), and then the ones that seem to transcend import.

My motorcycle mechanic is moving south and selling a bunch of stuff including this bike which he offered to me for $200. Good compression but needs to have the carbs cleaned. was thinking about buying it for parts but holly will kill me I think garage space wise.
He'll be gone for good in the next day or two.

So innocent. So easy to ignore. So unimportant unless ... you're a 48-year-old father of two, who has never owned a motorcycle.
So for $200, I became the proud owner of a 1972 Honda CB350.
I'm not sure what it all means. But I figured it's an experience, something I can chronicle on this blog. Here's to the beginning of a story and the end of innocence.