Tag Archives: 1971 Honda CB350 Cafe Racer

1971 Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Project – Episode 7: Getting There…

First, let me say that I am almost there… Then, let me add that it is one thing after another! The bike is almost ready to hit the road. Until yesterday I had power to all systems and it was turning over and idling nicely. I had gas overflow running out of one of my carbs so I started the day by adjusting the float to limit the gas inflow. It all went downhill from there. Prior to messing with the float the bike would idle nicely and would rev, but not beyond about 2800 rpm. I thought this was a timing issue but wanted to stop the gas overflow prior to adjusting the timing. Once I adjusted the float I stopped the overflow, but then the bike was not getting enough gas to rev at all. Instead it would die every time I gave it gas. I checked the float bowl on the suspect carb and it was not getting gas at all so i readjusted the float and tried again. Same situation. I put it down and tackled the turn signal wiring to clear my head. I had power to all turn signals but they would not blink. They are on steady. I switched wiring around and around with no success. The headlight works perfectly bur no signal blink. The other problem is that the tail light is on but the brake light will not register. If I turn the key to position 2 then the brake light is on all the time. Something in the wiring is not right. Frustrated I turned back to the carb problem, I was just beginning to mess with the air gas mixture when all power to the bike was lost! The battery has juice but I get nothing anywhere. I checked the starter solenoid with my continuity tester and it is completely dead. I now have to swap out the solenoid from the parts bike to see if this is the culprit. Meanwhile here is what the bike looks like before I start beating on it with a hammer…

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1971 Honda CB350 Cafe racer Project – Episode 6: The Parts Bike

I recently picked up a 1972 Honda CL350 off Craigslist to use as a parts bike for my cafe racer rebuild. I had been ordering replacement parts piecemeal off of the interweb and I was averaging $50 a part. For $150 in a snowstorm I was able to pick up the CL350 and everything is there and in decent shape. It is almost a shame to dismantle the old girl but I really need the parts. Here she is yesterday in all her dusty glory before the part-robbing begins.

Honda CB350 Cafe Racer project

1972 Honda CL350 Front

Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Project

1972 Honda CL350 Right Side

Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Project

1972 Honda CL350 Left Side

Honda CB350 Cafe racer Project

the 1971 Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Project sitting in front of the 1972 Honda CL350


1971 Honda Cb350 Cafe Racer – Episode 5: Rolling Chassy

Made some serious visual progress today. Repacked the front brakes, polished up the front and back rims, and reassembled a rolling chassy. So far the only major changes I have made are ditching the stock fork covers for replacement rubber fork boots, and changing out the handlebars for cafe bars. Now the small details begin,including the dreaded electrical.

1971 Honda CB350

1971 Honda CB350

1971 Honda CB350

1971 Honda CB350


1971 Honda CB350 Cafe Racer Project – Strip-Down Complete

Whew, what a weekend… The bike is now down to the frame. It is time to start breaking down the engine. The frame was dropped off at the Armadillo Powdercoating today for a nice flat-black powdercoat. Pictures to follow…