Reviving a 1973 Honda CL350

My older brother bought this bike new when I was in high school. I rode it occasionally when he moved up to a Yamaha 650. He stopped riding and the CL350 sat in his garage, unloved, since the early 80s. When I got back into riding a couple years ago I asked him about his plans for it so he knew I was interested in it. He finally offered it to me (for free:woo) just to get it out of his garage.

Except for the aftermarket sissy bar, it is completely stock. My brother thinks he still has the stock grab bars somewhere so those will go back on if he can find them. Cosmetically, the paint and chrome are in very good shape, with some small pitting on the front fender. It only has 8K miles on it, but it was last licensed in 1981 (!) and likely hasn't run since then. He used the Kreeme sealant in the tank so no rust but I've read that it can flake off and clog the fuel system.

There's no battery in it so that will be the first task. The spark plugs look good and the engine turns over with the kick starter OK, so I'm hopeful the internals are OK. My brother put in clean oil and drained the fuel system when he put the bike away so I am curious to see what it will take to get it running again.

I'm looking forward to cleaning her up and getting her on the road. I'll update the thread as I get further into the project.

I've always liked Honda's lines of UJMs and even more so now that contemporaries are few and far between.

The sissy bar and the rack have to go! I remember those and never liked either as handy as a rack might be. I don't know enough to help you with the revival but best of luck to you. Had I the money time and skill I'd have a couple of retro-resto projects. As it is I'm glad the CB1100 doesn't have belt drive and the pockata-pockata exhaust note of the CB750K. I'd have to have it.

Nice! My first good bike was a Honda CL 350... 1970. Wish I had it now!

NICE. I learned how to ride on a couple of these, well a street bike anyway. I had minibikes and dirt bikes from age 5 but this was one of the first bikes I took on the road. LOL my Dad would put me in front of him and let me ride him around. Thanks for the refresh of memories.

Now that is a nice project, and nice to have a known machine in good shape. I had a used 1973 CB350 as one of my first bikes, similar to the CL only lower street pipes. I liked that bike and wouldn't mind having it back....... the later 360's weren't as good or popular IIRC.

What a nice find. I was looking for a CL350 project several years ago and I ended up bringing this 1971 CB350 back from the dead. You are good to have all the original hard to find parts like side covers, exhaust and instruments.

Wow what a great looking ride. I have always liked those bikes and I love the way the two pipes come up on the left side. Good luck on getting that fine machine back on the road.

MV_Dave said:

My older brother bought this bike new when I was in high school. I rode it occasionally when he moved up to a Yamaha 650. He stopped riding and the CL350 sat in his garage, unloved, since the early 80s.
I'm looking forward to cleaning her up and getting her on the road. I'll update the thread as I get further into the project.

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That is a beautiful little Scrambler. Nice to know what the History is on a project like that. Make sure you keep it in the family after you resurrect it.

ST Gui said:

The sissy bar and the rack have to go!

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That was the first thing I noticed ... hey, a sissy bar!! That makes it look more how people had their bikes back then!!
Great project there, no matter how you decide to do it.... my friend had the (I think) 250 (?) like that... we put some miles on it!

Thanks for bringing back the memories.....best of luck

That's a good looking CL350! I had one of those racks and sissybars on my '71 CB450.

Well, it's gonna need tars......wouldn't surprise me much if it pretty much started right up....no mice chewing wires or other damage....they were tough old bikes.....first road trip I ever took was on a '71 CL350(With sissy bar)....went to Denver and Estes Park and in between from Minnesota and made it back...no issues other than the buzz......great specimen, and a family member from birth....gotta love that.....congrats...keep us posted......

Had the same rack with an adjustable sissy bar on my first bike a 1979 CB650.

I've owned 2 CB350s and a CL350 over the years. Good ol' bikes. My ol' Indy mechanic told me they used to throw'em in the dumpster when they took'em in (for almost nothing) on trade.

dduelin-8 tip overs???

Yes, I liked to practice tight walking speed obstacle course riding when I first got my ST. With a 29" inseam I was going to be the master, not the ST. I don't think I've dropped it in 80,000 miles tho.

Did you get the fuel leaks fixed on the BMW?

That bike's exactly like my first one - color and everything. I have one in storage, awaiting restoration, but it doesn't look as good as yours. If you decide to let it out of the family...

Nice looking bike, I bought a CL 350 new in 1972. it was a pretty nice bike. I think I paid $800.00 for it, best I can recall.

Wow, My first bike was a 1972 CB350.... this same color, but a 1972? Bought it in Huron, South Dakota new for $595.00 and a free helmet.

dduelin said:

What a nice find. I was looking for a CL350 project several years ago and I ended up bringing this 1971 CB350 back from the dead. You are good to have all the original hard to find parts like side covers, exhaust and instruments.

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If it doesn't run right when you first start it up, check the carb diaphragms for cracks or pin holes.