Looking For Mechanic Refferral

tea2jay

Well-known member
Hi All,

Picked this up not too long ago. Brought it home, put in a new battery, and go it started after a few leg workouts. Although it started and stayed running, the carbs are leaking fuel after being in storage and could use a rebuild/service and I would like to make sure it's properly jetted for the setup.

I'll post the shops I have reached out to already, in case someone finds this thread looking for a shop as well.

-Advanced Cycle - the bike is too old, but Jim is awesome and I bring my Ducs there
-RMCmoto - Bike is too old - I have brought all my non-Ducs (and even some Ducs) to Rick in the past and he's awesome as well
-WrenchWench - no response to my email
-Barnaby Co. - Bike is too new
-OldSchoolCarbs - They provided a quote, but carbs have to be shipped to them even though they are local.

I would really like to get 1-2 more quotes before choosing, please let me know if you have a shop or mechanic that you trust and would recommend.

Enough words... here's what you all really came here for...

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more words for those sticking around...

Bike info
1973 Honda CB500
I am the 3rd owner
Mileage - estimated under 5,500 miles
- dyna coils and ignition
- rick's rectifier and regulator
- shorai lithium battery
- uni pod filters
- 4 into 1 exhaust (kerker?)
- red wing shocks
- stainless lines
- clubman bars
- custom cut and welded subframe
- custom kandy orange paint by Nate S. of artistry unlimited with beautiful hand airbrushed koi fish / Sake Bomb motiff
- benelli mojave tank
- custom solo seat with integrated taillight
- tons of black powder coating
- custom wiring harness to match upgrades and modifications
- orignal blue license plate

Backstory

Previous owner (orignal builder) owned a custom shop that specialized in harleys, escalades, navigators, etc... (it was the 90's lol) found this bike bone stock in socal. Story goes that it was purchased and used for a couple years before getting parked. It sat there from the mid 70's to 2008-9 when it was listed for sale. Nate purchased the bike and brought it back up to Norcal where it sat until a build opportunity came along.

Lucas oil had reached out wanting a cafe bike that could be displayed in their booths at shows as cafe popularity was on the rise. This bike was built and used for a few shows before it was returned and then stored for nearly 10 years before he decided to sell it.

Bike went from bone stock garage clean garage find to a custom cafe to garage storage over the course of 2 years and only accumulated a claimed 20-25 miles after she was built.

Looking forward to getting it back on the road where it belongs.

Future upgrades
I have a proper set of rear sets on their way and will likely swap out the clubmans for some clip ons eventually. Beyond that, I mainly plan to just ride and enjoy it. The CROTP group looks extremely active and im looking forward to going on some rides in the future.
 

budman

General Menace
Staff member
I don't have a recommendation, but wanted to say that is very cool looking.

Good luck.
 

tea2jay

Well-known member
I don't have a recommendation, but wanted to say that is very cool looking.

Good luck.

Budman dropping compliments in my thread? its a good day :twofinger

one of the few screen names I recognize from early days. I'd probably be better at remembering people based on their old avatar photos come to think of it.
 
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- custom kandy orange paint by Nate S. of artistry unlimited with beautiful hand airbrushed koi fish / Sake Bomb motiff
- benelli mojave tank

wow ... love the tank/paint! :thumbup
the guy I use your sweet bike would be too new/not a H-D ... but I'll ask him. other issue with him is SSF probably isn't too easy from SJ.


The CROTP group looks extremely active and im looking forward to going on some rides in the future.

not familiar with CROTP and google was unrevealing?

have fun, beautiful Honda ... :ride
 

tea2jay

Well-known member
wow ... love the tank/paint! :thumbup
the guy I use your sweet bike would be too new/not a H-D ... but I'll ask him. other issue with him is SSF probably isn't too easy from SJ.




not familiar with CROTP and google was unrevealing?

have fun, beautiful Honda ... :ride

Thanks for asking. I understand why most shops are hesitant to work on older bikes, makes sense.

CROTP - Cafe Racers of the Penninsula. Its a local facebook group for cafe/brat/scrambler/and other similar stlye bikes. It is not restricted to vintage as new bikes are also welcomed. I have not been in the group long, but I have been following along the FB page and everyone seems really laid back and they seem like a very active bunch. :ride
 
cool, I'll have to check CROTP out on my wife's FB ... :laughing

what ever happened to the XS750 in your avatar, notice you don't list it as a current bike? always loved that engine ...

:blah
 

tea2jay

Well-known member
cool, I'll have to check CROTP out on my wife's FB ... :laughing

what ever happened to the XS750 in your avatar, notice you don't list it as a current bike? always loved that engine ...

:blah

Amazing bike long since sold :(

Picked her up for $900. Took this picture at the guys house when I showed up to check it out. No details in the add other than 1978 xs750 in good condition. Please call with questions. Other than a seized front brake caliper, it was a great ride with under 20k miles. This was around 2011. At the time I was buying easy winter projects and getting them back to roadworthy to sell or trade for something else the next season since we were living paycheck to paycheck.

One of the nails in the coffin when it came time to decide selling it was I had come across a rare 3 into 3 exhaust that was new and never used. I paid way more than I should have in shipping cost, but I just had to hear what it sounded like. Well, it was inside my pickup truck and someone broke in and stole the pipes before I could install it. I was pretty heart broken at that point.
 

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kpke

Veteran
Man, that thing is really cool. Hopefully you will get it running proper and I agree with you changing out the clubman bars. For some reason I have never liked those things.

I thought there were some old Honda specific mechanic/restorer/hot rod places around here. It looks like you have a few suggestions up there ^^^^^. Hopefully they are not fading away and you will find what you need. Good luck!

Hmmm, I just found this place. No affiliation, don't know them. Also it's down there...

https://www.charlies-place.com/

And I have seen groups of riders from this organization up at the junction and other places. I know they have a "local" chapter or group
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Association
I sold a GS1100 to a member.

https://vjmc.org/
 

killfile

49/50
No new shops to add, but just a few more tidbits of support for those already mentioned:

Definitely try Dave at O'Hanlon. He typically only works on bikes this old for existing customers, but hey, maybe he is in the mood to make an exception.

Charlie in LA is the go-to Honda expert, but LA is a looooong way for something as simple as carbs.

I've known Tyler from Hayasa for over 20 years and he is a stand up guy.
 

65_ dreamer

Well-known member
Cool bike. The color is great! I haven't taken any of my bikes to him (yet), but you might also try Taylor at Reliable Cycles. https://www.reliablecycles.com/ A few of my friends have taken their bikes to him and have given him high praise. He's really busy, so you might have to wait a bit. He posts a lot on Instagram.

The VJMC recommendation is also a good one. I am a member but mostly a lurker. I am also on the CROTP FB group and went to their Ton Up event last year. They seem like a nice group - and they're quite active.

The good news is there are so many sources for parts for vintage Honda's if you do work yourself too.

Funny, I just swapped the low bars on a bike for higher bikes as they were killing my wrists. I've always like the look of the low bars, but after finally getting a bike with low bars, I decided it was not the way to go - at least for me. Haha.
 
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tea2jay

Well-known member
Thank you BARF fam. I received a great referral via PM that was only a few miles away. finally found some time to drop her off earlier this week. I've got a lot of confidence that she'll come back ready for the road though it'll be a while as they had quite a few bike lined up already. :ride

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tea2jay

Well-known member
Man, that thing is really cool. Hopefully you will get it running proper and I agree with you changing out the clubman bars. For some reason I have never liked those things.

I thought there were some old Honda specific mechanic/restorer/hot rod places around here. It looks like you have a few suggestions up there ^^^^^. Hopefully they are not fading away and you will find what you need. Good luck!

Hmmm, I just found this place. No affiliation, don't know them. Also it's down there...

https://www.charlies-place.com/

And I have seen groups of riders from this organization up at the junction and other places. I know they have a "local" chapter or group
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Association
I sold a GS1100 to a member.

https://vjmc.org/

my first thought was Charlies place as well, but for some reason i thought they were in SF. Thanks for the link to the VJMC, I'll definitely check them out.
 

tea2jay

Well-known member
Cool bike. The color is great! I haven't taken any of my bikes to him (yet), but you might also try Taylor at Reliable Cycles. https://www.reliablecycles.com/ A few of my friends have taken their bikes to him and have given him high praise. He's really busy, so you might have to wait a bit. He posts a lot on Instagram.

The VJMC recommendation is also a good one. I am a member but mostly a lurker. I am also on the CROTP FB group and went to their Ton Up event last year. They seem like a nice group - and they're quite active.

The good news is there are so many sources for parts for vintage Honda's if you do work yourself too.

Funny, I just swapped the low bars on a bike for higher bikes as they were killing my wrists. I've always like the look of the low bars, but after finally getting a bike with low bars, I decided it was not the way to go - at least for me. Haha.


i usually end up lurking alot too cause i dont have a ton of time to ride unfortunately. we are thinking of moving out of the bay to get a bigger place. if that happens, i'll have the space to work on my bikes and cars again. it'll be nice.

im with you on the bars, but if i switch to clip ons, they wont be much better unfortunately.
 
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