60's Honda CL 160 Rebuild as Racer

twitchmonitor · Mar 8, 2010

Moike said:
Well, if you do make it to an AHRMA event to race... You're going for a ride on the back of the F1. :thumbup

:wow Do you mean....passenger for your B team?? I hope so, because that would be ridiculously awesome. And then I would HAVE to find a way to make it happen. Really.

Btw, I tried your safety wire hole drilling technique. It worked great on the first hole, then the bit got worn out midway through the second one, I snapped it just trying to get it through. Then I snapped 2 more. Then I realized I was using plain carbon steel bits - no wonder the hardened metals were wearing them out. I bought some cobalt bits but haven't had a chance to drill more holes. But your technique worked great so I'm going to try it again. Should work even better with sharp bits.

And really, if you need a passenger I will sell my girlfriend's bike to get to an AHRMA race. Shhhh, don't tell her. *whisper* anyone looking for a Ninja 250? I'll make you a deal.

twitchmonitor · Mar 15, 2010

Frame came back from sandblasting and I painted it. Only have to paint the fender and clearcoat the tank and seat. Reassembly here I come!

mosquito · Mar 15, 2010

Nice paint scheme! :thumbup

Whisky_Richard · Mar 15, 2010

twitchmonitor said:
Frame came back from sandblasting and I painted it. Only have to paint the fender and clearcoat the tank and seat. Reassembly here I come!

Here, here!!! Lookin forward to it!

ar15600rr · Mar 16, 2010

tank is purty

twitchmonitor · Mar 17, 2010

Finished the velocity stacks - machined them instead of spun or composite. I just don't feel like messing about right now. Got the new triple clamp roughed out, now just another 5 hours of grueling filing and sanding and it'll be done. :rolleyes

Oh, and I went on a big trip this weekend to failing Honda shops and a motorcycle salvage yard. Here are some of the goodies I got (for free!) from the salvage yard. I guess I'm a fastener dork. Oh, the dog hair wasn't included.

I got other cool stuff too - only some of it free: shouldered aluminum WM2 rim, CB175 wheel, box of CA95 tank knee pads, CB175 high compression pistons, a pair of headlights for my 175 project, a bunch of cam chains, engine knock pins, seat pan, CB175 foot pegs....

tedtwong · Mar 18, 2010

Wow, I just spent an hour+ reading the thread. Awesome build. I'm having a CB160 restored by http://www.lossaengineering.com/ since I didn't have time or ability to do what you're doing. I dropped it off before Obama was president and Jay at Lossa said I should have it back soon -- I hope so. The velocity stacks look great as do all the other pieces you've put together.

twitchmonitor · Mar 18, 2010

tedtwong said:
Wow, I just spent an hour+ reading the thread. Awesome build. I'm having a CB160 restored by http://www.lossaengineering.com/ since I didn't have time or ability to do what you're doing. I dropped it off before Obama was president and Jay at Lossa said I should have it back soon -- I hope so. The velocity stacks look great as do all the other pieces you've put together.

Thanks :thumbup

That shop's bikes look really good with nice attention to detail and not too much cheese. I like how they fit the frames to the curve of the tails, the seats aren't shiny, and I noticed one of the bikes had a Hap Jones (I think) aftermarket set of foot pegs. Cool subtle touches that people might not appreciate.

Any pics of how the bike looked before you dropped it off?

tedtwong · Mar 18, 2010

It was in fairly good shape. I could run it around the block but the brakes were bad and fuel leaked from the carbs. I wanted Jay to strip it down and refinish things that needed attention and replace seals and bushings and to put his personal touches on it. I don't know what kind of shape it's in now but hopefully I'll see it again soon. When I dropped it off I didn't think it would take 2.5+ years and counting...

I've had cb200t, cb125, cb450 in the past and I keep coming back to these old hondas.

twitchmonitor · Mar 18, 2010

tedtwong said:
It was in fairly good shape. I could run it around the block but the brakes were bad and fuel leaked from the carbs. I wanted Jay to strip it down and refinish things that needed attention and replace seals and bushings and to put his personal touches on it. I don't know what kind of shape it's in now but hopefully I'll see it again soon. When I dropped it off I didn't think it would take 2.5+ years and counting...

I've had cb200t, cb125, cb450 in the past and I keep coming back to these old hondas.

Looks very nice. What's the delay about??

tedtwong · Mar 18, 2010

twitchmonitor said:
Looks very nice. What's the delay about??

I wish I knew... by the way, how are you fitting the screens on the velocity stacks? They look really nice. I wish I knew how to access and use the machine shop when I was at Cal ('03).

firstbuell · Mar 18, 2010

David,

it's " c r a f t s m a n s h i p " !!

you wouldn't understand "delay"
my evidence? - the speedy rate of change applied to your own 160

RE: quality - your workmanship may or may not be at Lossa's level,
but I know your pricing's better !

so put that puppy together & let us see the finished moto......

firstbuell · Mar 18, 2010

oh, I just remembered -

for my own 'special' build [currently in parts accumulation stage - no bike yet],
I've adopted your idea of period-correct attachments for wiring and other items
to frame & handlebars - thanx for that - I read elsewhere on a vintage site -

"...no tie wraps!..." - now I better understand.....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

any time I'm adding fotos to my archive, I remember your appreciation
for 60s Honda shots - here are 3 recent examples:

Johndicezx9 · Mar 18, 2010

I love the scene in "Roustabout" when Elvis gets in a fight with the frat guys because he rides a Honda and not a Harley....

But seriously, these "build/restoration" threads are great!

twitchmonitor · Mar 18, 2010

Curt, that first photo looks like a page from a book I just got, Honda Racing Motorcycle Legend (Vol. 3): 1952-1975. Google that shit.

Next week is spring break. No MTV sponsored, beer bong fueled, semi-consensual sex for me: I'll be finishing the bike, finally.

firstbuell · Mar 18, 2010

twitch,

Google, eh? like I'm not already online 8+ hrs daily.......

there's a 2009 HondaUK book commemorating 50th anniversary
of Honda's Isle of Man TT involvement - that should be a cool read, too

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

john,

RE: Elvis and the Fags tusslin' over machinery in "Roustabouts" - news to me!
now I gotta Netflix it & see the verbal tussle for myself - thx for the idea

twitchmonitor · Mar 20, 2010

I made the adapter for the cam-driven magnetic sleeve for the Pertronix ignition. Cute little bugger. But for some reason the bolt doesn't clear the cover. Hm. Always something. :rolleyes

twitchmonitor · Mar 20, 2010

Finally put the rolling chassis together. Discovered that I need some different nuts and bolts, that the clip ons are too small, that I'm missing a steering head bearing race. Small stuff.

netjustin · Mar 20, 2010

That thing is more of a work of art with every passing day. Not that I would recognize it, but excellent craftsmanship.

McGrude · Mar 20, 2010

Wow. You are so close! Awesome progress.

60's Honda CL 160 Rebuild as Racer

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