TheSamba.com :: View topic - any cb500 or cb350 or cb400 or cb450 owners?/cafe racers?.

Mon May 05, 2008 12:08 am

does anyone won one of the bikes in the title? i am thinking of getting one and just want to know how the are

Mon May 05, 2008 12:44 am

They are awesome, have any pics?

Mon May 05, 2008 12:54 am

The CB500/550 is a wonderful bike. I've had both. Great handlers given you have good shocks and a well-sorted fork. Adequate brakes. Kind of disappointing mileage, though. I think my '72 CB750 does better in that department.

Lovely bike.

Mon May 05, 2008 5:49 am

Cant believe this-I was just going to post a similar thread! Only mine was going to ask what would be the best cb to get, I've never had one. Would prefer an older one, but dont know much about them.

Mon May 05, 2008 8:23 am

I have a 1981 Hondamatic 400. Got it for free. Don't know a thing about it...
JiI

Mon May 05, 2008 8:39 am

i used to have these

Mon May 05, 2008 9:24 am

I've got a CL-350 cafe-style bike, and a CB-450 I'll be modifying into a tourer. Great, simple bikes. Everyone who is thinking about getting one, buy one! They are kinda like ACVWS, just adjust the valves and change the oil (and clean out the oil centerfuge), and off you go! My 450 has 38k miles on it, not too shabby. It has a perfect exhaust, too, not a common thing. Pictures:

'73 CL-350: (The only cafe things are the handlebars and front fender, I guess)

Terrible picture of the 450:

And my next project, as soon as I can find a titled frame, a '62 Super Hawk:

Mon May 05, 2008 9:25 am

Oh, and heres a group I moderate on Yahoo for these bikes:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vintage_honda_twins/

Mon May 05, 2008 10:41 am

I have a CB500 Four and two CB350 twins. The Four is a good cruiser and the twins are fun-as-hell blast around town bikes. It amazes me how quick those 350s are.

You can't go wrong with an old Honda cycle.

Mon May 05, 2008 11:36 am

I used to thrash a 250 Scrambler! Sold it still running good! :shock:

Mon May 05, 2008 11:44 am

I've got a 1980 CB650. Fun Bike. I've been thinking of selling it to get another Beetle or Bus.

Mon May 05, 2008 1:44 pm

Check out www.dotheton.com
Lots of guys (and gals) there have CB's of various displacement. I like the XS650's myself...

Mon May 05, 2008 2:36 pm

freaking sweet. it looks like i will be getting a cb350.

Tue May 06, 2008 5:46 pm

I had 3 CB 350's a CL 350 and a CB 500 four in the early-mid eighties. The 350's are indestructible and easy to wrench on. I had a CB 350- G w/ front disc, most had drums. It was a grat bike. 9500 rpm redline. They are geared to rev and you'll find a fair amount of tingling in the pegs but they are a blast to bomb around on. Get a luggage rack and youre good for some overnites or grocery getting. The CL 350 had a 10,500 red line and the high pipes which looked tough. You can still find them but they seem to be drawing more money each year. They made enough of them so there's still plenty around. I live in VT so most have relatively low miles. Good luck :)

Wed May 07, 2008 7:26 pm

I have a "True School" cb500 twin hardcore chopper. I wish I could tell you how it rides, handles, and all that other jazz, but the sad truth is that I bought it as a basket case and am now rebuilding it. As stated ealier, mine is a chopper thats about 8 feet long and about 3.5' high at its highest. Needless to say, this bike it lllooonnnggg and low.

Wed May 07, 2008 9:53 pm

would you guys recommed a cb350f the four cylinder of just a cb350 normal 2 cylinder?

Thu May 08, 2008 5:35 am

The 350 fours tend to command a lot more money. A lot of vintage racers love them.

Thu May 08, 2008 6:36 am

alindeman1989 wrote: would you guys recommed a cb350f the four cylinder of just a cb350 normal 2 cylinder?

Parts are easier to source for the twins, and I've even heard they have a more useable power band than the fours, but I've never ridden a four, so I can't verify this. Plus, the twins weigh less.

Thu May 08, 2008 3:58 pm

Ride cb750 daily and have had a 550. get you a 750 and trick it the way you want

Fri May 09, 2008 5:46 am

I need to get my motorcycle license someday. I took the class back in the 80's but haven't had time since... :(
JiI