I decided to get a classic. Basically something I can enjoy on local roads and tinker with when I either lack the time or inclination to ride. A change in our inspection laws have made this feasible.

I had no firm plan just a budget and could have hit on anything from a C90 through to Brit bikes or an airhead BMW. I then hit on the Cb350 as having better than Britbike performance at lower cost because they just don't seem to be on the classic scene radar. Finally I landed on the CL which was never popular in the UK.

Coming to this new, albiet 45 years late, this seems a pretty good travel bike spec. 100mph power, 12v electrics, tyre sizes with a choice, no 2-smoke oil, some dirt road potential.

Did anyone notice this back in the day or am I missing something? Anyone got any stories from back in the day?

Cheers

Andy

CB or CL? The CL is the 'dirt' version with high level pipes. The CB is the one you meet the nicest people on - or you did in the US in the early 70's. I'm not sure either of them were sold in the UK back then, although as it was 45yrs ago I don't suppose it matters now where they originated from. That was (roughly) the time when we were upgrading from our starter bikes - 125s / scooters etc - and looking at 350s. Suzuki + Yamaha had their two smoke twins, Kawasaki was just changing from twins to triples and Honda had - nothing. They had their 250s and then a gap to the bigger stuff. From memory they did bring in the later 360 twins but by then things had moved on.

The 250s (and the 350s were just overbored to 325cc) had a reputation for clunky gearboxes, a solid bottom end but the top end could be noisy if oil changes were overlooked. A seller will tell you it's tappets but it's more likely to be rocker spindles and /or cam chain woes.

100mph is probably only in the marketing men's dreams. Cruise at 70 and flat out at 80-85 is probably closer to it. Even the much quicker smokers would struggle to get anywhere near 100 unless you were tucked in on a racetrack (or a journalist ).

Where were you planning on sourcing one? There's a lot of dealers bringing in stuff from the US but condition seems to be very variable. What you get for your UK money doesn't seem a patch on what they go for in the US. For a travel project I'm planning for this time next year I've been looking for a similar era 250 Yamaha and there's nothing but junk available in the UK. I did try to buy in the US and import but the logistics are almost impossible if you're trying to sort it out by email.

It's a CL. Recent import from somewhere, I suspect the US, but certainly somewhere dry. Untouched so cosmetically imperfect. I had a ride and it sounds and goes fine. I'm paying close to 3K which is a lot, but prices are going stupid and I want used and working rather than something rewired by a paint expert. It is coming from a dealer so you pay for them doing the paperwork.

Andy

I have an old SL350 from the same era sitting in my workshop in Australia. Bought as a basket case many years ago, it now runs, but is not pretty. It too has struck me that it has the makings of a good travel bike - my son now lives in the UK and he wants it, maybe I need to deliver it.

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Martin

finally back on the road again


http://awayonmybike.blogspot.com/

Sounds eminently reasonable.