Let’s get a CB450 running

[LetsFNgo]

Quick story/new project:
When I bought my 1970 Challenger in 2021 it came with a catch, part of the deal included me buying an old motorcycle from Tommy, who owned the car. I pushed the bike down the street and into one of my sheds and haven’t thought much about it since. I love motorcycles, but never owned one and all of my friends who rode all got hit riding them which killed any interest I had.
However the other day I had to move some stuff in that shed and pulled it out. I knew it had compression but hadn’t gone any further with it when I bought it. Looking it over I figured I might as well try to get it running and see what kind of shape it’s in.
After doing some research I had purchased a 1974 Honda CB450. About 20k miles on it. According to Tommy it might’ve last ran in the 80’s at some point. He didn’t know.
The fuel tank is clean, but one of the carbs was frozen because the throttle didn’t move. So last week I ordered a carb rebuild kit and a few other small parts I saw it needed right off the bat.
The handlebars were missing all of the rubber bushings that hold them together. So my helper and I replaced them today and installed the freshly rebuilt carbs.
Unfortunately for me someone replaced one of the carbs at some point with a slightly newer CB500 carb. The rebuild kits are 99% the same but the 500 carb has an extra little diaphragm and spring that the 450 kits didn’t have. So hopefully once that comes in I’ll be able to start the bike.
I drained the oil, which was double full with very old gas from the bad carbs that leaked down. I also put fresh plugs in it after hosing the cylinders down with pb blaster. I’m sure that won’t foul the plugs out quickly right? Right?

So that’s where we stand today. Also picked up a battery that I’ll put on a mini charger tomorrow at work since I don’t think it’ll start without a battery.

[GMC_Typhoon]

You'll never know unless you try. It might be awesome or it might be a nightmare.

[Too Many Projects]

Those bikes are very reliable and 20k shouldn't be an issue. I had several Honda's when I first got started riding, at 15 yrs old, and they were all good bikes.
Did 105 miles R/T today on the Harley. Been riding for 58 years and only had 1 summer without a bike.
Be careful, it is easy to get hooked on the feeling...

[Rsconv68]

I see the boss is watching you.

[dykstra]

Originally Posted by Rsconv68

I see the boss is watching you.

LOL, I was going to say the same thing!

[markinnaples]

I had a 1973 Honda CB350 in college and those CB's are like 9 lb hammers, they always work. I'm sure once you get it running, it'll be like a Singer sewing machine.

[scuncio]

I have a ‘73 CB450 I’m redoing. It has 17k on it but has weathered the years very nicely. Great bikes with the innovative torsion bar valve spring design.

[useless tony]

"Also picked up a battery that I’ll put on a mini charger tomorrow at work since I don’t think it’ll start without a battery".


Years ago I had a 1984 Kawasaki 1100. I had some performance engine work done to it at one point and needed to run it a bit to break in the engine. Unfortunately, when the time came to fire it up, the bikes battery was dead. Rather than run out and buy a new battery, I figured 12 volts is 12 volts, why not just boost it off my car. I connected the cables and got the bike engine running. I pulled the cables off and the bike died ... apparently it needed a fully charged battery in it in order to run. I figured that if I could boost the bike with a car, why couldn't I just leave the cables on and run it off the car as that would save me running out for a new battery.

I started the bike again and left the cables on and the bike continued to run. After a bit though, I started to smell wiring/electrical stuff melting. I never did find out what exactly it was that was melting. The reason I mention this is, I have seen people ask (on the internet) if a bike can be boosted off a car and some say yes it can, others say no it can't. Although boosting a bike off a car may work, I suggest you do NOT use the car to keep the bike running.

Recommendation: Spend the couple of bucks and get a new battery. Your comment of "putting a mini charger on it" suggests to me that the battery you are intending to use may not be new/fresh.

That being said, some bikes will run without a battery and can be kick started ... that was not the case with my 1100, it had no kick starter and it truly did need a fully charged battery in it in order to run. I don't know what your bike will or will not do but I do know, continuing to use a car to keep a bike that needs a functioning battery in it will and did fry something in my case.

Good luck with the bike

In the end, my bike did end up with electrical issues that I tolerated until I got sick of it and sold it off VERY cheap. I occasionally raced the bike at the strip and the electrical issues could be overlooked there but trying to ride the bike on the street (wouldn't start when hot so I'd fill the tank at home before going for a "rip") was too much trouble, I gave up and sold it to the race shop that had done a bunch of the work. I was young, tired of throwing money at the bike at that point and decided to move back to cars.

I have had the odd enduro on-off road bike that worked just fine without a battery even being in the bike so, who knows ... just be careful

[markinnaples]

What model Kawasaki 1100 did you have? My brother-in-law had a GPZ 1100 but I know there were a couple different 1100 models.

[useless tony]

1984 KZ1100R

Apparently quite a rare bike at the time ... and I made a right mess of it