Just stumbled on your vid. Super cool. I used to just stare at the Honda brochure for this exact bike. Wanted one bad but it didn't happen. It was fun to see it again.
I hope you restore your CL. I had a lot of fun doing it. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm starting to restore a 1972 Honda CT70H. It needs a lot of work.
Great job, Marty! I've just started working on a CB175 racer (the kind with number plates and no license plate... ). Let's meet for a beer sometimes soon and we'll share some stories. Ciao
Nice job. Really impressed with your rebuilding of the air filters. Could find any new ones, could you? There aren't any out there anymore. I had a 1968 CL175 in fancy orange that was bought not running, bought a 2nd 1969 CL175 for for the carbs alone and was able to piece together a complete, very well running 1968 CL175. Also had experience doing full restorations of 1968 and 1969 CL125A's. What I learned was that the front fender reflector was for the 1969 model due to change in laws requiring side reflectors. Also the 1969 model went to the squarish taillight that had side reflectors in it, unlike the cooler oval 1968 tail light, and the 1969 should have the brake light actuated with the front brake cable. I noticed the your front fender reflector, but had oval taillight. Doesn't matter, you have the cooler of both pieces. I kept the CL175 for 5 years and was always impressed with its performance, light weight with no starter, 5 speed, sloper engine with power jet carbs with the extra air line to the filter, .....awesome bike. It was a screamer. Quite a little machine for 1968. Too bad the US didn't get (many, if any) 1968 CB175's with the sloper.
hey martin i am restoring a (same color) 68 cl175 for my girlfriend and was wondering if you had any tips on where to get little things like replacement swing arm bushings? and cables etc...I haven't been able to source any on ebay yet. but i am really enjoying the project such a cool little bike :-)
gentL wolf Hi. I get most of my honda parts from www.westernhonda.com/. Good prices and service. As you, I always search on eBay. I've also used www.cmsnl.com/. Lots and lots of parts, great service, reasonable prices, very expensive but very quick shipping. Also try David Silver Spares (order from the US site). Ohio cycle (for really old parts). Other than that, I typically get the honda PN from the Westernhonda site and then Google the part number. Sometimes will find a vintage shop that has the part. FYI... I've also bought some parts from Thailand. I've had good luck with the exception of the rubber quality of a part. I have a decent rear fender if you need one. I recently found a better one, so I replaced it.
Hello MartinGreat pictorial summary. Thank you. I was wondering at what point did you put the rubber boots on the front shock absorbers? Can you please shed some light on that process? Many thanks from Seattle_Greg P
Hi Greg, I'm not sure I can give you much information regarding when I installed the fork boots. I put the boots on after I rebuilt the forks and prior to installing them into the triple clamps. I think the boots are from a later model CL175. I'm not at home now, and won't be for a couple months, so I can't look at my records. I feel I may not have answered your question. If you would like more information, just ask. .... Thanks,
Hello MartinI see in the vid clip of the finished CL that the fork boots are not on in the first image, and then on a bit later towards the end of the vid they are installed....just wondered about your process here, Fantastic Job Sir!!!
Thanks so much for the advice! Oh yeah one of the things I was trying to find a solution for was the little rubber pieces where the handle bar risers bolt to the top tree.. Did you actually manage to find new ones or is there some sort of work around ie replacing with some sort of metal bushing/washer combo?
gentL wolf I'm pretty sure I used the handle bar riser bolt rubbers from a 1973 CL175, Honda PN 53133-303-000. The only difference is they have a split in them. They worked perfect. I got the throttle cable from Thailand, the front brake cable off eBay (not an exact match... look closely). I have the original clutch cable.
Hi Alex, On that restoration I didn't keep track of my cost. Since then I make a detailed spreadsheet and track everything. Anyway, I think I spent around $2500. I put on a lot of new parts: exhaust, rims, spokes, tires, signals, tail light. I also zinc plated parts as well as had about 10 parts re-chromed. I'd be glad to discuss further if you would like to. I was thinking Honda started making the 175 in 1968......
Yeah, it's my grandpa's bike. It's probably a 68. How long did the whole process take? And any other tips for making this restoration go smoothly? I'm pretty sure the bike is the same blue as well. I'll get pictures when I can.
I'm just starting my journey with a 68 sloper. Dude you've done a great job 👍
Thanks. I had fun! Enjoy the journey.
Just stumbled on your vid. Super cool. I used to just stare at the Honda brochure for this exact bike. Wanted one bad but it didn't happen. It was fun to see it again.
Glad you enjoyed it. I did the similar. I remember looking at advertisements for Lil Indian mini bikes and Hodoka ACE 100s. Good memories.
Great job....lovely bike.
That brings back some pleasant memories.
Nice job
I have a 68 CL 175 that I was thinking about doing as well. Nice job!!!
I hope you restore your CL. I had a lot of fun doing it. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm starting to restore a 1972 Honda CT70H. It needs a lot of work.
Such great work!
Great job, Marty!
I've just started working on a CB175 racer (the kind with number plates and no license plate... ). Let's meet for a beer sometimes soon and we'll share some stories. Ciao
Nice job. Really impressed with your rebuilding of the air filters. Could find any new ones, could you? There aren't any out there anymore. I had a 1968 CL175 in fancy orange that was bought not running, bought a 2nd 1969 CL175 for for the carbs alone and was able to piece together a complete, very well running 1968 CL175. Also had experience doing full restorations of 1968 and 1969 CL125A's. What I learned was that the front fender reflector was for the 1969 model due to change in laws requiring side reflectors. Also the 1969 model went to the squarish taillight that had side reflectors in it, unlike the cooler oval 1968 tail light, and the 1969 should have the brake light actuated with the front brake cable. I noticed the your front fender reflector, but had oval taillight. Doesn't matter, you have the cooler of both pieces.
I kept the CL175 for 5 years and was always impressed with its performance, light weight with no starter, 5 speed, sloper engine with power jet carbs with the extra air line to the filter, .....awesome bike. It was a screamer. Quite a little machine for 1968. Too bad the US didn't get (many, if any) 1968 CB175's with the sloper.
Several people have told me about the reflector. Mine might be 1969.
hey martin i am restoring a (same color) 68 cl175 for my girlfriend and was wondering if you had any tips on where to get little things like replacement swing arm bushings? and cables etc...I haven't been able to source any on ebay yet.
but i am really enjoying the project such a cool little bike :-)
gentL wolf Hi. I get most of my honda parts from www.westernhonda.com/. Good prices and service. As you, I always search on eBay. I've also used www.cmsnl.com/. Lots and lots of parts, great service, reasonable prices, very expensive but very quick shipping. Also try David Silver Spares (order from the US site). Ohio cycle (for really old parts). Other than that, I typically get the honda PN from the Westernhonda site and then Google the part number. Sometimes will find a vintage shop that has the part. FYI... I've also bought some parts from Thailand. I've had good luck with the exception of the rubber quality of a part. I have a decent rear fender if you need one. I recently found a better one, so I replaced it.
Hello MartinGreat pictorial summary. Thank you. I was wondering at what point did you put the rubber boots on the front shock absorbers? Can you please shed some light on that process? Many thanks from Seattle_Greg P
Hi Greg, I'm not sure I can give you much information regarding when I installed the fork boots. I put the boots on after I rebuilt the forks and prior to installing them into the triple clamps. I think the boots are from a later model CL175. I'm not at home now, and won't be for a couple months, so I can't look at my records. I feel I may not have answered your question. If you would like more information, just ask. .... Thanks,
Hello MartinI see in the vid clip of the finished CL that the fork boots are not on in the first image, and then on a bit later towards the end of the vid they are installed....just wondered about your process here, Fantastic Job Sir!!!
Thanks so much for the advice!
Oh yeah one of the things I was trying to find a solution for was the little rubber pieces where the handle bar risers bolt to the top tree.. Did you actually manage to find new ones or is there some sort of work around ie replacing with some sort of metal bushing/washer combo?
gentL wolf I'm pretty sure I used the handle bar riser bolt rubbers from a 1973 CL175, Honda PN 53133-303-000. The only difference is they have a split in them. They worked perfect. I got the throttle cable from Thailand, the front brake cable off eBay (not an exact match... look closely). I have the original clutch cable.
About to start work on a 1967 Honda Scrambler 175. Just a rough estimate, how much money did you spend and how long did it take?
Hi Alex, On that restoration I didn't keep track of my cost. Since then I make a detailed spreadsheet and track everything. Anyway, I think I spent around $2500. I put on a lot of new parts: exhaust, rims, spokes, tires, signals, tail light. I also zinc plated parts as well as had about 10 parts re-chromed. I'd be glad to discuss further if you would like to. I was thinking Honda started making the 175 in 1968......
Yeah, it's my grandpa's bike. It's probably a 68. How long did the whole process take? And any other tips for making this restoration go smoothly? I'm pretty sure the bike is the same blue as well. I'll get pictures when I can.
Hi, I think I spent about 10 months. If you friend me on Facebook we can send messages back and forth and I'd be glad to discuss a few tips.