Yamaha Loses - Honda Wins

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Maybe.

I decided against the Yamaha XV920R I was considering - too much money for what I was getting.

And while the little Honda I am going to look at tomorrow has it's share of problems, it is only $450US.  I'm hoping to get it for just $400.  He is desperate to get it off the property, and I will have a truck and 400 cash...

Does that make me bad?  

This is the bike in question



the gallery

http://www.pbase.com/tomfarr/mine


What I hope to imitate, but with turn-signals (Hella bar-ends!) and probably rear-set foot controls, since this will be no more than a commuter and 'round town bike.
I really like that gas tank!



This is what a nice stock(ish) one looks like

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

If anyone knows where I can get a seat like this one (with the light!), or mufflers like those, please let me know!

[MrRiden]

Here ya go Rob
http://caferacingparts.com/
rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Thanks for that, Rich!  I couldn't remember their name.

[nhmaf]

I was really looking forward to seeing your work on that Yamie XV920 !

But, that's OK.  Hey, with a CB200, from the early-mid 70s, you could enter the (in)famous Lake Erie Loop endurance race (several classes of competition to complete a 650-mile loop around Lake Erie, all on machines no larger than 225cc displacement:
http://www.lakeerieloop.com

You'd be riding one of the big bore bikes!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

The loop ride is already on the schedule for next year!

If I can work it, I may try and make it on the R65 this year.
I might go with my newest e-friend, Kev, from Mass.

I found this thread started by him a couple of years ago.
There isn't a lot of online chatter on these bikes...

<http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/sale-wanted/31499-honda-cb200-the-like.html>


And to heck with the XV - I did tell you the seller wouldn't take less than $1000 for it?  And it was a non-runner?   And I'm not a real mechanic, you know....

I'll be lucky to make the Honda real, again.  At least with the R65, I know what I am doing to a degree, I know what is available and where the resources are.

One of the first things I found were a set of allen-head fasteners to replace those phillips head case screws!!!

[nhmaf]

Rob, if you decide to enter as a competitor on your CB200 I will contribute to your sponsorship/entrance fees.

It sounds like it would be a very nice, scenic ride on any bike, though I dislike all the truck traffic around The Motor City...

[Semper Gumby]

Cool bike Rob.  I think Metzler makes tires that small for it even still.

TTFN,

[MrRiden]

knock knock,
Rob haven't seen ya post in a week. All AOK? Update on the little bike?
rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Still not much action in the (cool, getting warmer) garage - on either bike!!!
But I have taken some stuff off the left side of the CB, in anticipation of removing the left side cover to get at the 'centrifugal oil filter' and see what nastyness awaits.  There is no replaceable oil filter on this model...

Also, I found an old girlfriend from H.S. via the net, and we have been radiating our brains with cell phones for what seems like most of our free time for the last two weeks.

She is in Florida...  

But, since I may be out of a job in 1 year anyway, we'll just have to see where this path leads.

I'm flying down at the end of next month....  

[Justin B.]

My '73 Honda CB450 had one of those filters.  If I remember correctly oil basically squirts into it as it rotates, the particulates are then supposed to get slung to the periphery of the little spinning "can", and adhere there.  I never remember much crud getting trapped there but the old Honda engines used ball or roller  rod and main bearings so there isn't a whole lot of wear going on inside...

[Ed Miller]

My Triumph has that (we call them sludge traps) too, but you have to split the cases and remove the crank shaft to get at it.  They do collect really little stuff out of the oil.  I also installed an external oil filter.  

Do the old "dippers" or something like that on the older BMWs work like that?  I've never seen one.

[Justin B.]

Ed, I've read them referred to as "oil-slingers" so I am assuming they work on a similar principle at least...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

All about BMW oil slingers:

http://www.benchmarkworks.com/articles/tech/oil.html

[MrRiden]

Rob,
We may all be out of a job in a year but hey there will be plenty of company.
Oil slingers, Centrifugal filters or oil traps are all just meant to keep large bits out of the bearings while the engine has a catastrophic failure. They're not much good. I've done a number of Triumph cranks that have this feature and the crap that comes out is amazing! Some ingenuity is required but most can be fitted with a proper filter with some mods to the oil passages, [Ed I've got a good one for unit Triumphs.] Roller bearing cranks have low oil pressure but high lubricant volume and usually a wet sump setup, partly why old Honda bikes just keep going.
rich