REBUILDING MY FIRST MOTORCYCLE

[tlay]

I have rebuilt many autos because I used to race but never a motorcycle! I have always had one and love to ride but have never took one completely apart and rebuilt it.
I am disabled and can only work around 2 hours a day. Some days are worse than others. I was with some friends of ours on a trip to Pa. and we went to his brothers house. He had an old Honda CB160 in a barn. It was missing parts and was rusty and torn up. He even delivered it for me!
It took almost 2 years with a lot of blood, sweat, and beers! I would love to see your motorcycles! Especially if they are rebuilt!
I tore down everything. All the bolts are stainless steel. The motor was bored out .030. New valves were put in with newer style oil seals. All bearings are new. Most of the chrome is new. I rebuilt the seat. A newer style of exhaust is used. I put a new wiring harness in. I added the mirrors and turn signals because this model didn't have them. I polished the engine parts, brake drums, and fork parts. I added new wheels, spokes, and tires. I rebuilt the carbs and added a new style air filter.
I plan on putting it in some shows. I hope you like it!
I am having trouble trying to put the photos in. It keeps saying I am not logged in!

 

[tlay]

More photos

 

[Ozark Marine]

Very nice.
What year is it?
My guess is 1967.

Edit...Must be 1968, turn signals

 

[jag312]

You did good. I love what you did. I hope you have some before photographs to compare what you accomplished.

 

[g-dad]

Tom, it looks fantastic! Great work and I'm sure it was no easy task.

 

[CBus660R]

Great job on the restoration! I haven't done anything close to that. I typically buy new, then run them into the ground and sell 'em cheap for someone else to restore! LOL Eventually I want to get a 1980 Kawasaki KDX175 since that's what my dad raced when I was a little kid and developed my love for dirtbikes.

 

[ancient-one]

I am not a cycle owner or rider but that is a nice piece of work. You can be proud.

 

[amazingflapjack]

In 1965 I wanted a CB 160 so bad it made my teeth Hurt! You did a beautiful job on a worthy subject. Congrats.

 

[Bodiebadman]

I think you did an incredible job, sir! The only thing that looks unusual to me is the tank emblems seen to be reversed - I think that the wings should face the other way. I had a CB300 from 1966 (I think) when I was 16 in 1970 and that's the way I remember the emblems. But you know what they say about memory...

Congratulations! I have an early 1980's CB400 that I would like to restore some day.

 

[ameridaddy]

Looks good as new, even better than new. Nice piece of work!
You said you were disabled, but I hope you're able to have the satisfaction of at least riding it around the neighborhood.
I miss my bikes from 45-50 years ago every now and then, but then I think I might have been maimed or worse by now if I continued riding. I just enjoy the memories.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Nice. I don’t think that is an original color on the 160,though. ;-{> That yellow screams Trail 90. You should be able to have some fun on that bike.

My stepbrother had a red CB160 that I used to ride a lot. As a result, I had to put a new cam chain in for him.


Another buddy has a CA160 that I rode up Pike’s Peak a few years ago. No, strike that. I rode his R50 up to the top, where we switched bikes and rode the 160 down. That was as recent as 2006.

Conchita has a CL175 in the garage from the one year that had sloper cylinders like the 160, 1967 or 1968, I think. That one will probably have to come into the house for some tlc next winter.

(Autocorrect wants to say slower and talc.)

 

[OLDSTER]

Looks great My first "big twin" motorcycle was a black and silver CB160 ca. 1966 .

 

[tlay]

Thanks for the comments. It is a 1968. No, it is not a standard color. But I like the color.
I will be able to ride it but I have problems shifting, I have a prosthetic leg. I move the shifter up and use my heal to upshift. I think I have one previous photo. I will look.

 

[nachogrande]

INCREDIBLE JOB.

I can understand the "inch by inch, is a cinch" part. I don't have much choice, an hour at a time is about all I can do now, & you are forced to work slower/smarter. It takes a whole lot longer, but the end results speak for themselves. Could have used your help when my brother came home with that Norton commando. 1st bike I ever attempted to ride & almost the last.

 

[old bear]

O/P, you have every reason to be proud of yourself and the great job you did. Now have fun safely riding it.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Thanks for the comments. It is a 1968. No, it is not a standard color. But I like the color.
I will be able to ride it but I have problems shifting, I have a prosthetic leg. I move the shifter up and use my heal to upshift. I think I have one previous photo. I will look.

The biggest improvement was getting the thing flipped over so it sat on its wheels. ;-{>

I wonder if you couldn't devise a heel/toe shift rocker, or adapt one from something like a Trail 90.

 

[ditrina]

WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY COOL!!: D

 

[daniel lawecki]

Nice job I had a 305 1965 Honda dream I kept in a shed mint shape never restored gave it away. Boy the dumb things you do to make space. I was getting back into guns and had several bikes at the same time. Commercial on TV at the time was ''You meet the nicest people on a Honda''.

 

[phonejack]

I bought this '48 flathead in the late 1980's. True basket case, bare frame, 3 boxes of parts, at least the wheels were spoked. Bought a parts and service manual. Went to work. None of the chromed parts were original. Replaced the suicide clutch with a rock and roll. Retained the Linky Linkert carb.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I think you did an incredible job, sir! The only thing that looks unusual to me is the tank emblems seen to be reversed - I think that the wings should face the other way. I had a CB300 from 1966 (I think) when I was 16 in 1970 and that's the way I remember the emblems. But you know what they say about memory...

Congratulations! I have an early 1980's CB400 that I would like to restore some day.

I think the tank emblems are correct. I saw a few Honda's in the 60's and remember the reversed wing emblem. Never owned one, but owned a 650 Triumph in the late 60's. A friend had a new CB750. Just smoked everything on the road. The Brits and US had a lot of catching up to do when that one hit the dealers.