looking for a new toy

[Johnwebley]

as the title says,

  something between the 200,and the 500,

  seen these,

   your comments please,what to look for,what to avoid!!!

https://dkmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycle/honda-cb360/


https://dkmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycle/honda-cb350k4/

https://dkmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycle/honda-cb350/

[Bryanj]

Hi John, the 360 is the newest, not common in UK front end same as 400 and similar cam chain tensioner with same priblems

The 350 was the big brother of the learner 250 beloved, thrashed and broken by many UK yoofs of the day.

Personaly i would go for the best cosmetic one as we all know paint is expensive, Ash would be the one to comment on the 350's

[SteveD CB500K0]

That K1 is lovely.


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[Johnny4428]

Personally I like the K4. Looks like if mechanically sound could make a good runner without spending a fortune. Full resto a different kettle of fish! Good luck with whatever you decide on.

[AshimotoK0]

That K1 is lovely.


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It's a K0 not a K1

[SteveD CB500K0]

That K1 is lovely.


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It's a K0 not a K1

That K0 is lovely.


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[SteveD CB500K0]

My room mate at uni had a CB360 (G5).

It was horrible and a money pit.


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[AshimotoK0]

I am tempted to say the 360 as the chrome looks nice and low miles but it's 1st year and they had cam chain tensioner problems. To be honest all three models ( the K4 the least though) eat cams and rockers particularly USA ones where the oil wasn't changed at the correct intervals.

All of these have acres of chrome and very expensive to re-chrome (rims £200 each, Mudguards £150 + each)  so the chrome condition can be a deciding factor.

I used to get excellent repro silencers via Jo of Brituro, a member on here but they stopped trading and the new company won't do the special ones I had made.

Not a lot of help I suppose. You really need to see them in the flesh to decide I reckon. I couldn't make out the mileage on the 350K0

[AshimotoK0]

My friend is selling a restored UK model in Gentle Maroon Metallic CB250K4 (UK models more sought after than USA imports). Everything has been re-chromed.
He never totally strips the engines though ... just  the top end (it shows 10k) and he didn't change the camchain ... so could still be a project but more engine than cosmetics and the bottom ends on that bike are pretty robust anyway.. From memory the cam etc and bores were good... one rocker had slight pitting but I gave him a really nice one.

He got the paintwork done locally but the guy wouldn't do the pinstripes and black section,  so muggins here did them.. what a pain in the ar$e that was.

[Rozabikes Tim]

Plus one on the KO. Just so pretty!

[Laverda Dave]

If it was me making the decision I think I'd go for the 250K4 being sold by the friend of Ash. There's enough work still to do to make it your own and hopefully you'll be riding it in the spring with a fully checked out bottom end.
Speaking from very recent experience with Ratty my 400/4, the cost of chrome has gone through the roof. Front and rear guards, handlebars, headlight rim, brake pedal, kickstart lever and knuckle, points cover, rear light and chain guard cost exactly £1,000. I can see you spending probably £1,700 just on the chrome of those bikes if you do the wheel rims and indicator bodies as well (I was quoted £300 per rim and £45 per indicator). Obviously we don't do this hobby to make money but then again the idea will be to avoid spending three times what the bike is actually worth.
I remember the G5’s when they were a current model, they were ugly then and haven't improved with age since. Honda were too busy gaining a foothold in the car market at the time of the G5 and it showed, they got lazy with the bikes.

[Bryanj]

All the 250/350/350 models suffered from lack of servicing at proper times so low mileage, decent running is probably best

[Johnwebley]

Ok guys, I assume the blue/white is the KO,

I assume it's between that and the  dark 350,



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[AshimotoK0]

Yes the blue one is the K0 It's 1st year 1968. It came in Candy Ruby Red, Candy Blue Green and Forest Green (solid colour). The K1 was very similar but had a pinstripe on the tank and a pleated seat plus other mechanical improvements like the deletion of the hydraulic cam chain tensioner. Do you know the mileage ? I couldn't see it in the ad looking on my phone. UPDATE ! Just noticed it's 3656. It must be late '68 or has been updated, as it doesn't have the troublesome hydraulic cam chain tensioner fitted.

This is my mates '73 CB250K4. Note the UK mudguards denoting it's a proper UK bike.

[AshimotoK0]

Well John made a really derisory offer on my mates restored K4, which I kind of find insulting.
I know the market is depressed on bikes but hey ho.

Anyway, best of luck with whatever you get but this is my last reply on this thread and quite frankly the way I am at the moment I don't think I will be posting on any thread on this forum in the short term.