julianl

Now the end is in sight with the CB350G, I'm itching to get started on the next project. I have this '80 CG125 and a '03 XR125L to choose from. I think it might be the CG next.

Also, I hadn't bled the brakes yet (or filled them with brake fluid) because the M7x1.00 bleed nipple I ordered was in fact an M8x1.25 one when it turned up, so I had to order another one.

https://i.imgur.com/q4rHpNg.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Ordered the right connectors this time. Got a straight and a 20 degree, they were about £3/each so I can try them both and go with the best fit. https://i.imgur.com/QMyZ0vA.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> The 20 degree one seems the best. https://i.imgur.com/qPuAzeD.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Added a P-clip where the old hydraulic pressure switch was, just to stop the hose rubbing. https://i.imgur.com/oAa5GBF.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Also swapped over the plastic headlight lens for a glass one. I know it doesn't make much difference, but the plastic one just looked out of place to me. https://i.imgur.com/Zh8khYS.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Much better.

I found a company that makes self-service custom brake lines. They sell the line in load of different lengths, so you buy the one you need. The line is braided (I chose a black PVC outer so it doesn't stick out on an old bike like this) and has a standard connector on each end. You then buy an adapter for each end of the hose for what you need. I needed a 10mm banjo on one end and an M10x1.25 thread on the other. This would allow me to go direct from the master cylinder to the caliper. I could then use a banjo bolt with a hydraulic switch for the front brake switch. https://i.imgur.com/Gn4qqRS.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Braided brake line. https://i.imgur.com/f8JJmjx.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> This is the M10 threaded connector attached to the hose. https://i.imgur.com/iPUUwvk.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> On the bike. https://i.imgur.com/NfpQ4NG.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Attached to the caliper. https://i.imgur.com/zvLb6Y9.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> This is where I made a bit of a balls up. I ordered a 90 degree 10mm banjo connector when I needed a straight or shallow angle one. The joint gives you a 90 degree bend anyway, and I didn't take that into account. Oh well, the connector was only about £3.50, but it is lost time. I decide to press on with the electrics instead. I really didn't like the after market ignition switch, so bought an OEM one off eBay. https://i.imgur.com/a1nzL1c.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Crappy generic and 'new' OEM one. https://i.imgur.com/UrW66n3.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> But the OEM one didn't have the loom connector on it. Luckily the crappy one did. Time for surgery. https://i.imgur.com/2RzAIZL.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Removing the old wires. https://i.imgur.com/b50ws6U.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Flux pen. https://i.imgur.com/qwmbmXw.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Splice. https://i.imgur.com/uZ5CH7k.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Properly spliced, wiring harness tubing added, and the rubber covers back on. Just need to solder it back to the ignition switch. https://i.imgur.com/odvrYaT.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Proper job. https://i.imgur.com/TY1kzku.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Nice. https://i.imgur.com/Sm35F5S.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> And also nice. https://i.imgur.com/kt6v3bv.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Installed on the bike and all works. Testing park here.

This bike differs from my 1970 CB350K Twin in that it has a hydraulic front disc brake, the only CB350 Twin model year to have this, all the four cylinder CB350F bikes have it. It's a little unusual as the brake hose is made up of three parts, an upper hose, a lower hose, and a hard line to the caliper. There's also a manifold in the middle with a hydraulic brake switch (this is the factory configuration). https://imgur.com/j4AV0BN (Click to play video). The upper front brake hose. After seeing this, I ordered a replica brake line kit from the US. This was actually pretty cheap (about £20), but took about 1.5-2 weeks to get here. https://i.imgur.com/xrHZR24.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Here's the manifold in the middle with the upper hose and lower hose (removed). The brake switch is on the rear of it. https://i.imgur.com/Ns3brQK.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Naturally I didn't think about having changed the bars until about a week after I'd ordered it. https://i.imgur.com/gzPvvBA.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> I tried routing the old upper hose round the front and round the back of the forks, but it just wasn't long enough. https://i.imgur.com/eM668iK.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> This was confirmed that I didn't have an especially short one when the replica hose set turned up, and it was equally as short. Arse. This hose was 330mm long and I needed about another 30mm. So I start looking at random bike's rear brake hoses on eBay... (Don't worry, I've already resolved this, as you will see in the next update).

Thanks Fastbob We did see a few people out on big adventure bikes, but they were going no faster than we were. They would disappear, but then we'd catch them up again when they stopped. I'm used to wild camping (which we did a couple of times on the transit legs of the journey) so camping in a camp ground was luxury in comparison. I went camping on Dartmoor about 3 years ago with the XR, but that was only about 400 miles round trip. It was also before I had the after market rack, so I just had some cheap eBay saddle bags.

https://i.imgur.com/2ezGHUd.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Clutch lever, barrel adjuster, lock nut, and a pivot bolt this time too. https://i.imgur.com/FOkdfix.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> All fitted on the bike. https://i.imgur.com/CR71FX4.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Headlight working. I am a little worried about the depth of the headlight as I plan to run an LED H4 headlight, as an upgrade and less of a draw on the older charging system, will have to see if the LED and associated heat sink will fit in this bucket. https://i.imgur.com/UTv3OvQ.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Neutral light working. https://i.imgur.com/iX0tHX5.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Clocks backlight turn on with the headlights. https://i.imgur.com/7YolAlO.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> The right hand headlight bracket is bent. I've tried bending it back but it won't budge. I've ordered a NOS one (which cost and arm and a leg, all the second hand ones I could find were bent too), but it's coming from the US (great, more import and VAT to pay).

Indicator wiring this time. https://i.imgur.com/94QNqoU.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> First, I sorted out this badly crimped live wire. Crimped and soldered for good measure. https://i.imgur.com/SMTzKTC.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> New grounds for the rear indicators, as they are rubber mounted. https://i.imgur.com/QxdpW04.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> New generic flasher relay. https://i.imgur.com/3QQVa2G.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Wired up and installed. https://i.imgur.com/j9gKwhj.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Test rear left. https://i.imgur.com/9Pul6mM.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Test rear right. https://i.imgur.com/FpolXyA.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Test front right. https://i.imgur.com/BBJ2os3.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Test front left.

Thank you, so am I

Anyone with one of those green chopping board things knows their stuff. Oh absolutely. Thanks

Working on the handlebars and controls. Also swapping out one of the indicators as it had a manufacturing defect (spot weld popped during transit). https://i.imgur.com/mrG8cYo.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Bar end mirrors, replacement indicator, and right hand switch gear. https://i.imgur.com/AyqxoKg.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Replica bars with the correct holes for the wiring. New bars were so much cheaper than rechroming the old ones. I have the edges a bit of a file so they don't shed the new wiring. https://i.imgur.com/MYib9Tz.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> This is so much easier than when I did this on my '70 CB350. That bike had surface rust inside the bars, this is nice and smooth. https://i.imgur.com/UbTrXzd.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Right hand switches fitted. Took about 5 minutes, about an hour and 25 minutes quicker than last time. https://i.imgur.com/pGqcwMW.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Need to fit the left hand switch gear. I did the right hand controls first, as there's more wires and they have to exit the same hole. https://i.imgur.com/iyGw5SW.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Done. I'm so glad I got new bars, this is so much easier to route the wires down the bars. https://i.imgur.com/1tBQuzD.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> On the bike. https://i.imgur.com/bYDEaoy.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Grips and mirrors next. https://i.imgur.com/etAoAvQ.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Left side, the easy side. https://i.imgur.com/9i7YdF3.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Right side took a little trial and error to get it to kit with no risk of the throttle tube getting stuck (took a little off the end). https://i.imgur.com/b8UvIkc.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> The bike had god awful modern design levers from eBay. I got this replica master cylinder from David Silver. https://i.imgur.com/6jHv6ID.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Nice. https://i.imgur.com/5gH077v.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Clutch level mocked up (forgot to get a pivot bolt). https://i.imgur.com/hVrka13.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Looking good. https://i.imgur.com/sjJflaY.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Pattern part for the tank mount rubber. These are really expensive if you want NOS. https://i.imgur.com/4n8Bafq.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Lots of wiring in my future.

Thanks guys, much appreciated

Thank you. I saw someone post about riding to the Hebrides on reddit a few years ago, that really sparked my interest. I mentioned it to a buddy at work and that spurred him on to do his CBT and get a bike. I had two weeks off work for the holiday, but it was three days from Hampshire to Ullapool, arriving in Stornoway on the afternoon of the third day. We were in Glasgow my the end of day two. On the way back it was two days from Oban back to Hampshire. Yeah, he likes a bit of an adventure. He did Land's End to John O'Groats by bicycle last year. But it wasn't too bad for him as he started and finished near Birmingham.

Working on the clocks this time. https://i.imgur.com/MbOhIOV.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> OEM Honda parts. https://i.imgur.com/3nShvtB.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Replaced the back lights with LED so they will last longer. https://i.imgur.com/i5YSk7R.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Replaced the insulation on the back light wiring. This was brittle and useless. https://i.imgur.com/bAoLDFX.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> As were the gaskets for the clocks. https://i.imgur.com/4MDXiKd.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> I think the previous person to work on the clock glued these gaskets back on. https://i.imgur.com/Z9RylxJ.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> I got them off in the end. https://i.imgur.com/OwXhuyO.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> New gaskets. https://i.imgur.com/qKxtUJX.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Much better. https://i.imgur.com/2fXSJ5V.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> https://i.imgur.com/jAuEKSQ.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Good seal. https://i.imgur.com/HwGZKgY.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Testing. https://i.imgur.com/3qTmZ5w.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> More testing. https://i.imgur.com/VaBV21E.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> The fasteners are wrong and the fitting hardware has seen better days. These parts are all still available and are cheap. https://i.imgur.com/rtdMzTF.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> New grommets, two per clock. https://i.imgur.com/mxnLGlp.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Collar, two per clock. https://i.imgur.com/jMVJldN.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Acorn nuts, two per clock. https://i.imgur.com/Ix0SjJd.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'> Clocks back on the bike.