Sam1991 Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 Hi all my name is Sam and I’m in the process of hopefully restoring what I’ve been told is a Honda Benly 200. So I basically saved this bike from the skip, it has no paper work etc and is lacking pretty much everything in order to make it move or stop but I’m thinking with a bit of money and time I could potentially have this bike restored. I have no time limit on the project so it’s as and when I have a few hours but I’m slowly taking parts off and taking them back to bare metal/removing rust and re spraying. I’m just struggling to find the actual model number and cc of the engine as the frame number doesn’t bring up any information online. Anyway any information would be grateful appreciated. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorky Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24494/lot/167/c1980-honda-cd200-benly-project-frame-no-ma01-2003340-engine-no-ma01e-2003352/ Looks like what you've been told is correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 That looks like a cracking project. Part of the fun of a restoration in finding the parts - or at least I've always found it that way. Hope it goes well. Keep us updated on progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam1991 Posted July 6, 2023 Author Share Posted July 6, 2023 Appreciate both of the reply’s and Thankyou ‘Yorky’ for finding that link I was starting to wonder if the bike was imported as I couldn’t find any information on it so that’s good news. I’m slowly starting to take the bike apart and take off the old paint/rust so it’s going to be a bit of a journey but looking forward to it! Like you said ‘Mississippi bullfrog’ im definitely enjoying trawling through the internet looking for my next part. I’ve recently purchased an original Speedo and ignition cluster. So slowly getting there. Just need an engine among other things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickly Posted July 8, 2023 Share Posted July 8, 2023 It’s a very therapeutic process, just remember that you won’t make any money on it, the deficit between cost & selling price is the amount you have paid for the fun of doing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam1991 Posted July 16, 2023 Author Share Posted July 16, 2023 So the strip down/clean is going pretty well, I’m meticulously taking apart the whole bike and giving it all a good clean before I clean the old rust and paint off ready for some primer!. My choice of beverage being beer for most of these evenings has meant that progress on the strip down has been extremely swift but any form of labelling of parts has sadly been neglected! I mean how hard can it be. A Haynes manual may be on the horizon! But ok the positive I’m very much enjoying getting stuck in even with my limited knowledge. I made abit of a concerning discover when cleaning off the crud from the rear swing arm (if that is the correct term) theres quite a substantial hole. Obviously I don’t think it’s fixable with welding on a plate etc but I’m struggling to find a replacement part. I’ve looked on all the usually websites to find one for sale but sadly there’s none. I’m just wondering if anyone knew if there was another bike which shared a similar rear swing arm that would in a perfect world just bolt on? I may be asking to much but you never know! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GojuRyu5 Posted July 26, 2023 Share Posted July 26, 2023 Ooo, that looks rough Sam. I’m restoring a similarity aged Honda CB100N (c1980) and it looks like we’re at a broadly similar stage. My swing arm wasn’t that bad though - I’d strip it and clean it up so you can make a proper assessment and get some advice from either a local bike shop or metal fabricator. An alternative could be to find a ‘parts only’ bike of a similar year on eBay and you might get lucky. They do come up occasionally for mine. Given the age, you might want to look at the bearings on that swing arm if you decide to use it. It was tricky to get the bearings out of mine after 40ish years, so feel free to PM me for the details. You should also remove that Torque Arm and give that some treatment. Mine had a small rust hole in it which required attention - fortunately it wasn’t too bad and was a relatively quick fix. If it helps, I could get the dimensions of my swing arm for comparison - I understand that bikes in the era were known to share parts. It might be useful to check. Best of luck with the work, and keep the pictures coming. There is a specific thread for restoration projects, and I’d be interested to follow your progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GojuRyu5 Posted July 26, 2023 Share Posted July 26, 2023 Nah, actually, I just checked mine and it’s sufficiently different not to be of any use. Sorry about that. But eBay does have a range of bits for the CD200 - keep an eye out, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam1991 Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 Yes the swing arm isn’t filling me with a lot of confidence but I’m sure after some cleaning to examine the damage there could be a chance it’s salvageable! If not then a replacement isn’t by any means expensive so it’s not the end of the world. Well my progress so far! The frame is now stripped to its bare bones which was rather easy and of course all nuts, bolts and washers have all been carefully thrown on the same table in no particular order so the rebuild is going to be interesting! BUT!! With my most recent purchase on the UKs most popular online auction being the Haynes manual I’m feeling pretty confident with this restoration having a positive outcome but of course only time will tell. So after spending lots and lots of time sanding, paint stripping, swearing and wire wheeling the bike frame I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m going to get it sand blasted. I cannot get in all the nooks/ crannies and there’s some stubborn rust that I cannot budge so it just wouldnt feel right rushing this part and succumbing to my childish excitement to start priming the frame! So I’m going to be patient and get it done right, fingers crossed also I should be picking up an engine in the next week! so we’re slowly but surely moving forward! Just a bit more cleaning and spraying then we can start rebuilding but I feel like I want to do this stage properly or atleast the best I can. Also any feedback is welcome I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing really but I’m having a go! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GojuRyu5 Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 (edited) Looking good. My frame is in a similar state. I’m recording my progress under the restoration thread. Check it out. My Honda CB100N project - “Rusty” Edited July 29, 2023 by GojuRyu5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
childjulia Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 that looks roug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam1991 Posted August 14, 2023 Author Share Posted August 14, 2023 So finally we are here! A pinnacle moment and one I have been working hard towards, with many hours of sanding/scratching away at paint and rust I have got the frame to a point where I am happy enough to prime it. Thankyou very much to GojuRyu5 for taking the time to explain the ‘Electrolysis’ process to me as this was very helpful. So fingers crossed I have done enough prep to give this frame a half decent chance of getting a good solid protective layer of paint over it and that it stays there. My main priority is getting most of the metal parts stripped and painted before the weather turns as I have developed this internal hate for rust! On a positive note the engine is turning up tomorrow so I’m looking forward to a change of scenery and all new challenges this will bring. We’re slowly getting there! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideWithStyles Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 (edited) Sorry late to the party... wow good show, it should look a beauti when it gets done. Just on a note of Sand blasting, yes it is quick and easy with very impressive results if done right but you ideally need plenty of metal (solid) in in the first place. it is a really the top level of aggressive for removing surface, its very easy to hole or even completely destroy (turn it into metal particles on the floor) that swing arm in less than a blink of an eye. That swing is really soft and thin metal when it was new let alone 40 years and a hole or two added... id be sooo choosy in trusting to do that, only letting operator who has done these old bikes loads before, not just letting any sandblaster have ago at it! Its a pain and loads of time (you did say no time limit! ) but its the safest! Vapour blasters are safer on more fragile parts. just thought of other options for future are acid baths (like chromer shops, that do gravure rollers for instance) and maybe if the part isnt too fragile are sonic cleaners. For rare parts and info of these bikes might be good to start finding a trusted source / shop in or near japan (internet makes this easier) or maybe if there is a specialist that has the contact already? its their home market they do keep and value these old timers more than we did... looking forward on further updates on this build. Edited September 2, 2023 by RideWithStyles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GojuRyu5 Posted September 2, 2023 Share Posted September 2, 2023 Absolutely love the way this has come out mate; it looks like you have managed a good clean piece to start your priming. It’ll look amazing once the top coats are on! Nice one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GojuRyu5 Posted September 2, 2023 Share Posted September 2, 2023 On 14/08/2023 at 20:31, Sam1991 said: On a positive note the engine is turning up tomorrow so I’m looking forward to a change of scenery and all new challenges this will bring. How is the engine looking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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