When you get this puppy going, I'm interested in the road test. The first bike I had was a CL450 Honda 40 years ago. I had ridden it to work and nowhere else, but one weekend I decided to go a little farther. I took a ride from Pittsburgh to Ebensburg and back. On the way home, I almost dropped it at a red light in Murraysville because the vibration had put my hands and feet to sleep! I was hooked on day rides, and a few months later a 1978 KZ650 yard rescue entered the picture. It was a quantum leap over the Honda, much smoother and powerful.
Right on! The earlier twin-cylinder bikes could be very vibey. I'm pretty sure this one has a counterbalancer to help with the vibes, so we'll see how smooth it is. The KZ650 was a great bike and I hope to review one someday. I briefly owned a dark blue KZ650 and remember it fondly. Cheers!
Great work! I had my carburetor engine side manifolds crack and delaminate from their aluminum cores after a few years, but it was totally my fault for screwing with them by pulling the airbox and installing K&N pod filters, when I did a re-jet and 2 into1 pipe. I felt like an idiot later for not supporting the weight of the carbs via a bracket or even zip ties, duh, but oh well. Young and not so bright, lol.
That's common when the airbox is removed. Not many people even give it a thought until there are issues. Experience is a great teacher. At least you rejetted with the pipe and filters. Cheers!
While it doesn't eat paint, everything I've ever read about it tells me that unless the brake system is designed for DOT5 there will be materials compatibility issues.
@spaceflight1019 I had grown up thinking that it was taboo as well. But several well-respected shops I know do the conversion on a regular basis. I even called one of them with my concerns. They assured me there wouldn't be issues. I now run the dot 5 in several of my vintage bike without issue. However, it is the responsibility and choice of every bike owner to make that choice for themselves. If you have concerns, don't do it 🙂. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 When the DOT5 first came out the classic car crowd was all over it, because it doesn't absorb water like the glycol based fluids. Corvette owners, fond of stainless steel brake calipers, were the most concerned. But that was when DOT5 was new, and there wasn't a lot that was known about it. Motorcycle brake calipers are usually made of aluminum alloy, and while HD used it (I'm not sure if they still do) the knowledge base is much larger than it once was.
To soften carb boots, I boil about 3 liters of water in a kettle and give those rubbers the 100°C treatment. It's not too messy, and heats the boots evenly with no chance of an overheat.
That works if you take the boots off the bike. However, it wouldn't help when removing and reinstalling the carbs. There's no real risk of overheating using a hair dryer. Cheers!
That's a good looking machine.. Looks similar to the 750 super sport from back in that era. Also back in the 1980s friend of mine had a Honda Hawk similar to this but it was a medium blue color. Don't remember what year it was.
"Do not mix these fluids. Only use DOT 5 in a completely dry system or in a vehicle that already has DOT 5 in the system. DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 are all interchangeable. Boiling points are the most critical aspect of brake fluid to keep an eye on." From Google. This is as confusing as possible.
Yes, it's very confusing. It's why I called Johnny's Vintage Motorcycles and talked to their mechanic first. I am comfortable doing the conversion on a completely drained system (like this one) since mixing the fluids causes compatibility issues. However, there's no NEED to do this, and I don't do the conversion on more modern bikes. Cheers!
@@spaceflight1019 Right on. It's a good idea to refresh your brake fluid every so often. Doing it yearly certainly helps you to remember to do it. Most people never change their fluid which eventually leads to problems. Cheers!
Thorough job almost done, Jon. Nick
Thanks, Nick!
Enjoyed the video Jon. Nice work going over the bike getting it ready for the road. It'll be a fun bike to ride. RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!
Thanks, Henry!
When you get this puppy going, I'm interested in the road test.
The first bike I had was a CL450 Honda 40 years ago. I had ridden it to work and nowhere else, but one weekend I decided to go a little farther. I took a ride from Pittsburgh to Ebensburg and back. On the way home, I almost dropped it at a red light in Murraysville because the vibration had put my hands and feet to sleep! I was hooked on day rides, and a few months later a 1978 KZ650 yard rescue entered the picture. It was a quantum leap over the Honda, much smoother and powerful.
Right on! The earlier twin-cylinder bikes could be very vibey. I'm pretty sure this one has a counterbalancer to help with the vibes, so we'll see how smooth it is. The KZ650 was a great bike and I hope to review one someday. I briefly owned a dark blue KZ650 and remember it fondly. Cheers!
Great work! I had my carburetor engine side manifolds crack and delaminate from their aluminum cores after a few years, but it was totally my fault for screwing with them by pulling the airbox and installing K&N pod filters, when I did a re-jet and 2 into1 pipe. I felt like an idiot later for not supporting the weight of the carbs via a bracket or even zip ties, duh, but oh well. Young and not so bright, lol.
That's common when the airbox is removed. Not many people even give it a thought until there are issues. Experience is a great teacher. At least you rejetted with the pipe and filters. Cheers!
Good tip on the Dot 5 brake fluid. Did not know that it doesn't eat paint!
While it doesn't eat paint, everything I've ever read about it tells me that unless the brake system is designed for DOT5 there will be materials compatibility issues.
@spaceflight1019 I had grown up thinking that it was taboo as well. But several well-respected shops I know do the conversion on a regular basis. I even called one of them with my concerns. They assured me there wouldn't be issues. I now run the dot 5 in several of my vintage bike without issue. However, it is the responsibility and choice of every bike owner to make that choice for themselves. If you have concerns, don't do it 🙂. Cheers!
It's a tip I got from other restorers. I suggest doing your own research before doing the conversion. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 When the DOT5 first came out the classic car crowd was all over it, because it doesn't absorb water like the glycol based fluids. Corvette owners, fond of stainless steel brake calipers, were the most concerned. But that was when DOT5 was new, and there wasn't a lot that was known about it. Motorcycle brake calipers are usually made of aluminum alloy, and while HD used it (I'm not sure if they still do) the knowledge base is much larger than it once was.
@spaceflight1019 HD still used DOT 5 through at least 2015.
To soften carb boots, I boil about 3 liters of water in a kettle and give those rubbers the 100°C treatment. It's not too messy, and heats the boots evenly with no chance of an overheat.
That works if you take the boots off the bike. However, it wouldn't help when removing and reinstalling the carbs. There's no real risk of overheating using a hair dryer. Cheers!
No repairs , easy to maintain and looks clean overall for a 40 plus years old bike ...... it's going to be happy ownership for sure .
Right on!
That's a good looking machine.. Looks similar to the 750 super sport from back in that era.
Also back in the 1980s friend of mine had a Honda Hawk similar to this but it was a medium blue color. Don't remember what year it was.
The blue Hawk was pre 1980, so probably 1978-1979. Cheers!
"Do not mix these fluids. Only use DOT 5 in a completely dry system or in a vehicle that already has DOT 5 in the system. DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 are all interchangeable. Boiling points are the most critical aspect of brake fluid to keep an eye on."
From Google. This is as confusing as possible.
Yes, it's very confusing. It's why I called Johnny's Vintage Motorcycles and talked to their mechanic first. I am comfortable doing the conversion on a completely drained system (like this one) since mixing the fluids causes compatibility issues. However, there's no NEED to do this, and I don't do the conversion on more modern bikes. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I replace the fluid every spring on my 2005 Roadster, just because it's an easy thing to do. It's the 5 fluid.
@@spaceflight1019 Right on. It's a good idea to refresh your brake fluid every so often. Doing it yearly certainly helps you to remember to do it. Most people never change their fluid which eventually leads to problems. Cheers!