[MNellis]

With the stock handle bars on a K3 CB450 does the wiring for the switches run through the handlebar like it does on a CL350? I changed the handlebars tonight from the "clubman" style to an aftermarket 'Superbike' style bar but it doesn't have the opening to run the wires through the bars. With the clubman bars on there they wiring and front brake line were all bound up. With the lower superbike bars (from stock that is) I'm still going to have to make a new front brake line so it's not all crunched up. It will probably work ok like it is but it just doesn't look right.

I rolled the bike out of the garage (75 deg today) and it hit the bump at the garage floor entrance and I noticed the rear shocks just went boing, boing, boing for about 4 or 5 boings.....damn, there must not be any fluid at all in those things. Oh well, just more money.

 

[66Sprint]

Mike, Yes, the wiring runs inside the bars stock on both CB and CL 350's and 450's...... It isn't too hard to drill the superbike style bars so that can be done.....The best solution on the brake hoses is to replace with a shorter one... Even new the stock shocks were nominal.....
Steve

 

[MNellis]

Mike, Yes, the wiring runs inside the bars stock on both CB and CL 350's and 450's...... It isn't too hard to drill the superbike style bars so that can be done.....The best solution on the brake hoses is to replace with a shorter one... Even new the stock shocks were nominal.....
Steve

Thanks Steve, I thought the wires ran through the bars but I didn't see any mention of it in any of the manuals that I have. I'll take a close look at my CL and try to match it up. The covering on the wire is pretty brittle so I'll probably replace it with some braided cloth type of covering I picked up at the electronics store last week. Additionally, I found a guy who supplies connector kits for the old bikes and I think he has some replica wire loom covering as well. The braided stuff worked well to cover the wires running from the tail light through the rear fender and it's cheap so that is a good alternative.

http://www.vintageconnections.com/Sheathing.htm

It's not a big deal to make up a braided steel front brake line but I seem to recall seeing somewhere that someone was selling some braided line that had a rubber coating to give it a stock appearance. I'll have to root around for that some more.

The look of the CB is starting to grow on me so I'll probably abandon my thoughts of converting it to a '70 style CL. This example is pretty complete and all the parts are in pretty good condition so it just enjoy myself my trying to keep it as stock looking as possible. I'm certainly not a 'purist' so a few things off here/there is not a big deal.