[Fashionable_plebe]

Hello world!

My name is Ryan. I'm 23 years old, living in LA, and just bought my first bike: a 1974 Honda CB200. It might be one of the best looking bikes I've seen in the flesh. I bought the damn thing with only 4,700 miles on it!

Am I excited to ride? Yes. Am I excited to put some work into it? Absolutely. Do I have experience as a mechanic? None whatsoever. Does that matter? Of course not--I have the internet!


I've been lurking for a couple months now, but I'm glad to officially be part of the community. Also, my first series of repairs are coming up, so stay tuned.

Ryan

 

[frogman79]

Welcome! Still one of my favorite looking bikes, looks like you got a good one.

 

[dtsmjr8dan]

Welcome to the forum, Ryan. Here's some good reading for you.....http://www.hondatwins.net/forums/74...n/18504-basic-checklist-new-you-old-bike.html

 

[ScramblerCurtis]

Congrats Ryan!! That is a great looking bike! You got one of the last survivors so take good care of it.

 

[ancientdad]

Yes, very nice looking bike for the age and the low mileage is nice too. Yes you have the internet but, more importantly, you have Honda Twins to get info from. There are many videos out there that "instruct" you on how to do certain things, but unless someone here confirms anything you've seen, take it (as your grandparents used to say) "with a grain of salt" - as well as any aftermarket manuals like Clymer. Get a Factory Service Manual (FSM), the info will be accurate unlike the many others out there that can mislead. Lots of people here who have the 175/200 models so you'll get the help you'll need.

 

[longdistancerider]

Welcome aboard, nice example of that model

 

[workdogz2]

Welcome, Sweet bike!

 

[HondaCB200Lady]

Welcome to the forum Ryan, now you are officially a member I can highly recommend the Honda Twins T shirt and proceeds go to a really good cause. http://www.hondatwins.net/forums/22...ing-66sprint-s-land-speed-record-attempt.html

 

[ctrider]

She is a beauty! Tell us a bit about her?

 

[21Waffles]

Hey Ryan, that's a good looking bike! Congrats!

 

[83XLX]

Welcome! Keep up the enthusiasm and you'll do fine.

 

[Fashionable_plebe]

Yes, very nice looking bike for the age and the low mileage is nice too. Yes you have the internet but, more importantly, you have Honda Twins to get info from. There are many videos out there that "instruct" you on how to do certain things, but unless someone here confirms anything you've seen, take it (as your grandparents used to say) "with a grain of salt" - as well as any aftermarket manuals like Clymer. Get a Factory Service Manual (FSM), the info will be accurate unlike the many others out there that can mislead. Lots of people here who have the 175/200 models so you'll get the help you'll need.

Yep, the Clymer is helpful, but I'm already thinking about printing off the FSM at the office.

 

[Fashionable_plebe]

She is a beauty! Tell us a bit about her?

She's completely stock, and purrs like a sewing machine. So far my only complaints are some faulty starter clutch springs that will have to be replaced(new thread comin soon), and also I have little to no idea how to tune the carb jets. For whatever reason, she only runs with the choke on--I already cleaned out the jets and now just need to get them tuned properly. I'm hoping that once they're tuned properly I won't run into that issue again, but if I do it sounds like I'll need to take out the carbs give them a complete cleaning.

While I'm taking a look at the starter clutch, I'm inclined to break out the multimeter and see how the stator is holding up as well. The previous owner popped in a brand new battery, and I had to walk it home the other day after the thing died in the middle of a ride.

Other than that, smooth sailing! haha

 

[ancientdad]

Requiring the choke on to run means the carbs are still gummed up somewhere... the passages in smaller engine's carbs are pretty small and it doesn't take much to clog them. As for the stator, it's more likely that the rectifier or regulator or both are at fault for your charging problem. Know that the older Honda twins don't charge much, if at all, when running low speeds or idling. You'll have better luck in the long run by replacing the pair with a combined unit from Rick's or Oregon Cycle or someone else who makes a replacement combo unit.