Man, that is a nice looking bike there. I had a 1972 CL175 which was my first brand new Honda back in high school. They are fun to ride and so reliable. I watched your video and I agree...keep the OEM paint on there. Pretty neat that is the original paint. I have a 1974 Honda CB750 in the sunflake orange if you recall that color. My tank has no dents and the decals are perfect. A little fading on the top of the tank, but that fact that it is the original paint is way cool. The side covers are perfect. I am leaving it alone. Thanks for sharing...

 

Nice. I own a 1971 CL175 myself. Kinda' odd that somebody changed the headlight bucket and ears to white instead of body color. I don't like how the previous owner messed around with the fuel petcock, though. If it was mine, I'd take it apart and check it/clean it/rebuild it and run it as original- two lines, one to each carb, no splitter.

If you do decide to correct that stuff, please don't use that thick, heavy, insulated automotive fuel line because it's "convenient" to buy at a car parts place. Use the correct thin, easy-to-route motorcycle fuel line. It's easy and cheap to do, looks correct, and is available from Dennis Kirk and many, many other places. Motion Pro makes good fuel line.

 

I wonder if the previous owner had a clandestine reason for running one fuel line though a splitter.

Indolent question, how do the headlight ears come off?

 

I wonder if the previous owner had a clandestine reason for running one fuel line though a splitter.

Indolent question, how do the headlight ears come off?

To get the fork ears off you have to remove the front fender & wheel and then loosen the fork pinch bolts. Then twist the fork tube tops (under the gators) to break them free and slide the tubes down and out of the ears. Then take the headlight out as you will have to remove & disconnect the blinker wires and blinkers. Then you should be able to figure out how to get the ears off from there. If you have not done this before take plenty of pics. They will help you out a lot when you reassemble. Are you taking the ears off for paint? As long as you have the forks off maybe now is the time to change out that fork oil.

 

^^^There's your answer on removal. What you're going to depressingly discover is that the headlight ears have been hiding (and actually causing) rusted fork tubes underneath.
It's surprisingly tricky to reassemble all of the rings, covers, spacers, boots, etc. when putting the forks back on. It's best to have a helper to hold and align parts as you slide the tubes back home...what's your progress on the bike? :?:

 

Progress has been going well. Every week I find something new. She is red-lining at 60mph. Someone in the bike's past put a 13-tooth front sprocket on. A 17-tooth is on the way. Here's a new video.

I like the lazy loping idle sound giving way to a chainsaw wail.

 

13T countershaft? That's really wrong!
Just listened to it run- too bad about the usual rusted out exhaust system. You do realize that CL175's should be pretty much silent, except for valve clatter? They all tend to hold water on the bottom of the lower muffler and rot out. Sounds like you really like that roar, but if it ends up bothering you I have a spare stock CL175 muffler that sounds quiet.

 

Nice. I own a 1971 CL175 myself. Kinda' odd that somebody changed the headlight bucket and ears to white instead of body color. I don't like how the previous owner messed around with the fuel petcock, though. If it was mine, I'd take it apart and check it/clean it/rebuild it and run it as original- two lines, one to each carb, no splitter.

If you do decide to correct that stuff, please don't use that thick, heavy, insulated automotive fuel line because it's "convenient" to buy at a car parts place. Use the correct thin, easy-to-route motorcycle fuel line. It's easy and cheap to do, looks correct, and is available from Dennis Kirk and many, many other places. Motion Pro makes good fuel line.

Probably the easiest way to fit an inline fuel filter in my opinion. The question would be why did he need it?

 

No kidding. Maybe the P.O. wanted to give it some off-road credentials.

13T countershaft? That's really wrong!
Just listened to it run- too bad about the usual rusted out exhaust system. You do realize that CL175's should be pretty much silent, except for valve clatter? They all tend to hold water on the bottom of the lower muffler and rot out. Sounds like you really like that roar, but if it ends up bothering you I have a spare stock CL175 muffler that sounds quiet.

 

I found your videos yesterday on youtube when looking at the newest CL175 vids by upload date.

Be thankful yours runs so much better than mine (even after I rebuilt the top end.) It should be a fun bike to play with.