Cost of a good rebuild?

baytonemus · Post by **baytonemus** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:21 pm

I've rebuilt quite a few older cycles and yesterday I went and looked at a '66 CL77. This seems like it would be a really fun project, but it's so much older than any bike I've ever worked on before that I want to be sure I know what I'm getting into.

I called my local Honda dealer to ask about parts availability. He didn't give me much encouragement. I've seen other sites that offer quite a few parts for these bikes. What should I expect to spend doing a full rebuild myself for this cycle:

Thanks.

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:18 am

Very difficult to put a figure on it.

Just to get it to run as a rider, maybe $500 including tires and a spot of paint. If you want to do a complete restoration you could sink $4k or more....

Send some better pictures and tell us whether the motor is stuck, sprockets shot, etc....

G

baytonemus · Post by **baytonemus** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:50 pm

Thanks for your reply. Below are some photos. I actually have a guy who is interested in paying me to restore this bike, so I'd have some money to play with. I doubt he's got a $4000 budget, though.

Hahnda · Post by **Hahnda** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:01 pm

Depends on what you mean by restoration.

It looks like quite a few parts are missing, incorrect, or beyond repair. If you were doing a restoration all the incorrect and missing parts would have to be bought.

$1000+ in engine rebuild
$1000 in paint
$150+ in cables
$150+ Tires and tubes
etc, etc, etc It adds up fast.

Snakeoil · Post by **Snakeoil** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:01 pm

Looks like an early bike. Could be a 250 and not a 305. Check the front of the engine at the base of the cylinders. It will say 250cc or 305cc. Also check the frame and engine numbers. 250 = CL72 305 = CL77.

Lots of work required to bring that bike back. Parts, too. If it were me, I'd rather pay more and get more.

I could have purchased a running CL77 last year with all the right stuff working to pass inspection for $600.00 and I still walked away from it.

You cannot plan on getting your money back from a resto unless you are in the business and somebody is paying you to do it.

regards,
Rob

baytonemus · Post by **baytonemus** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:09 pm

Thanks for your input, guys. I appreciate your perspective on this. A couple of questions...

That engine rebuild figure surprises me. Are you factoring in the cost of having someone do the work for you? If not, what makes that cost so high?

Aside from the handlebars being incorrect, the missing mirrors and headlight parts, what else is missing?

I would be doing all of the work besides the machining myself, including painting.

Also, the sn on the frame is CL77-100..., but I didn't check the motor.

Hahnda · Post by **Hahnda** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:04 am

Yes the cost of the rebuild includes some $$$ for labor. Gaskets and oil seals will run you $100. Then it all depends on what else it needs like pistons and rings and how far you want to go as far as replacing bearings, cam chain, tensioner, valves, etc.

Tank is not correct. Looks like it might be from an early model CB350?
Missing the chain guard.