New Forum Member

[mooney1el]

Hello Folks - I don't know if this belongs here or in restorations, but since I am not technically restoring my motorcycle I decided to post here. Allow me to introduce myself with a little information about me and my bike. I am Richard Gray, signed on here as mooney1el, a 63 year old retired automotive industry engineer. I have recently moved from the frozen north (Detroit area) to Florida and have now decided to get by bike back on the road. During the early 70's, I rode it to work every available day (Michigan weather after all) and in one week I had to put the bike down twice. The traffic was getting to be too much and I swear the cars were out to "get" me. I decided that riding in the big metropolitan area was not for me. Over the years, I have sporatically ridden several other motorcycles and owned quite a few for "fixing" and pleasure (BSA 441 Victor, Triumph Bonneville, and a whole host of Bultacos).

In 1967, I bought my first new bike (I had owned a Ducati and a 150 Benly) a 305 Scrambler from Honda of Ann Arbor and I paid $695 cash, I have the receipt. The frame is number CL77 - 1047594 and the engine is CL77E - 1047948. I "loved" the bike and have kept it all these years. It is currently showing 5048 miles on the odometer. I originally painted the tank and fenders a silver metal flake with blue highlights, but my brother in law laid it down and scraped the paint up, so I switched to a white pearl with orange; that is the current paint job. I put chrome accessories when I could afford them (college kid, broke) purchased from the Honda dealers in the area. The side covers, headlight, center engine cover, tool box, chain guard and shock covers are now chromed instead of the original black. The engine has a "big bore" kit (I can't remember the displacement nor the manufacturer, but I bought it at the Dearborn, MI dealership) and a "high performance" camshaft.

In 1974 I quit riding this bike; I drained the tank, put fresh oil in the crank case and put it in the garage. I "forgot" to remove the battery however. I would occasionally turn it over with the kick start and it is as free today as it was back then.

The bike has moved with me to Florida. I have polished the chrome (there is some significant pittting on the exhaust "bends" and in the depressions in the wheels, but otherwise it has cleaned up nicely. I intend to have it running with fresh oil, new tires and new gas :)

Thanks for listening,

Richard

[brewsky]

Welcome to the forum. Good to see someone still has the same one they bought new! Wish I did.
I paid the same amount for a Superhawk in 1967 (as well as I can remember), but it is long gone now.
I did run in to the man who owned the dealership and sold it to me recently by chance, and reminded him he took my last dollar at the time.
Lets see some pics!

[rbunyan4]

I can sympathize with your reluctance to ride in urbanized areas. I grew up in Santa Ana, California, not far from Disneyland, and in 1966 I would ride with my buddy to the beach on his new Super Hawk with no problems. I purchased a restored 1966 Scrambler this March (found it in Maryland) and try to ride it as often as I can. However, times have changed here and you ride with extra caution. (Gone are the country roads and orange groves). Incidentally, we don't see very many of these bikes, even at the many car meets here in Orange County. I expect when you get your bike on the road and do take it to any meets you'll get alot of guys inspecting it and telling you how it brings back fond memories. Enjoy your rides!

[rrietman]

richard: good luck with your scrambler. remember it's a very simple machine, don't overthink when trying to diagnose troubles. my wife and I have relatives in Jacksonville and always enjoy a drive up to Fernandina beach.
Randy
bellingham wa

[G-Man]

Richard
Welcome and thanks for the interesting reminiscences. I envy you. I never had one of these new but fell in love with them on a brief trip to the USA in 2001. A bike shop in Tuscola IL had a CL77 for 200 bucks but I had no way of getting it home to UK.

I now have three ( don't ask ) which I am restoring. I am hoping to have one running by fall. I would love to see pictures of yours. I can understand your reluctance to ride in modern traffic having done my firs driving in the USA in the Detroit area.

I got knocked off my old Matchless on the way to work some years ago and deciding that riding with sleepy car drivers was a risk I was no longer prepared to run.

Good luck with that CL - keep us updated.

G

[LOUD MOUSE]

Welcome.
If your numbers are correct (I'm sure they are) ya have proof which debunks the idea that these bikes only came with numbers not much more than a hundred/couple of hundred apart.
You show 354 so I recommend that those on this forum remember that they did come with quite
a number spread. ..............lm

Hello Folks - I don't know if this belongs here or in restorations, but since I am not technically restoring my motorcycle I decided to post here. Allow me to introduce myself with a little information about me and my bike. I am Richard Gray, signed on here as mooney1el, a 63 year old retired automotive industry engineer. I have recently moved from the frozen north (Detroit area) to Florida and have now decided to get by bike back on the road. During the early 70's, I rode it to work every available day (Michigan weather after all) and in one week I had to put the bike down twice. The traffic was getting to be too much and I swear the cars were out to "get" me. I decided that riding in the big metropolitan area was not for me. Over the years, I have sporatically ridden several other motorcycles and owned quite a few for "fixing" and pleasure (BSA 441 Victor, Triumph Bonneville, and a whole host of Bultacos).

In 1967, I bought my first new bike (I had owned a Ducati and a 150 Benly) a 305 Scrambler from Honda of Ann Arbor and I paid $695 cash, I have the receipt. The frame is number CL77 - 1047594 and the engine is CL77E - 1047948. I "loved" the bike and have kept it all these years. It is currently showing 5048 miles on the odometer. I originally painted the tank and fenders a silver metal flake with blue highlights, but my brother in law laid it down and scraped the paint up, so I switched to a white pearl with orange; that is the current paint job. I put chrome accessories when I could afford them (college kid, broke) purchased from the Honda dealers in the area. The side covers, headlight, center engine cover, tool box, chain guard and shock covers are now chromed instead of the original black. The engine has a "big bore" kit (I can't remember the displacement nor the manufacturer, but I bought it at the Dearborn, MI dealership) and a "high performance" camshaft.

In 1974 I quit riding this bike; I drained the tank, put fresh oil in the crank case and put it in the garage. I "forgot" to remove the battery however. I would occasionally turn it over with the kick start and it is as free today as it was back then.

The bike has moved with me to Florida. I have polished the chrome (there is some significant pittting on the exhaust "bends" and in the depressions in the wheels, but otherwise it has cleaned up nicely. I intend to have it running with fresh oil, new tires and new gas :)

Thanks for listening,

Richard

[LOUD MOUSE]

I lived on Halladay St. in San Ana when I purchased my 1962 CL72 Scrambler.
Then moved to Garden Grove, Salinaz St., and had a 1963 CL72 there in 1964.
I rode many, many miles on those bikes (to Lake Arrowhead) with a couple of friends with 305 engines one time.
That 250 did a fair job keeping up!
I sold the 1963 in 1965 and at that time set my mind to working on/restoring them when I retired.
So here I am at 72 and I now ride a 1963 SH on some of the most beautiful roads/highways here in Kerrville, Texas. ..............lm

I can sympathize with your reluctance to ride in urbanized areas. I grew up in Santa Ana, California, not far from Disneyland, and in 1966 I would ride with my buddy to the beach on his new Super Hawk with no problems. I purchased a restored 1966 Scrambler this March (found it in Maryland) and try to ride it as often as I can. However, times have changed here and you ride with extra caution. (Gone are the country roads and orange groves). Incidentally, we don't see very many of these bikes, even at the many car meets here in Orange County. I expect when you get your bike on the road and do take it to any meets you'll get alot of guys inspecting it and telling you how it brings back fond memories. Enjoy your rides!