10/26/11 I’ve been riding my motorcycle around quite a bit lately. Even in the cold and dark. So I decided to do a few small updates since a lot of basic stuff on the bike, like turn signals, didn't work. We had a tail light and some generic turn signals sitting around the shop. dp has acquired quite the collection of motorcycle bits and pieces over the years so it would be a matter of scavenging what I can and making it work.

I’ve owned a few POSs in my time and I should know by now that there is no such thing as a quick project with these things. I thought I could change out the taillight in a few minutes, wow was I wrong! I took a look at the taillight on the bike and the taillight I wanted to install, and they looked similar enough that all I needed to do was fabricate a bracket to mount the new light and plug it in. I wanted to remove the very large stock classic CB tail light and license bracket.

In a way I’ve decided that I’m going to fix this bike up as a kind of hybrid between a café racer and a restored classic. I quite like the completely original cb350Four look but at the same time I like the café style too. So basically I use what parts I can get my hands on and buy a few bits here and there.

I fabricated the bracket and installed it in no time, I even moved the license plate and installed the turn signals. Then it came time to plug the taillight in, three wires coming from my bike and two wires from the light. I don’t know much about wiring and electronics, but I thought I could make something work. It turns out the new tail light was only a brake light, with a two wire bulb. My bike needs a light that can stay on (running light) and a brake light. The reason for the three wires was now clear.

So now I had a to make a three-wire bulb work in the new housing. Around this time I thought I should visit my brother at his shop and see what kind of parts I could bum off of him. I also needed the internals to the left hand controls (blinker controls). The left side wires were there but tucked behind the dash somewhere.

This whole project went to a new level when I saw what was behind the headlight. At this point I had pretty much resigned to the fact that I would have to completely tear apart the wiring harness- if you can even call that rats nest of wires a wiring harness! Should have taken a picture of that but didn't in my distress. I was just about to fall into the rabbit hole that is untangling 38 year old wires. I didn’t make a list of what needed to be done, I didn’t want to think about it! So I just set up my work area and took the whole thing one system at a time.

I finally got the tail light to work but then the headlight wouldn’t work, and vice versa. I would get the right side turn signals to work but not the left, and vice versa. It was clear I needed a new turn signal flasher. Luckily I had just installed a modern fuse, when trying to get the blinkers to blink I blew that fuse many times. The web has proven to be my best resource for info. A quick search and I was off to Napa to pick up a generic flasher, one that is not thermal so it's not affected by low-power bulbs. Otherwise a replacement bike part would have been twice the price and wouldn't have worked anyway.

In a poor attempt to fix my speedo I lubed the cable, also the throttle cables and tachometer (speedo still not working). I also replaced a few burnt out dash lights, repaired the headlight switch and purchased/installed a new headlight. All while learning as I went and going in circles fixing one thing just to find out I broke another!

Eventually I got everything tidied up and working reliably. It's quite fun to flip the turn signal switch and actually have the signals work, knowing I made it happen. The bike is back together now and I’ve been commuting on it quite a bit. It’s a fun little toy. The more I ride it the more I want to ride it! : ) The pictures below are before and after.

I’m actually looking forward to tearing into the engine over the winter to stop the massive oil leaks. Everyone thinks my riding boots are new because they are so clean and shiny. They’re not- it’s from the oil spray that I constantly have to clean off (really safe right?!).

Among other items this thing needs are new tires. I friend with the same bike told me he runs scooter tires (with the appropriate speed rating, of course) and that they are really cheap! We’ll see what I can find. My motorcycling budget is almost non-existent and I’ve already put a few hundred into it. I’m sure it’s nothing compared to owning a vintage Ducati or the like.