1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build.

Plenty going on around the shop. The “Flaquita” build is getting close to completion, A Yamaha XT500 found a new owner, the trunk lid on the 1966 Volvo P1800 was repaired, and a seat assembly was made for the “Norasaki” build, a 400cc Kawasaki triple tied to a Norton featherbed frame.

Her name is Flaquita. A 1971 Honda CL70 with a 1970 Yamaha Trailmaster 100 tank, modified CB350 sissy bar, CRF50 footpeg assembly, custom seat and rear rack, and a 108cc stroker engine with electronic ignition and 12 Volt electrics. New cables, brake levers, tire tubes and dual sport tires, some new brake shoes, fork tubes, seals, and gaiters, and an aftermarket CT70 wire harness and key round out the build list.

When I got this bike, it had a Chinese E-start engine that was in place, but did not appear to have ever been running. The muffler, chain guard, seat, wiring harness, and tank were missing, and it was well coated with dust and rust. The tank was later located, but the Yamaha tank looked better, so it is staying. The battery cover on the side of the frame was missing, and a used one was found in an online auction for a small fortune.

The tail light body was made a couple years back, and recently wired with no particular place to put it…till the sissy bar went on this build. The rear rack was made from steel rod and brazed together with brass.

If you are heading to the skate park instead of the beach.

The tail light was made from an exhaust clamp, a WW2 era Naval aircraft light lens, a piece of a cymbal sealing the backside, and a 12 Volt LED.

The racks design uses closed rectangular loops so that no cut ends are present. The lower tail light bracket is from an unknown Honda, and has had the base modified to fit the original holes in the fender.

The 108cc stroker engine is mated with a 4-speed tranny, rolling rocker race head and cam, and a Mikuni VM26 carb.

An original CL70 bottom end was located to replace the Chinese one the bike came with.

This 1979 Yamaha XT500 was rehabilitated. A new set of bars, levers, grips, gaiters, spokes, and the ignition plate replaced the messed-up or missing ones the bike came with.

The inner support for the trunk lid on the 1966 Volvo P1800 was removed from the outer skin and repaired. Small areas had rusted through and were replaced with fresh metal.

Finally, a rear seat hump is being made for the Norasaki build. The triple’s pipes will exit the rear portion of the seat. The lines of the hump are made to echo the lines on the Manxman tank.

Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds.

The annual North Texas Norton Owners Association “Land of the Pines Rally” was on the first week-end of October in the woods of East Texas. The 1974 Norton Commando Cafe racer and 1972 Honda Z50 were brought to show, and the “Hater” bike was brought to ride. The Norton took first place in the cafe racer class.

A fully restored 1970 Z50 K2 model that was painted and put together years ago, but just recently completed for a potential sale. i have been getting rid of some bikes here and there, as my abundance of Honda minis is being traded for bigger British bikes or more space.

Another hardtail built at the same time as the blue one above, and only recently started up. Both bikes were in the loft of the shop, and following assembly left alone without any fluids left in them.

This 1966 Volvo P1800S is being prepped for sale. A new set of seat covers, new wheels and tires, and most likely a paint job will tart it up a little.

These early Volvos were known to have drainage issues in the rear, with the trunk lid and fuel filler door being problem areas. This trunk drip channel is totally destroyed by rust, needing a replacement.

The channel has been replaced and is ready for paint. The new Volvo gas tank can be seen in this image. It is a brand new correct pressing authorized and sold by Volvo. Along with the tank, the new fuel lines, filter and electric fuel pump make for a completely fresh fuel supply.

A 1979 Yamaha XT500 enduro thumper found its way into the shop. This one is special. It belonged to a friend who let me ride it years ago in a big Texas field. It was and still is a torquey, strong ride. It has been getting some basic maintenance and repair before going to another friend. This is the bike as it came, with the right handlebar bent upward from a spill

When purchased, the point cover and condenser were crushed by a rockl in a Colorado trail ride. The skid plate took some damage and had to be straightened out as well.

This one came through the shop recently for a top-end rebuild and some other repairs.

A 1971 Honda CL70 that is going to be built into a rider. The e-start Chinese engine it came with will be changed out for a Honda model.

Feeling up inside the body of the CL70, I could tell there was something unfamiliar in there where the coil usually is. Turns out it was just a voltage regulator with an extensive natural insulator on top.

The 1972 Honda Z50 took second place in the competition class, losing to Richard Asprey’s beautifully restored Cannonball winning pre-war Norton. Hard to be disappointed about second place with such a cool bike in first place.

The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes.

Here they are. The late sixties and early seventies Hondas used beautiful candy colors and chrome to compliment their creations. Although gold was not the favorite color of mine, the tank on the Z50 inspired this chain of bikes. Once done, the Z50 build inspired the CT70 build, a frame-only project that had been sitting on the shelf for years. With those two bikes done, the CB175, another project that was awaiting revival, was pulled from a friend’s shed and put back on the street. Details on the Z50 and CT70 appear in previous posts for anyone interested.

A few changes have taken place since the pictures in the last post. For one, the mufflers were put back on. The header portion of the exhaust pipes had been borrowed for the Cabracer360, and a used set had to be sourced to replace them.

A new seat cover and a set of tires and tubes were fitted. All the chrome was polished out by hand, and the rest of the bike was given a thorough wipe down.

The original electrical system was intact and functional, only needing a new set of keys, points, plugs, condenser, a battery, and a couple screws on the turn signals to be complete. The electric start on the bike works perfectly, and the bike starts easily and idles smoothly.

Both front and back wheels were rusted, and were replaced with a used set of wheels taken also from the Cabracer360 bike. Though not perfect, they look pretty good after polishing.

Gold and chrome. What a sweet combo.

The front forks were also switched out for a nice used set that came with the bike originally. The rust on the fork uppers was concealed by the covers, but the seller must have been aware and found the replacements. The lower chrome portins of the covers is also in better shape than the originals.

Other new parts include a fuel petcock from Honda, and drive chain.

Texas gold.