blanderswake
New member
I need some opinions on these bikes for daily commuting. First is a Honda Passport with a Lifan 110 swapped in. I ride a stock one now, and I love the 90-100 MPG from it, but it can't climb a hill at more than 35 MPH. I also can't take it out of town. I hate Chinese products, but a Lifan 110 is under $400, and could get me up that hill. It's a four-speed semi-automatic, good for city use.
Second is a '72 Honda CL350 (same as CB350). I got the bike for free, it has no title, has been sitting a while, and has an oil leak. I'd like to keep this to make a cafe racer from, since I really want a hot rod/custom vehicle and can't afford to keep my S10 project anymore. I have no problem with the idea of butchering a Honda motorcycle. The problem is, my hands aren't great, due to my scumbag employers (they're also the reason I have to sell my S10). I don't know how much clutching I could handle in stop-and-go traffic. That brings me to:
Third; an old Honda CM400 Automatic. Can be had cheap, fairly easy on gas, very similar to riding my Pisspoor.
Fourth; Yamaha Vino 125. About as small as my Passport, but can go up hills. Has nice stuff my Honda doesn't have, like an automatic choke and a gas gauge. Cheap ones on Craigslist.
Is the CL350 easy to fix and keep running?
Is the Lifan engine any good, even though it's Chinese?
How good is the Vino 125?
How good is the CM400A? Its engine won't fit in a CL350, will it?
Any other suggestions? Honda Helixes and Elites are too big and dorky. All of the newer super scooters are a bit too expensive.
Second is a '72 Honda CL350 (same as CB350). I got the bike for free, it has no title, has been sitting a while, and has an oil leak. I'd like to keep this to make a cafe racer from, since I really want a hot rod/custom vehicle and can't afford to keep my S10 project anymore. I have no problem with the idea of butchering a Honda motorcycle. The problem is, my hands aren't great, due to my scumbag employers (they're also the reason I have to sell my S10). I don't know how much clutching I could handle in stop-and-go traffic. That brings me to:
Third; an old Honda CM400 Automatic. Can be had cheap, fairly easy on gas, very similar to riding my Pisspoor.
Fourth; Yamaha Vino 125. About as small as my Passport, but can go up hills. Has nice stuff my Honda doesn't have, like an automatic choke and a gas gauge. Cheap ones on Craigslist.
Is the CL350 easy to fix and keep running?
Is the Lifan engine any good, even though it's Chinese?
How good is the Vino 125?
How good is the CM400A? Its engine won't fit in a CL350, will it?
Any other suggestions? Honda Helixes and Elites are too big and dorky. All of the newer super scooters are a bit too expensive.