Who rides motorcycles?

[CalG]

Back in 1972, if I knew then what I do now, I may have chosen an SL350 for my first motorcycle over the XL250. I loved my XL but most of my friends rode CB350s and RD350s. On highway rides the CB riders insisted that the RD350 guys rode behind them because they hated following in the 2-stroke smoke. I often couldn't keep up with either so I rode last...... in the smoke. An SL might have been the perfect compromise for me.

When my friends were riding SL350s and CL305s.

I was riding a matchless 500 and then a BSA Victor 441.
The switch to a Yamaha RT1 was a treat. (Bought NEW for $775)

 

[walnutman]

Back in 1972, if I knew then what I do now, I may have chosen an SL350 for my first motorcycle over the XL250. I loved my XL but most of my friends rode CB350s and RD350s. On highway rides the CB riders insisted that the RD350 guys rode behind them because they hated following in the 2-stroke smoke. I often couldn't keep up with either so I rode last...... in the smoke. An SL might have been the perfect compromise for me.

No an SL350 is slow. Top speed I think is like 50 but you can get 60 out of the. I had a early 70s RD350 and it was nuts. Front end would go up in 6th gear.

 

[Milo]

No an SL350 is slow. Top speed I think is like 50 but you can get 60 out of the. I had a early 70s RD350 and it was nuts. Front end would go up in 6th gear.

Wasn't the SL350 essentially the same engine as a CL350 Scrambler, which was the same or very similar to a CB350? Or was the SL350 entirely different?

 

[walnutman]

Wasn't the SL350 essentially the same engine as a CL350 Scrambler, which was the same or very similar to a CB350? Or was the SL350 entirely different?

It is whats called a scrambler. Part street, part trail. Didnt di either well but was fun amd good looking.

Actually I was wrong about the top speed of the SL. More like 86 at 9600 rpm.

 

[walnutman]

The red area starts at 60

 

[scootr]

Back in 1972, if I knew then what I do now, I may have chosen an SL350 for my first motorcycle over the XL250. I loved my XL but most of my friends rode CB350s and RD350s. On highway rides the CB riders insisted that the RD350 guys rode behind them because they hated following in the 2-stroke smoke. I often couldn't keep up with either so I rode last...... in the smoke. An SL might have been the perfect compromise for me.

I owned an red SL350. It was my first bike. I remember it being a super reliable bike.

 

[scootr]

It is whats called a scrambler. Part street, part trail. Didnt di either well but was fun amd good looking.

Actually I was wrong about the top speed of the SL. More like 86 at 9600 rpm.

I did long highway trips on my SL350 and do not remember it being slow.

 

[Quebecguy]

With some of you guys discussing early seventies motos this price list might bring back some memories. The dealer was in Hamilton, Ontario but the USA and Canadian dollars had about the same value back then. I bought the CB450.

 

[walnutman]

I did long highway trips on my SL350 and do not remember it being slow.

Yes but you are running 10,000 rpm. Thing is, it could take it.

 

[deserteagle71]

Yes but you are running 10,000 rpm. Thing is, it could take it.

???

Not mine. Mine did a lot of long trips also. With the stock countershaft sprocket mine would cruise highways speeds at half of what you are talking about. I carried smaller countershaft sprockets to use when the terrain got gnarly. Yes, it could take it. Somewhere I have a photo of the speedometer display on mine, it shows around 45,000 miles on the odometer. The red band at 60 mph and higher was Honda's recommendation to use highway tires only at those speeds. I always ran Dunlop K70s on mine.

 

[walnutman]

???

Not mine. Mine did a lot of long trips also. With the stock countershaft sprocket mine would cruise highways speeds at half of what you are talking about. I carried smaller countershaft sprockets to use when the terrain got gnarly. Yes, it could take it. Somewhere I have a photo of the speedometer display on mine, it shows around 45,000 miles on the odometer. The red band at 60 mph and higher was Honda's recommendation to use highway tires only at those speeds. I always ran Dunlop K70s on mine.

My K0 back in 1975 I was running 10-11k rpm from Delco to Oxford PA every weekend. You couldn't blow it up.

 

[scootr]

Yes but you are running 10,000 rpm. Thing is, it could take it.

It took but, when got off road in the fresh thaw of the NY woods it suked . Didn't know it then but my buddy on his 250 Triumph and I were the first dual sporters.

 

[scootr]

About the KLE500mentioned before ... It looked a little low to me ... but this is daming video.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I’m getting my final bee equipment in the field this week, which should make riding time more available.

 

[CalG]

I snow skied today (in the rain) all while temps in the valley were near 70.

I could have got one of the bikes out.

But with a mile of muddy back roads to travel to get out to pave, Nah, not gonna happen.

Hard rain tonight, with rain forecast through the weekend, The "can't ride yet" jonesing is starting to rub me wrong.

Snow skiing again tomorrow (in the rain) will be distraction enough....I hope.

 

[Bocephous]

Temp gauge dipstick from Hemisphere.
Replaced the Fritzco 14T countershaft sprocket with a 15T.
Stonehouse Road.

 

[deserteagle71]

View attachment 5405252View attachment 5405253View attachment 5405254View attachment 5405255
Temp gauge dipstick from Hemisphere.
Replaced the Fritzco 14T countershaft sprocket with a 15T.
Stonehouse Road.

Wow! Don't remember ever seeing that stone building during all the years I lived in that area. Where exactly is that? I'll probably be back again visiting family in August. (The fences on our farm near Heart Lake were almost all out of stone.)

My siblings and I behind one of the stone fences. Date is on the photo.

 

[Milo]

Took the CB500X out yesterday riding mostly in SW Pennsylvania.

 

[Bocephous]

Wow! Don't remember ever seeing that stone building during all the years I lived in that area. Where exactly is that? I'll probably be back again visiting family in August. (The fences on our farm near Heart Lake were almost all out of stone.)

My siblings and I behind one of the stone fences. Date is on the photo.
View attachment 5405310

That's a cool pic, deserteagle. I love our stonewalls.

 

[scootr]

Looks like you guys are starting to get some riding weather...
Is that 15T sprocket the original size for the XR ?
I've been dinking around with a few addons on the Husky today. Wrap around handguards and softer grips to mitigate some of the vibration. I've got a little rally windshield to bolt on the number plate...then I gotta get out and ride while it's cool.