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motorcycle repair

On 10 Aug 2014 at 2:16pm Michael wrote:

Hello all - just taken delivery of a lovely 1973 Honda CB, but am having trouble starting her up. Does anyone know of a recommended garage or individual in Lewes that could give it the once over and possible repair?

On 10 Aug 2014 at 4:38pm Mark wrote:

No I don't but I'm very interested in contributing to the best of my abilities to this thread. Which CB Honda? A 125? A CB400 four? 175 Benly? A CB550??? A CB750????
Is there a spark at the plug when it's cranked over?? Is it full of stale petrol?? Does it have a kick-start?????
There aren't ever posts about classic motorcycles on this forum

On 10 Aug 2014 at 5:01pm Sceptic wrote:

Hi Michael, Mark gave you some good advice, however if you type in 1973 Honda CB starting problems on the web you will be amazed at the help that's offered. There is even a forum. Any problems I get from my car to the dishwasher I always use the web or you tube it's got me out of many a problem. Good luck.

On 10 Aug 2014 at 5:30pm Fellow biker wrote:

There's a group called Sussex Motorcycle Riders Group & MTS Sussex with several members in Lewes. Worth a visit to the facebook page. Local people all willing to help.

On 10 Aug 2014 at 6:44pm lewes born and bred wrote:

Used to have a lovely Honda 550/4. Bloody lovely bike.

On 10 Aug 2014 at 7:02pm Old Biker wrote:

As long as it`s not the CB 360 . !! worst NEW bike I ever owned - broke down @ earwig corner in the rain , plug caps covered in dancing sparks . The handlebars fractured in the middle of the clamps and fell apart ! . Rear suspension had no damping - clutch somehow engaged it`self with bike in 1st. flew forward in front of a bus .Insurance was dear because they classed anything above 350cc as unlimited ! I bought it because a cb 250 I had was a nice bike and I liked middleweights .Total Pile of POO - but I followed it with a Morini 3 1/2 Strada -that was more like it

On 10 Aug 2014 at 9:16pm Michael wrote:

It's a CB125s and my first bike, so excuse the naivety! - Thanks for all the good advice.
Yeah, it's a kickstart, sparks seem fine and I've got fresh petrol in - there seems to be a bit of compression as far as I can tell. I've just noticed there's a split in the rubber bit going into the carburetor (google tells me it might be the airbox boot!?) - so I'm wondering if that's anything to do with it. Hopefully got a local fella popping over to have a look tomorrow. Thanks again for all the advice!

On 10 Aug 2014 at 9:56pm Bongo wrote:

You could try Everest Motorcycles in Uckfield. A few units from Just MoT's on the Bell Lane industrial estate.

Check it out here »

On 11 Aug 2014 at 8:59am Old boy wrote:

Ii used to have a CB 225.
Replace the split hose, check/replace the air filter, clean out the carb...and if kick starting it doesn't work try bump starting.

On 11 Aug 2014 at 10:07am Mark wrote:

My guess is that he'll get it going and then discover that the camchain is rattling about on it's cogs like an enraged serpent. It's a 70s Honda afterall.

On 11 Aug 2014 at 11:02am Old Biker wrote:

Thanks for the link Bongo - I see they do sidecar MOT`s -I`ve got a Kawasaki GT 750 and Watsonian chair I`m doing up . That`s my retirement chariot . LOL. First Big bike I had was a ex police Saint - from Redhill Motors in Lewes .Bought in mid 1970 for �120 .I was 16 and just passed my test . Maybe it`s still around locally ? Reg. was GPX 8 C