It is on an age related plate (an old L) - thankfully all that hassle was done before I got it. Annoyingly it was manufactured in Jan 1973 according to the VIN which means it’s only just not tax exempt (cut off dec 1972).
I do ride it with a black and silver plate, though it’s not strictly legal as it’s a 1973 not 72, however I figure that as an old L reg can legally be on a black and silver I’d rather keep it on that as I get treated a lot differently by cagers on the black and silver than on the yellow plate and I’d like to keep that advantage. I can’t see the plod being that pedantic (or even knowing) as it is the correct size/shape.
Yeah the cam chain is supposed to be a problem. You can hear mine rattling - but that’s supposedly normal as the engine is so quiet and smooth when ticking over. I had a mechanic check the whole bike out recently (he fitted the ignition system) and he reckoned it was fine.
I do read “mechanics” occasionally as it’s a great resource for these bikes. I did ask them a couple of years ago if they’d like to do an article about the 350 but they said there was quite a few articles on Honda fours so they couldn’t really do it. I may approach them again though.
Reading the reviews of the model are a laugh (there’s loads on the SOHC4.net website) they really rate the brakes on the 350 (OMG what were they like before that…:unsure: ) and they compare it to "one of those digital readout wrist watches- a fantastically intricate toy).
They had the 350 in Europe, I think some places used them as police bikes even. I don’t know why they never came to the UK. The 350 only lasted 3 years, 400/4 which was the successor was very popular here. I like the 400/4 but the 350/4 is prettier in my opinion and I love the fact that theres 4 great big pipes hanging off the back of this small bike, it really confuses other bikers.
Compared to the TLS drum brakes that the majority were running at that time that disc would be a revelation:D
anorak alert IIRC the Honda 350K4, Yamaha YR5, Kawa S3 and Suzook T350 all had drum brakes at that time and can only be described at best as “Scary”:D:D:D
I have to say though that the 4 header pipes swooping to one side on the 400/4 was pure genius and I wouldn’t mind betting many people bought one on the strength of that look:D
Yes the swoopy pipes are definitely an attraction of the 400. Some people with 350’s have replaced their 4-4’s with 4-1’s like the 400 four. I prefer the tank shape and side panel shape on the 350 though. The 400 is more aggressive/sporty looking, but the 350 just looks jewel like somehow. It just looks so precise.
I have posted this before somewhere but here’s a vid of my bike and a ride to Epping.
I saw someone riding up the High street on a blue Honda four the other evening. I think it was an old 500/4, don’t suppose you might know who that was Chunky?
lovely looking bike, I had a 400/4 and the 750/4 K series and the brakes on that were “lets say interesting” better stopping power from ya doc martins on the floor and the less said about the elastic frame the better, still rode the bugger plenty of times to my unit in holland what a plank but the bike was so reliable, unlike so many of todays bikes and even with my mechanical incompetence would go for thousands of miles
I reckon with some decent shocks and a fork rebuild the 350 would handle pretty well. It’s soft (very, very soft) as it is. They say the stock shocks lost gas virtually as soon as they left the factory. There’s still a video on You tube of someone kneedowning on a 350F though. Not me I hasten to add.
IIRC the Honda 350K4, Yamaha YR5, Kawa S3 and Suzook T350 all had drum brakes at that time and can only be described at best as “Scary”:D:D:D
