1964 Honda C92 - The revival
Discussion
Hello everyone! As a longtime lurker of the forum, I feel it's only right that I now create my own post about the relevant two-wheeled tat that I currently possess.
My most recent purchase was of a 1964 Honda C92. The bike was part of a private collection, before being traded in at my local classic specialist. After a late night eBay session, I stumbled across the bike. A message and px of my electric Yamaha Neos later, the bike arrived at my workshop.
Safe to say that the listing photos made the bike look a million times better than it actually was (as is always the case). Being listed as a "light winter project", it is safe to say that I was surprised when the rust equivalent of cornflakes dropped out of the frame - all over the workshop floor.
Since buying the bike, I haven't done much to it. Mainly searching for smaller parts which my bike is missing. The only thing that I have bought and fitted was a brand new, boxed honda ignition barrel for the bike.
Next on the list of jobs is a good clean, alongside sending the cylinder head off for work. A previous owner appears to have had no idea how to fit spark plugs - or any kind of thread for that matter, as the right plug is cross threaded beyond belief. If anyone knows a specialist around Warwickshire who could sort the spark plug issue out, as well as a rebuild of the head (as well as an unleaded conversion?) then please do let me know - it'll be appreciated!
My most recent purchase was of a 1964 Honda C92. The bike was part of a private collection, before being traded in at my local classic specialist. After a late night eBay session, I stumbled across the bike. A message and px of my electric Yamaha Neos later, the bike arrived at my workshop.
Safe to say that the listing photos made the bike look a million times better than it actually was (as is always the case). Being listed as a "light winter project", it is safe to say that I was surprised when the rust equivalent of cornflakes dropped out of the frame - all over the workshop floor.
Since buying the bike, I haven't done much to it. Mainly searching for smaller parts which my bike is missing. The only thing that I have bought and fitted was a brand new, boxed honda ignition barrel for the bike.
Next on the list of jobs is a good clean, alongside sending the cylinder head off for work. A previous owner appears to have had no idea how to fit spark plugs - or any kind of thread for that matter, as the right plug is cross threaded beyond belief. If anyone knows a specialist around Warwickshire who could sort the spark plug issue out, as well as a rebuild of the head (as well as an unleaded conversion?) then please do let me know - it'll be appreciated!
Out of interest - would using a fuel additive be a wise move? The head will still need a rebuild - but as you say, should be fine without.
The bike will mainly be a show bike, plus the occasional summers day ride to the local cafe!
I'll add some photos of the bike when I can, will be using this forum as a record of the restoration process.
The bike will mainly be a show bike, plus the occasional summers day ride to the local cafe!
I'll add some photos of the bike when I can, will be using this forum as a record of the restoration process.
I've never used any additives.
When leaded was phased out years ago loads of people were changing valve seats and using additives. I was still a kid but my dad (who had a fleet of vintage bikes) said he'd just wait until the seats burn out if that's what will happen and change them then.
None of them ever have and we still use all the bikes now!
When leaded was phased out years ago loads of people were changing valve seats and using additives. I was still a kid but my dad (who had a fleet of vintage bikes) said he'd just wait until the seats burn out if that's what will happen and change them then.
None of them ever have and we still use all the bikes now!
If UK parts dealers cannot supply , try the dutch :
https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-c92-cs92-benly-touring...
https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-c92-cs92-benly-touring...
Perfect, thanks for the help Benni! I've bought the odd bit from CMSNL for my Vf750 interceptor, didn't even think that they'd have bits for the C92. I'll upload some photos of the bike later, can then use the thread to keep track of progress.
Anybody aware of any decent frame restoration places? I feel comfortable in doing most of the work, but the frame definitely needs a specialist. Appears to have been tapped in the rear at some point - it is full of fibreglass!
Anybody aware of any decent frame restoration places? I feel comfortable in doing most of the work, but the frame definitely needs a specialist. Appears to have been tapped in the rear at some point - it is full of fibreglass!
I’ve also got an old Honda, a slightly later SS125 reg 1970. I bought it in 1998 for £35 from the Cov evening telegraph classifieds. Lightly restored in back then to get it running ,then parked it until 2018 when it had a full resto.
From what I’ve read, any Honda since 1969 can run on unleaded, I always put E5 in mine anyway, for the limited mileage it did ,ran fine.
I’ve bought parts for mine from David Silver, CMSNL is a good source for part nos and availability.
As for the head repair,try Ad hoc engineering near Stratford.
From what I’ve read, any Honda since 1969 can run on unleaded, I always put E5 in mine anyway, for the limited mileage it did ,ran fine.
I’ve bought parts for mine from David Silver, CMSNL is a good source for part nos and availability.
As for the head repair,try Ad hoc engineering near Stratford.
That's a brilliant looking bike, nothing beats a classic Honda in my opinion. Thanks very much for the recommendation, I'll check them out.
I think I'll take the head off the bike to see what condition it is in generally, then go from there. My main worry with the damaged plug thread is that small fragments of metal have fallen into the engine. I think I'll do a good few oil flushes before anything else.
I think I'll take the head off the bike to see what condition it is in generally, then go from there. My main worry with the damaged plug thread is that small fragments of metal have fallen into the engine. I think I'll do a good few oil flushes before anything else.
HighSidedMedia said:
That's a brilliant looking bike, nothing beats a classic Honda in my opinion. Thanks very much for the recommendation, I'll check them out.
I think I'll take the head off the bike to see what condition it is in generally, then go from there. My main worry with the damaged plug thread is that small fragments of metal have fallen into the engine. I think I'll do a good few oil flushes before anything else.
Although not a biker, I love the aesthetics and engineering side of bikes.I think I'll take the head off the bike to see what condition it is in generally, then go from there. My main worry with the damaged plug thread is that small fragments of metal have fallen into the engine. I think I'll do a good few oil flushes before anything else.
I did an internet search of Honda C92, which was accompanied by an audible oooh, followed by that’s nice
Any chance, you’re going to do a restoration thread?
I think that'll be the plan. It'll be a way to keep track of the bits that the bike needs doing to it - which will no doubt be an awful lot! I'll try and get some photos uploaded later of the bike as it sits in the workshop.
My biggest fear is still the vin issue. I have the headstock number clearly visible. Hopefully the vin is just C92 followed by the headstock numbers. I have tried contacting DVLA to see - no real help, but I'll try again soon.
My biggest fear is still the vin issue. I have the headstock number clearly visible. Hopefully the vin is just C92 followed by the headstock numbers. I have tried contacting DVLA to see - no real help, but I'll try again soon.
Well well well, been a while hasn't it! Finally figured out how to add photos into the forum - hoorah! In terms of progress on the bike, I'll be taking the cylinder head to a local machinist soon to get the threads sorted, as well as a general refresh. Fingers crossed, I'll get it running by the end of the year. From that point, the teardown process can begin. I have managed to gather a few more NOS parts for the bike from various sites (CMSNL is now my main point of contact for new bits), which will be fitted in due time.
My main concern at this point in time however is the vin. As the bike was imported from Japan and never registered here, there is no UK number plate. This wouldn't be a point of concern if the bike had all of its vin present (cue bad news).
It is widely known that the vins on the frames were stamped quite lightly from factory. 61 years ago - that wouldn't be a problem. However, as the bike is now significantly more crusty and powdery than in 1964, the lightly stamped vin is literally vanishing before my eyes. Using some rust remover, I managed to get the area back to bare metal. The first 4 or so characters are fairly visible. The rest of the vin has pretty much disappeared.
Luckily, the Clymer owners manual I bought soon after the bike arrived, has the vin format on the first page, allowing me to (potentially) decode the vin. Taking the first four characters, and pairing them with the numbers on the headstock leaves me with a vin of the correct character count. My question is - should I assume this to be the complete vin of the bike, and secondly - how on earth do I get the frame re-stamped if this is correct?
Photos of said vin area will arrive shortly...
daqinggregg said:
Although not a biker, I love the aesthetics and engineering side of bikes.
I did an internet search of Honda C92, which was accompanied by an audible oooh, followed by that's nice
Any chance, you re going to do a restoration thread?
Now look up the CB92. 8-inch magnesium alloy brakes on a 125 66 years ago. I did an internet search of Honda C92, which was accompanied by an audible oooh, followed by that's nice
Any chance, you re going to do a restoration thread?
The standardized 17-character VIN wasn't introduced until much later. It's just a frame number.
Unfortunately, the internet tells me that Hondas didn't have matching frame and engine numbers.You could go all CSI on it and try acid etching, I suppose. What are the first 4 characters? The full frame number is probably the model number plus the number stamped on the headstock.
On the other hand, will the DVLA be concerned about the minutiae of Honda frame number formats? Give them the headstock number.
Unfortunately, the internet tells me that Hondas didn't have matching frame and engine numbers.You could go all CSI on it and try acid etching, I suppose.
What are the first 4 characters? The full frame number is probably the model number plus the number stamped on the headstock. On the other hand, will the DVLA be concerned about the minutiae of Honda frame number formats? Give them the headstock number.
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