1974 XL70 Restoration

1974 xl70

Hello all,

New to the forum, hope you don't mind my XL70 joining in here.

Bought it from the original owner 2 weeks ago; has 1328 miles, original ownership (now a photo copy as the MTO wouldn't let me keep it), manual and key. Starts first kick (like every honda should), has some rust here and there but I've decided on a polish and wax restoration over a paint a chrome overhaul. Currently needs new friction discs for the clutch (one owner, but I'm sure his whole family learned how to operate a clutch at this bikes expense), a throttle grip, headlight (yup, low beam) and brake lever.

For those of you in the know; I'd love to know the correct finish of the...
Hubs
Triple clamps
levers
flywheel & clutch cover
forks

theraymondguy said:

Hello all,

New to the forum, hope you don't mind my XL70 joining in here.

Bought it from the original owner 2 weeks ago; has 1328 miles, original ownership (now a photo copy as the MTO wouldn't let me keep it), manual and key. Starts first kick (like every honda should), has some rust here and there but I've decided on a polish and wax restoration over a paint a chrome overhaul. Currently needs new friction discs for the clutch (one owner, but I'm sure his whole family learned how to operate a clutch at this bikes expense), a throttle grip, headlight (yup, low beam) and brake lever.

For those of you in the know; I'd love to know the correct finish of the...
Hubs
Triple clamps
levers
flywheel & clutch cover
forks

Click to expand...

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Nice bike . I have a 74 XL as well . But yours is much nicer . I need to get around to restoring it . Most of the parts you mentioned have a cloud silver paint finish - still available at your local Honda dealer . Great buy .

theraymondguy said:

For those of you in the know; I'd love to know the correct finish of the...
Hubs
Triple clamps
levers
flywheel & clutch cover
forks

Click to expand...

Extremely nice find! Congrats! PM Dennis D, he's very knowledgeable on all things Honda 70. I believe he also just picked up an XL70 just like yours.

cool xl70 I wouldnt mind adding one of those to my garage, looks like it is in pretty good shape for starters.

keep us posted on your progress, from viewing some xl70s the finish on the parts looks original which would not surprise me given the low miles

Thanks to the admin for moving my post. And thanks for your kind words. I've already polished the clutch cover (seen in above pics) I believe this is correct; however the magneto cover appears to have clear coat on it? After some research the triple clamps are definitely cloud silver; I'm thinking the hubs should be polished; the clutch lever appears to have a weathered/thick clear coat on it? The brake lever is broken and missing said clear coat. The fork bodies are a mystery; I can tell you for certain they had some sort of paint applied to them... Will PM Dennis and ask him to chime in.

theraymondguy said:

Thanks to the admin for moving my post. And thanks for your kind words. I've already polished the clutch cover (seen in above pics) I believe this is correct; however the magneto cover appears to have clear coat on it? After some research the triple clamps are definitely cloud silver; I'm thinking the hubs should be polished; the clutch lever appears to have a weathered/thick clear coat on it? The brake lever is broken and missing said clear coat. The fork bodies are a mystery; I can tell you for certain they had some sort of paint applied to them... Will PM Dennis and ask him to chime in.

Click to expand...

Well, further research has shown that:
Hubs & fork bodies are to be polished / "natural" finish (I'd love it if someone could explain how to duplicate this, i believe just metal polish, no buffing?)

The magneto cover does have a clear coat on it. Any thoughts on removal would be great. You'll note that the mag cover I have has the background of the "Honda" blacked out, should be fun to replicate.

I also received my order from DeWildt Honda (who gave me jobber cost, btw).

Original hand levers are no longer available, but OE replacements (minus the rubber capping on the end) can still be had.
Original mirrors are listed as no longer available on Bike Bandit and CMSNL, I got mine no issue through the local dealer :41:.

Original throttle grip, head lamp ass'y (I'll be installing a diode on the low beam circuit to prevent future failures) filter element and enough gaskets to service the oil filter/slinger should make for some fun:20:.

A new Denso spark plug to freshen up the ignition, after fouling a collection of NGK's through the years for various reasons I'm a firm believer that NGK really is the No Good Kind.

I also picked up a new JIS screwdriver bit from the dealer (DeWildt Honda in Hamilton) to hopefully ease the pain of 'Virgin' 36 year old clutch cover bolts; I'll be welding it into a 1/4" drive socket just like the last one.

Nice bike. How'd it turn out? I have one just like it that I learned to ride on when I was a kid. It's been sitting and I've decided to clean it up, and get it going again.

Surprised you could blow all the dust off this half a thread. Good work! Sorry to say theraymondguy has not been around here for a little over a year..

theraymondguy said:

1974 xl70

Hello all,

New to the forum, hope you don't mind my XL70 joining in here.

Bought it from the original owner 2 weeks ago; has 1328 miles, original ownership (now a photo copy as the MTO wouldn't let me keep it), manual and key. Starts first kick (like every honda should), has some rust here and there but I've decided on a polish and wax restoration over a paint a chrome overhaul. Currently needs new friction discs for the clutch (one owner, but I'm sure his whole family learned how to operate a clutch at this bikes expense), a throttle grip, headlight (yup, low beam) and brake lever.

For those of you in the know; I'd love to know the correct finish of the...
Hubs
Triple clamps
levers
flywheel & clutch cover
forks

Click to expand...

Awesome....I'm restoring 2 -1974 XL70's same color...the better one is %100 complete barn find 700 miles on it..

i'm working on a '74, putting a lifan 125 between the pipes, also modding a hitch rack to carry it on. wondering if paint is still avalable

we got the lifan installed today and took off the fenders, tank, and side covers for paint work

That'll be a really nice riding machine, with serious offroad capabilities. We don't see many of them.

Paint is available, just not the vintage lacquer that was used back in the 1970s. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it was fragile. If you're going to invest the resources needed to do a good repaint, 3-stage, catalyzed urethane, is the way to go. It's far tougher material and can even withstand exposure to most solvents...including Brakleen.

was back at JW's yesterday and got the new tires, tubes, brakes, and carb installed. reinstalled the brake pedal, stator cover, and chain guard plus a new chain and sprockets