Rob Thran’s next build 1971 k-0 SL70

[Robert thran]

Now that green carbon fiber bike is pretty much finished I’m gearing up to start my next mini (lilhonda) Honda build. It’s a 1971 k-0 SL70 .I’ll be painting it in the factory Aquarius blue ( the original color it came from the factory in) ..I have a bed room FULL of N.O.S. Parts , rechromed parts, and some aftermarket parts...I’ve been grabbing them up for the last 5 years...here’s my starting point...I know I have my work cut out for me on this one being it’s roached!!! Lol. But with the parts I have and no custom fab work it shouldn’t take too long but surely wouldn’t happen over night...

hope I don’t piss off too many hard core ct guys but it is a lilhonda and in fact the first “mini cycle” (not mini bike) Honda EVER made..Hope there’s some sl70 fans out there or I can convert some ct people? My first Honda EVER ( when I was 13) was a red k-0 sl70 and I have an all original unmolested red one I will be using as a guide to get everything perfect or near perfect...hope everyone enjoys this restoration project.

 

[red69]

Anxious to see your efforts. Good luck!

Bob

 

[OLD CT]

Looking forward to this also. Have fun!

 

[Gary]

Your right this is Lil Honda and it is a little Honda. Looking forward to it!

 

[kirrbby]

IMO, LilHonda is the BEST place for a SL70 restoration thread. Im looking forward to it also. But, I gotta tell ya, I have VERY high expectations for Robert Thran's next build. Because I've seen some of his past builds. The bar is pretty high...good luck. Have fun. No pressure

 

[Old Guy Too Many Bikes]

Now that green carbon fiber bike is pretty much finished I’m gearing up to start my next mini (lilhonda) Honda build. It’s a 1971 k-0 SL70 .I’ll be painting it in the factory Aquarius blue ( the original color it came from the factory in) ..I have a bed room FULL of N.O.S. Parts , rechromed parts, and some aftermarket parts...I’ve been grabbing them up for the last 5 years...here’s my starting point...I know I have my work cut out for me on this one being it’s roached!!! Lol. But with the parts I have and no custom fab work it shouldn’t take too long but surely wouldn’t happen over night...View attachment 71194 View attachment 71195 View attachment 71196 View attachment 71197 View attachment 71198 hope I don’t piss off too many hard core ct guys but it is a lilhonda and in fact the first “mini cycle” (not mini bike) Honda EVER made..Hope there’s some sl70 fans out there or I can convert some ct people? My first Honda EVER ( when I was 13) was a red k-0 sl70 and I have an all original unmolested red one I will be using as a guide to get everything perfect or near perfect...hope everyone enjoys this restoration project.

Too bad you're on the other side of the country, I have a complete SL70 engine (less carb and intake). It has compression, and even the stator coil looks good.

 

[Robert thran]

Too bad you're on the other side of the country, I have a complete SL70 engine (less carb and intake). It has compression, and even the stator coil looks good.

Thanks but it’s all good...I have 3 other complete sl motors..I’ll most likely build the one in the pic so I can use up all my spare parts laying around..I have a mountain of 70 and 50 parts I’m trying to use up and get rid of!!! Lol. I am running low on the advanceing flywheels and stator setups though.....

 

[Robert thran]

I did a inventory on most of my new, rechomed, an rezinked parts...I’ve been buying parts for this thing for so long I ended up with two of some things...lol. I have more parts that I just can’t get to without a major spare bedroom overhaul.... the speedo kit (3 speedo cables all slightly different lengths) and exhaust pipe are N.O.S. Along with much more.....The ball is rolling on the restoring the

restorable parts in the pile...I should have some ready for pics this weekend...p.s. the pic of the pile of parts I posted last Tuesday was from about a month ago so if you see things going fast at first that’s why...

 

[hambone]

The SL70 is one of my favorites, this is the one I restored last year, still have another that needs restored.

 

[PoppaBear]

hambone - that's an excellent restoration. Love the paint, and your technique with the Dupli-Color Metalcast Yellow.

Good luck Robert...

 

[Robert thran]

Yes great restoration on that K-1 ..love the candy yellow special color too!!!!

The SL70 is one of my favorites, this is the one I restored last year, still have another that needs restored.
View attachment 71212

I know some of you have already seen this but here’s a pic of my unrestored “light ruby red” unmolested k-0 ..the only thing replaced has been the throttle cable an needle an seat in the carb and the foot peg rubbers....original tires, seat, grips, all the way to the chain an sprockets!!! The paint is slightly faded though..I think someone waxed it too much?

 

[Deoodles]

At least I now k ow who’s been snatching up all the SL/XL70 parts on eBay. I’ve been too busy to post much on the XL build. I hope to update in another week or so. All great bikes. I’ve never seen one in person until I picked up the XL. Looking forward to watching the build

 

[Robert thran]

At least I now k ow who’s been snatching up all the SL/XL70 parts on eBay. I’ve been too busy to post much on the XL build. I hope to update in another week or so. All great bikes. I’ve never seen one in person until I picked up the XL. Looking forward to watching the build

Most of those parts were bought a few years ago..if you’ve checked ebays prices on some of that stuff lately I don’t think none could afford to build one!! When I bought that n.o.s. Muffler someone had listed and thought it was for an sl100 so I got it for $100 a few years ago but even back then they were selling for over $300...the only thing I hate about new pipes is I never want to gas up and start because then there no longer new!!! Lol

 

[OLD CT]

A ''ceramic coating'' shop will put a end to that worry of starting it Robert. That pipe will look new for a LONG time.
Research ''Bonehead Performance'' in P.A. They do some great work, at a reasonable price I'm told. I want to send a set of H-D drag pipes to them soon.

 

[Clayton]

Very nice bikes my friend! I’m excited to see it all put back together again.

 

[Robert thran]

Here’s some parts I got ready for the frame..new fork tubes, fork seals, straightened and painted kick stand, new handle bars with new right side switch, new grips,,new horn button,,, polished wheel hubs,,,hmight shoot with semi gloss clear...?

 

[Deoodles]

I can’t wait till you get to the part where you have to lace rims on those hubs. I’d like to see how that’s done. Mostly because I’d love to lace a 16 inch rim on the rear hub of the one I’m working on and have no idea how to measure spoke length or True it

 

[Clayton]

I can’t wait till you get to the part where you have to lace rims on those hubs. I’d like to see how that’s done. Mostly because I’d love to lace a 16 inch rim on the rear hub of the one I’m working on and have no idea how to measure spoke length or True it

The first time is a little challenging but once you understand how it goes and how to true one it’s not bad at all. Take lots and lots and lots of pics and make sure to measure the distance between your hub and wheel on both sides (laying on a flat surface measure from the flat surface to the edge of your rim). If you have all of that before you tear it apart it will go back together pretty easily.

 

[hambone]

hambone - that's an excellent restoration. Love the paint, and your technique with the Dupli-Color Metalcast Yellow.

Good luck Robert...

Thanks for the comments and likes, can't wait to watch this build in progress, certain SL70 parts are getting hard to find. May be a while before I start my second build, have a Z50 and CT70 ahead of it.

 

[Robert thran]

Got frame and some other parts painted ...started some assembly...new rubber side cover an tank grommets, new Yuasa 6N2A-2C battery with new rubber strap...

still a mountain of work to be done!!! Some of you can see I’m using the same assembly shop as the green carbon fiber ct/Dax 190 bike...Lol. Stay tuned!!!!