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Dec 14, 2022 16:21:44 GMT
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I've bought some scrap! Now I love the Honda CD200 Benly, my first resto was one. i still have that bike, adore her and will never part with her (thread on here, which i forgot to update as I went along and really need to actually backdate). Thing is, whilst she is oily rag I don't actually want to ruin her by riding her every day in the meh weather/salt etc. Also, in truth the way people drive on the commute really isn't conducive to a safe ride for the little bike with a top speed, after much encouragement, of 67mph. So I've had commuter bikes, but never really bonded with them and ultimately, alas due to standard financial issues, i had to sell them anyway. Now however finances have vaguely un-wobbled (emphasis sadly on the vaguely), and as these frozen eves creep in (and I commute in the fiesta!) I've been thinking of what bike I would like to accompany the Benly in the garage. In my tinkering I was briefly the custodian of a CD250u, a reasonably modern twin carb bike good for around 90mph. Didn't keep it as didn't need it, but always thought the engine could be handy, and They look quite Benly-ish. So recently i thought, why not put the engine, electrics etc off of a 250u or similar into a Benly? Then, of an evening perusing the most dangerous bay of all, I spotted this:      Now if it looks bad in the pictures it's worse in reality. Seat is rotten, tank is rotten (and dented) engine is seized, brakes are seized, all the cables are seized, everything has surface corrosion. However, the wheels are ok, the forks are ok, and the frame is ok! (Further probing will occur...) some one evening this week, placed the winning (and far too high) bid on eBay, then traversed down to darkest Dorset to collect it! In the dark. Had a very fun our or so looking around the sellers barns, full of classic cars, trucks and ephemera, then brought it home! It's probably the most knackered bike I've ever seen, bit I think it's perfect for a strip down and conversion to 250cc! Tucked away for now whilst I sort the garage out, but the strip down will commence soon! |
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Last Edit: Mar 8, 2023 17:10:44 GMT by s1105117
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Dec 14, 2022 19:56:51 GMT
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I’d pull the plugs & chuck some diesel or similar down the bores as a starting point, if you’re gonna leave it a while. It can be doing it’s thing then
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Dec 14, 2022 20:20:57 GMT
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I’d pull the plugs & chuck some diesel or similar down the bores as a starting point, if you’re gonna leave it a while. It can be doing it’s thing then Yep certainly. I'm away for Christmas so will be putting some deisel to see if it frees off. It's obviously not too much of a concerns as I won't be using he engine, and have had a few parts requests in the club, but would be handy to be able to get rid of the engine without having to call the scrap man! Was hoping to offset some costs, selling parts etc but that's not really viable. |
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Last Edit: Dec 15, 2022 9:19:03 GMT by s1105117
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Dec 14, 2022 20:22:24 GMT
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Sorting the various details for the V5c, bike appears to have been off the road since 1989, so has been parked unoretty much as long as I've been alive!
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Hi, I've had loads of Honda small twins 'back in the day' and while I don't claim to be an expert I have had a lot of experience in these things.
The frames on all these Honda twins tend to resist rot quite well but on this one it will obviously need a full strip down to assess, one common rot spot is the underside of the swingarm, often the flat steel brace between the arms rots through and lets water in, sometimes they can just be plated if found in time but if not can result in some spectacular corrosion resulting in needing the swing arm replacing.
You will probably struggle to find a non rotten seat base these days so removing the foam and welding is probably your only course of action
Personally I wouldn't even try to do anything with your existing tank just replace it
I will almost guarantee the forks will need a full rebuild most probably involving replacement stanchions.
Re engine swaps, all the little Honda twins of this design (ie cb12t/cd125/125superdream/cm125/cd and cd185/cd and cm200/cd250/cmx250/cb two fifty) are to the best of my recollection bolt in interchangeable. On the 250 bikes some were fitted with twin carbs some with single, however on a bike designed for a single carb like yours the twin carb from other models wont fit through the rear frame loop. You can rejet your original carb to suit or use the manifold and carb from a 250 with single carb - the manifolds interchange just not all fit the frame.
The 250 engines are all cdi ignition, yours may be points or cdi, the cdi's all interchange (again to the best of recollection) with the same advance curves - the only one which is slightly different are the ones from the 125 superdream which allow you to rev to 12000 rpm - although this isn't a good idea.
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Jan 11, 2023 18:12:50 GMT
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I've bought some scrap! Now I love the Honda CD200 Benly, my first resto was one. i still have that bike, adore her and will never part with her (thread on here, which i forgot to update as I went along and really need to actually backdate). Thing is, whilst she is oily rag I don't actually want to ruin her by riding her every day in the meh weather/salt etc. Also, in truth the way people drive on the commute really isn't conducive to a safe ride for the little bike with a top speed, after much encouragement, of 67mph. So I've had commuter bikes, but never really bonded with them and ultimately, alas due to standard financial issues, i had to sell them anyway. Now however finances have vaguely un-wobbled (emphasis sadly on the vaguely), and as these frozen eves creep in (and I commute in the fiesta!) I've been thinking of what bike I would like to accompany the Benly in the garage. In my tinkering I was briefly the custodian of a CD250u, a reasonably modern twin carb bike good for around 90mph. Didn't keep it as didn't need it, but always thought the engine could be handy, and They look quite Benly-ish. So recently i thought, why not put the engine, electrics etc off of a 250u or similar into a Benly? Then, of an evening perusing the most dangerous bay of all, I spotted this: Now if it looks bad in the pictures it's worse in reality. Seat is rotten, tank is rotten (and dented) engine is seized, brakes are seized, all the cables are seized, everything has surface corrosion. However, the wheels are ok, the forks are ok, and the frame is ok! (Further probing will occur...) some one evening this week, placed the winning (and far too high) bid on eBay, then traversed down to darkest Dorset to collect it! In the dark. Had a very fun our or so looking around the sellers barns, full of classic cars, trucks and ephemera, then brought it home! It's probably the most knackered bike I've ever seen, bit I think it's perfect for a strip down and conversion to 250cc! Tucked away for now whilst I sort the garage out, but the strip down will commence soon! |
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Jan 11, 2023 18:20:39 GMT
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Great little bike are the benlys bomb proof engines .. Bought this with the engine locked up managed to get it up and running and now covered thousands of miles on it .  |
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Jan 11, 2023 22:10:18 GMT
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I think I read this over Christmas but forgot about it because of brain damage from Covid. This is so amazingly battered. Would look great if you could just re-spoke the wheels, set of grips and keep the rest looking exactly like it is.
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Jan 11, 2023 23:18:06 GMT
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Great little bike are the benlys bomb proof engines .. Bought this with the engine locked up managed to get it up and running and now covered thousands of miles on it . That they certainly are, awesome little bikes. The engine in my 200 is from a field bike and is somewhere around 45k mileage wise. That's a nice example, not seen the seat arrangement before! Nice work freeing it up and getting it going, younij the Benly FB group? |
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Jan 11, 2023 23:29:41 GMT
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Hi, I've had loads of Honda small twins 'back in the day' and while I don't claim to be an expert I have had a lot of experience in these things. The frames on all these Honda twins tend to resist rot quite well but on this one it will obviously need a full strip down to assess, one common rot spot is the underside of the swingarm, often the flat steel brace between the arms rots through and lets water in, sometimes they can just be plated if found in time but if not can result in some spectacular corrosion resulting in needing the swing arm replacing. You will probably struggle to find a non rotten seat base these days so removing the foam and welding is probably your only course of action Personally I wouldn't even try to do anything with your existing tank just replace it I will almost guarantee the forks will need a full rebuild most probably involving replacement stanchions. Re engine swaps, all the little Honda twins of this design (ie cb12t/cd125/125superdream/cm125/cd and cd185/cd and cm200/cd250/cmx250/cb two fifty) are to the best of my recollection bolt in interchangeable. On the 250 bikes some were fitted with twin carbs some with single, however on a bike designed for a single carb like yours the twin carb from other models wont fit through the rear frame loop. You can rejet your original carb to suit or use the manifold and carb from a 250 with single carb - the manifolds interchange just not all fit the frame. The 250 engines are all cdi ignition, yours may be points or cdi, the cdi's all interchange (again to the best of recollection) with the same advance curves - the only one which is slightly different are the ones from the 125 superdream which allow you to rev to 12000 rpm - although this isn't a good idea. Preety impressive knowledge there! Your right 're seat for sure, I have found a better one though so pleased there. They seem to fetch astronomical prices, or thruppense with no reason forbthe difference. Tank is definitely fit only for the bin, I can depress the top with my thumb and hear the rust falling off inside! Forks don't actually seem too bad which I'm surprised about, I suspect the trim must have helped preserve them. Will no doubt rebuild anyway, and annoyingly don't have any spares. Frustrating how many bits I've basically given away! Spot omnre the main rot spot, it seems ok buy I haven't been probing in-depth yet. I do have a spare swinging arm but would rather hang onto it for reserve so fingers crossed. I've had a few rot out at the centre stand itself, but again seems ok.... he says crossing fingers! The only engine I've put in one of these is the 125cc from the CM, which was so similar to he near enough identical. I agree carbs will be fun, I do know you can get twin carbs in as I've seen it done, but don't know the extent of the mods the person did. In an ideal world it will use the set up from the 250u but I think a nighthawk might be more readily available, and as you say can always then swap carbs later. I'm not a great fan of points (hense my efforts on swappingbthebignition over on my 200, thread still to update... 🤦♂️) but mostly due to my own lack of familiarity. Plenty of work to do thats for sure! |
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Jan 11, 2023 23:33:31 GMT
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I think I read this over Christmas but forgot about it because of brain damage from Covid. This is so amazingly battered. Would look great if you could just re-spoke the wheels, set of grips and keep the rest looking exactly like it is. I know what you mean, more battered than the menu at a Scottish restaurant 😆 (almost my entire family is Scottish, would get a thick ear for that joke!) I love patina but alas this is just that bit too far gone. I am planning on keeping the fork shrouds/ trims as is, and the side panels if I can save them. Tank is way too far gone though sadly, it's like it's made of paper. |
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Last Edit: Jan 15, 2023 16:06:53 GMT by s1105117
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Jan 11, 2023 23:36:47 GMT
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As I've mentioned it so much, photo of my beloved 200 Benly for good measure  |
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Jan 20, 2023 16:53:26 GMT
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Thanks
Got anywhere with this yet? I'm knee deep into what was supposed to be a cosmetic restoration of a rough but running and tested Triumph T595, on strip down I found among other delights head bearings installed with no grease, injector rail secured with tie wraps, finger tight bolts all over - Joy
At least it was cheap
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Jan 27, 2023 16:13:07 GMT
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Whilst I find it hard to comprehend that a T595 isn't still a new bike, it's one heck of a rapid bike to have any bodges like that! Crikey, good job you got to it. Alas not had any real time on this at the moment, plus budget constraints (had to buy the 200 new tyres!) But i have obtained a new tank, which is due to arrive soon. Removed the seat, some leaves and two dead butterflies...   I plan to begin the strip down soon, got a box for the useful left overs which I fear may be too big! |
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Last Edit: Jan 27, 2023 21:03:30 GMT by s1105117
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underneath the surface rust the frame in picture doesn't look too bad, the seat base is bringing back memories I'd rather forget The picture below is a CB two fifty I ran for a while, built out of the best bits from two bikes abandoned in an epically overgrown garden, I used a petrol strimer to cut down the brambles to get them out  upload online pictureI went through a phase of painting all my bikes orange, you'd think it would make you more visible except for the time someone pulled out on me in a real oh curse word I'm going to hit it situation, after we had all slithered to a stop I found my self alongside the offending vehicle ideally positioned for me to stick my head through the open window and shout at the top my voice 'its bright f ing orange, how the f did you miss this' |
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Last Edit: Jan 28, 2023 1:30:34 GMT by easystart
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,968
Club RR Member Number: 71
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My Benly shed threadbstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Jan 28, 2023 11:52:09 GMT
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Ahhh fond memories of my 200 Benly - bought from a random man in a pub after a Friday night conversation about the RD200 I had parked outside (micron exhausts, K&N od filters and some mild porting to the barrels as well as a very aggressive skim to the heads) that I was running at the time (I'd written of my 550 four hitting a car that was driving on the wrong side of a dual carriageway at night with no lights on so the RD200 was cheap and available and solved a lack of transport issue) but it liked a drink for my weekly commute from Norfolk to Kent although it would happily cruise at 70 plus It was under a tarp in the garden - clearly been there a while and had no MOT or Tax - surprisingly low miles had less than 10,000 miles on it - a bit of fresh fuel, a new battery and a top up of oil and she fired into life - tyres were flat but when inflated held air (cracked all over) local bike shop had a pair of correct size Avon roadrunners so they got fitted. Went straight thro the MOT the following day and having a Norwich Union Rider policy I taxed it at the Post office on the Sat Afternoon The lights were terrible being a 6 volt system - but the economy was a huge improvement on the thirsty RD200 although it was happy at 55mph and not so happy above that. I'm sure I've got some old photos of it somewhere It was not long after learners were restricted to 125's rather than 250's so the bottom fell out of the market for anything between 150 and 250cc's and you could pick all manner of bikes in that range for buttons because lots of people who had been riding for ages on provisional care of a full car licence suddenly couldn't use them any more. They languished in shed and gardens for months till the MOT's ran out and then the owners (without a licence to take it for an MOT) they became almost worthless. Yamaha RD200/250's, X5's (not the BMW SUV's but Suzuki 200 twin) Suzuki X7's, Honda XL185/250 CD185/200, CB200, CJ250T, CB250 dreams and superdreams Kawasaki KH 175, 250 and all the KE185/250 it was a fantastic time for picking up cheap bikes for buttons - none of them would set the world on fire with their performance  I was picking these bikes with no MOT out of gardens and shed for peanuts - the owners (or their wives) just wanted them out of the way. I was giving them a light refresh, running them for a few months often till I found another that I could prep for use and then sticking them in MCN classified or the local small ads and making a few quid for very little effort as they all made perfect spring/autumn & winter bikes. |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,968
Club RR Member Number: 71
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My Benly shed threadbstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Jan 28, 2023 11:54:39 GMT
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It's reminded me that the only itch I didn't get to scratch was the Honda CB250RS - single cylinder 250cc for some reason I either never found one of those or they actually were a bit popular with couriers in London and seemed to get hoovered up
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underneath the surface rust the frame in picture doesn't look too bad, the seat base is bringing back memories I'd rather forget The picture below is a CB two fifty I ran for a while, built out of the best bits from two bikes abandoned in an epically overgrown garden, I used a petrol strimer to cut down the brambles to get them out upload online pictureI went through a phase of painting all my bikes orange, you'd think it would make you more visible except for the time someone pulled out on me in a real oh curse word I'm going to hit it situation, after we had all slithered to a stop I found my self alongside the offending vehicle ideally positioned for me to stick my head through the open window and shout at the top my voice 'its bright f ing orange, how the f did you miss this' Yeah the seat base reminds me of old fences on farmland, sharp and rotten! That 250 looks pretty decent, gotta love having to do gardening to get a bike out! Orange paint, I like the thinking. All ,one are usually red and black oddly. Wonders never cease on what people don't see, I swear I get car drivers pull out more information of any large van I drive than my old fiesta. Sounds like you had a lucky, but well choreographed stop there though! |
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Ahhh fond memories of my 200 Benly - bought from a random man in a pub after a Friday night conversation about the RD200 I had parked outside (micron exhausts, K&N od filters and some mild porting to the barrels as well as a very aggressive skim to the heads) that I was running at the time (I'd written of my 550 four hitting a car that was driving on the wrong side of a dual carriageway at night with no lights on so the RD200 was cheap and available and solved a lack of transport issue) but it liked a drink for my weekly commute from Norfolk to Kent although it would happily cruise at 70 plus It was under a tarp in the garden - clearly been there a while and had no MOT or Tax - surprisingly low miles had less than 10,000 miles on it - a bit of fresh fuel, a new battery and a top up of oil and she fired into life - tyres were flat but when inflated held air (cracked all over) local bike shop had a pair of correct size Avon roadrunners so they got fitted. Went straight thro the MOT the following day and having a Norwich Union Rider policy I taxed it at the Post office on the Sat Afternoon The lights were terrible being a 6 volt system - but the economy was a huge improvement on the thirsty RD200 although it was happy at 55mph and not so happy above that. I'm sure I've got some old photos of it somewhere It was not long after learners were restricted to 125's rather than 250's so the bottom fell out of the market for anything between 150 and 250cc's and you could pick all manner of bikes in that range for buttons because lots of people who had been riding for ages on provisional care of a full car licence suddenly couldn't use them any more. They languished in shed and gardens for months till the MOT's ran out and then the owners (without a licence to take it for an MOT) they became almost worthless. Yamaha RD200/250's, X5's (not the BMW SUV's but Suzuki 200 twin) Suzuki X7's, Honda XL185/250 CD185/200, CB200, CJ250T, CB250 dreams and superdreams Kawasaki KH 175, 250 and all the KE185/250 it was a fantastic time for picking up cheap bikes for buttons - none of them would set the world on fire with their performance I was picking these bikes with no MOT out of gardens and shed for peanuts - the owners (or their wives) just wanted them out of the way. I was giving them a light refresh, running them for a few months often till I found another that I could prep for use and then sticking them in MCN classified or the local small ads and making a few quid for very little effort as they all made perfect spring/autumn & winter bikes. Sounds like he good old days! Alas I am a bit young for then, but until recently these weren't to bad. When I wanted to improve the 200 (chromework...) I remember buying a job lot of 3 bikes, 1 co plate 2 nearly, for 250 quid just for the fuel tank cap off of one. I'm not very good at breaking bikes though so ended up flipping the donors! I also know what you mean re the 6v lights... a glowworm in an opaque jam jar.. my 200 originally was a 6v but I converted it to 12v, much better! |
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Anyhow, the Benly situation in my garage has developed somewhat...  NNR isn't sure what to make of it all! Long story short, I'm very superstitious and the dead butterflies rather wigged me out. S9 I got talking to a chap with a local bike garage, and he wanted the challenge of getting the above bike going as it was. Given that every bolt I tried to undo, be it exhaust header or otherwise had snapped Ilet hi, take it. So I went onto ebay and saw two incomplete CD200s for sale, looked good so one the pair. Decidedly more than 250 quid mind you! Another issue being they were up in Burton on Trent. Anyway, hired a van and was on my way up there when I spoke to a chap selling a seat, who also turned out to be I'm Burton on trent! Agreed to buy the seat, and off I went. Got the first to fro, a great chap with a agargage or 3 full of triumphs, the frames have been blasted and power coated, forks rebuilt and then6v bike is already converted to 12v! Result. Then went off to get the seat, and the guy had a full rolling frame of another 185 left, so I had to take that too... We I have ended up with 3, and a new plan! I am going to restore one of the frames, probably the X reg one, as nicely as possible and look to rehome it, and make something out of the rolling frame, as I have a couple of spare 200 engines. Then the one that is left inam going to get up and running, and probably use for a bit, then look to convert that into the 250! That's the current plan anyway, next change of pans I'm sure will happen soon! In the meanwhile, I'm going to take NNR out for a ride and fot new tyres, so her nose doesn't get out out of joint! Lots of parts to sort through and organise as well |
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