Honda CB200 1973

I bought this little ripper from Mad Mick out in Parkes. Before we did the deal he showed me through his 7 sheds of vintage mowers and tractors. Gave me the right royal tour. I even visited the Dish while I was there. Anyway after we shook hands I took her for a blat around his 10 acres on the dirt and a K up the highway to check the shakes and brakes. All good. Real 70's shorty shorts riding. Of course I had brought my open face Bell lid to complete the experience. I have always liked the slab side tanks with the black ball tickler padding up the centre. Love the fading green as well.

I had to do some nifty welding and sheet metal folding to plug the rusted out mufflers. Luckily the holes were under the pipes and not visible where I patched them. I even tried a bit of brazing to seal the edges. I put in a few well positioned rivets and it looked like a bought one. It went from Harley loud to nice and loud. Pulling up at the lights at Central I pulled a few knowing looks from a Thruxton biker and a guy on a sweet Z650 custom as well.

So after a bit of fine scratch brushwork on the black slab sides and buying a side cover badge. I put six months rego on and sold her the same day I put her up on the web. I didn't do much to her except for the cable brake shim to realign the piston to front disk. Still wasn't 100% more like 98.5 vertical but I showed the buyer and went through the potential for yabba dabba doooing his feet down if he really needed to stop in a hurry. He was tall enough to just do a stand up let go any way. Ha.

No I wish I had the bucks to have kept her. All of the bikes I've saved in the last year to be honest. But there is something very rewarding in finding old relics and fixing them up and watching the new owners ride off thinking they're the coolest broseph in the neighborhood. Most of them are actually to be honest. Anyway here's to the green machine. Love old Hondas. They just keep going.