Alright, let me tell you about this 1982 Honda bike I got my hands on not too long ago. Found it sitting in a guy’s shed, mostly forgotten. Didn’t pay much, which is always a good start, right? Looked a bit sad, covered in dust, but you could tell it was solid underneath. Hondas from that era, they just feel dependable, even when they’re looking rough.
Getting Started
First thing I did was roll it into my workspace. Gave it a good wash down, just to see what I was really dealing with. Paint was faded, chrome had some pitting, but nothing too scary. I started poking around, checking the basics. Pulled the plugs, looked okay. Checked the oil, looked ancient. Definitely needed a full fluid change.
I noticed the brakes right away. They looked a bit beefier than I expected for a bike that old. Remembered reading somewhere they updated them around ’82, put these twin-piston calipers on. Seemed like a good upgrade. The wheels looked a bit smaller too, but the tires were wider. Honda was definitely messing with the formula that year.
The Actual Work
So, I drained all the old fluids. Gas tank smelled nasty, so I pulled that off to give it a proper clean inside. Carburetors definitely needed attention. Took those off, carefully laid out all the tiny pieces. Gave them a good soak and cleaning. Always a bit fiddly, that job, but you gotta do it right.
While things were soaking, I tackled the electrics. Checked connections, cleaned up some crusty grounds. Hondas are usually pretty good electrically, not like some other bikes I’ve wrestled with. Changed the oil and filter, put in a new battery. Lubed the chain, checked the tension.
Put the carbs back together and mounted them. Hooked up a temporary fuel bottle because I still wasn’t trusting that tank yet. Took a deep breath and hit the starter.
First Fire-Up and Ride
It turned over a few times, coughed once or twice, and then… it fired up! Settled into that classic Honda idle. Let it warm up for a bit, listening for any weird noises. Sounded pretty smooth, actually. That reliability reputation seemed to be holding true.
Once I got the main tank cleaned and sealed, and put it all back together properly, I took it for a short spin around the block. Felt good! Shifted through the gears nice and easy. Heard they changed the gear ratios on these ’82 models to make them cruise nicer at speed, lower RPMs. Seemed like it worked, didn’t feel like it was screaming its lungs out just going 50.
It’s definitely not a light bike, you feel that weight, especially pushing it around. I think they listed it around 595 pounds dry back in the day? Feels about right. But once you’re moving, it feels planted and stable.
Final Thoughts
Yeah, I like messing with these old Hondas. They’re just straightforward machines. Built well, reliable for the most part, and you can still find parts if you look around. It’s satisfying bringing something like this ’82 back to life. It runs well, does what it’s supposed to do. No crazy electronics, just a solid, honest motorcycle. Good project.
