The Honda CB360, built from 1974-1976, succeeded the well-known CB350 twin, offering a 34-hp parallel twin, 6-speed transmission, and one of the handsomest tanks Honda ever produced. James Fawcett of Slipstream Creations is no stranger to the machine. Last year, we featured his CB360 tracker, and a previous build of his was featured on Bike EXIF.
James, who lives in St. Louis, is obviously making name for himself with the air-cooled Honda twins, as the owner of this ’74 CB360 tracked him down all the way from West Virginia — after having seen his previous CB360 build here on BikeBound! The bike, which had fewer than 4000 original miles, had sat for nearly four decades. James and the customer decided on a build that maintained the original character of the machine, while added a bit more grit and attitude.
“We both loved the story and history of this bike, so we agreed to stick with enough of the original character of the bike so that the storyline wouldn’t end.”
The bike was completely torn down and rebuilt with modern touches — only the engine internals were left untouched. Ultimately, the bike is a stunning, updated tribute to the original. Below, we get the full story on the build.
Honda CB360 Scrambler Restomod: In the Builder’s Words
This customer had actually seen one of the other CB360 builds of mine on your site. He managed to track me down and we started talking. A couple of years ago he had purchased this 1974 CB360T from his neighbor (the original owner). This bike was originally bought as economical college transportation. Less than four thousand miles later it was parked, and it sat for nearly forty years. When the current owner had a chance to pick it up, he did. After a little tinkering, and futile attempts to get it running, it sat for another couple of years.
Fast forward to a couple of months ago. After connecting, the new owner shared with me his vision for an uncluttered scrambler style that trades in some of the fun and friendly demeanor of the old CB for just a bit more grit and attitude. We both loved the story and history of this bike, so we agreed to stick with enough of the original character of the bike so that the storyline wouldn’t end. We even restored the speedometer, with the original 3,782 miles on it.
Once this build got underway, we tore the bike down completely, and everything but the engine internals were restored, replaced, or customized. We bent up a custom seat hoop with a recessed and integrated LED tail light strip.
The frame was cleaned up and a custom skid plate was mounted to the cradle. Custom fenders were made, and round steel front fender mounts were custom fabricated.
To match, custom round steel headlight mounts were fabricated. Knowing we’d be using original-style graphics on the tank, the shape of the headlight mounts picks up on the graphic and tank shape, helping all the pieces flow together well. To give the bike it’s scrambler styling, wider aluminum rims were laced to the original hubs, and CL360 headers were modified to be fitted with stainless cone mufflers. The tank was painted in the original tri-coat Candy Topaz Orange, and the tank graphics were painted on and clear coated. The refurbished original badges top it all off.
This bike turned out to be something really awesome to look at, and even more fun to ride. All of the work was performed in-house – custom metal fabrication, paint and graphics, upholstery, powder coating.
We’re really proud of how this bike turned out, and I think the owner is going to enjoy the hell out of it!
Here’s a short list of some of the things we did on this build:
- Tank restored to original Candy Topaz Orange paint, with painted graphics and restored badges
- Restored speedometer with original miles
- Custom fabricated battery/electronics tray mounted under seat
- Custom seat pan and seat upholstery
- Integrated LED tail light in rear seat hoop
- Scrambler high-pipes with stainless steel mufflers
- Custom skidplate
- Custom fenders and fender mounts
- Custom headlight mounts
- Aluminum oversized rims laced to original powdercoated hubs
- Dual sport tires
- Drilled front rotor and rebuilt caliper
- Rebuilt Keihin carburetors
- Chariles’ Place electronic ignition
- All of the little, big details
Follow the Builder
- Website: slipstreamcreations.com
- Facebook: @slipstreamcreations
- Instagram: @slipstreamcreations
Honda CB360T Scrambler by Slipstream Creations - The Honda CB360, built from 1974-1976, succeeded the well-known CB350 twin, offering a 34-hp parallel twin, 6-speed transmission, and one of the handsomest tanks Honda ever produced. James Fawcett of Slipstream Creations is no stranger […]
Honda CB360 Scrambler by Brick House Builds - Bj English of Missouri’s Brick House Builds has become one of our favorite young builders — not just in the States, but int he world. A one-man operation, Bj has a knack for building customs […]
Honda CB360 Brat Tracker by Renew’d Moto - We were thrilled to hear recently from Adam Smith of Indianapolis’s Renew’d Moto. Not only is Adam an avid reader of BikeBound, but he manages to put in 40 hours a week as a mechanical […]
Honda CB360 Tracker by Slipstream Creations - The Honda CB360, built from 1974-1976, was the successor of the venerated CB350. The parallel twin machine offered 34 horsepower at a dry weight of just over 350 pounds, and served as an alternative to […]
Honda CB360 Scrambler by RPG - Tim Roberts of Roberts Performance Group has a long history in building race cars, where weight, clutter, and weakness is the enemy. This '74 Honda CB360 scrambler -- "Blue" -- is a budget-conscious little brawler built to tear up city streets and dirt roads.Source...
