By Joe Gresh
Motorcycles, like cats, tend to find you when you’re not looking for either. I never wanted a Z1, but the 1975 Zed forced its way into my life. And now it’s Honda Dream 305s meowing at the door.
When I was 17 years old I had a 1960-ish Dream 305 built from an assortment of bikes I picked up for little money. History is repeating itself here and two 305 Dreams have occupied the ranch.
I’m running out of room for motorcycles in the shed. I have no time to mess with these bikes as my nesting has gone into overdrive. But the deal, the deal dammit, was too good to pass up.
The Black Dream is a 1962 model and is mostly complete. It looks like the one I had at 17 except mine was red. I guess mine is black now. Of course it needs a thorough going over and every nut, bolt and part needs attention. The engine ran when parked but then they all run right before they quit running.
The white one has a nicer frame, with no dents or rust, I think it’s ’65-ish/’67-ish. I’d like to use the white frame but I only have a title to the black frame. I wonder if anyone would care?
Darren, the seller, was going to fix the black one but lost ambition, wisely in my book. He bought a bunch of bits and pieces and the bike came with 3 boxes of junk, a spare engine (status unknown) an extra gas tank and two seats.
I don’t need this hassle man. Why do I keep doing the same thing expecting different results? CT, wife of the year, knows a good deal and handed me cash, “Go get that pile.”
So far I’m not in very deep. Only $500 that I could have used elsewhere. I’ve inventoried the extra parts, de-gunked and pressure washed the bikes. I burned the pressure hose on the washer’s exhaust so add a new hose to the motorcycle cost.
I’d like to say the bikes cleaned up nicely but I’d be lying. So now I’m wondering why I took on another project when I have 23 unfinished projects. It’s an illness.
I have a few options: CT and I want to start an eBay store to get rid of all our junk. I could part out the whole mess and probably make more than I paid. I could go all in and restore one, complete, Dream, but Dreams aren’t worth much money and I would lose on the deal.
Or I could see just how cheap I can get the Dream safely operating, a challenge, like the Youtubers do. My first impression is tires and a seat cover, along with a headlight trim ring, are the major purchases needed. All the rest can be nursed back to usable-but-crappy level.
Between two engines I should be able to get something that runs and shifts. Black is easy to spray paint using rattle cans. And then what? Then what, man? Would I ride it? Sell it for a loss? The only positive spin is that it would give me something to write about.
I don’t need this stress.
Join our Facebook ExNotes page!
Never miss an ExNotes blog:
Help us keep the lights on:
Don’t forget: Visit our advertisers!
I will get back you on this. But for now I just day dreams are worth maybe a little more tha one would think, but one with say non matching numbers is not
Hack,
I see nicely restored Dreams going for a little over $2K.
A great piece of advice, that I was given many years ago by a man in Wisconsin, may be appropriate here: Don’t go broke buying things on sale!
Joe…Going full circle and returning to your roots. Good Luck.
You go Joe!See if you can get one running. I’m off to ride my Goldwing, I only do what I like to do and I’ve always been that way. Enjoy your day.
lol. Honda Dreams were the gold wings of its day .
The Old Road Toad called his gold wing an Accord.
I am not sure you ride them or drive them .
It’s not all about you!
Reading your experience’s reduces my stress, sooo , please don’t stop writing about your intimate relationships with crappy motorcycles!
Carl
They are culturally important pieces. Of course its worth all the time and effort to restore them and make them live again. Think of the glory riding it to a local bike night and see all the other bike riders oohhing and ahhhing over it. And when you die and it gets passed on to a new owner they can and will keep it going in all its glory. Would a 1913 Ford Model T be around and running if someone in the 1950’s or 1960’s hadn’t restored it?
I just bought a Freiberger t shirt that says, “Don’t get it right, just get it running”. It’s been my philosophy for years and now I can wear it…
Most of all, have fun.
RD350 for the win….
With all the parts seller gave u, doesn’t look like it would cost much to get it decent. If the engine and tranny are usable you could come out way ahead.
Your biggest expense could be in the wheels.
I think you could easily get 1800 to 2200 for it unrestored.
If you have a motor and frame that match . Use them . And don’t ruin anything by “restoring” it.
Make it functional and safe to ride . Patina is money these days. Of course dreams are niche market. But non restored rideable bike is going to appeal to a Dream freak . Believe it.
I would buy another super hawk . Had one in the early 70’s with 160 scrambler pipes and snuffernots. Lol the
E start was junk .
Oh joe. Yes. Everyone will care if the frame engine title match. I don’t know the rules in your state , but outside of that , to a collector it should be a big deal . And try and get the proper Japanese “Philips” screwdrivers