Restored to better than new, Chris Keele’s 1971 Honda CB100 looks stunning.
Rider: Chris Keele, St. George, Utah
Age: 61
Occupation: Retired auto parts store owner
Rides: 1969 Honda CT90, 1971 Honda CB100, 1979 Honda CB750K
Chris’ story: A former motocross racer, Chris got away from the sport after an accident that resulted in losing his left foot. But his love of motorcycles never left him, and a few years ago he started getting back into the sport. For his re-entry, Chris decided to start with something small, as he’s always had a love for “tiddlers,” little bikes with big hearts. Recently, Chris restored this lovely 1971 Honda CB100, and sent us a short letter to tell us about it.
“My Honda CB100 came to me sight unseen from a man in Ohio, who showed some pretty good photos of it on the Internet. But when the commercial transport dropped it off, it was hard to overlook the rust on all the bolts and the general lack of respect from someone along the way. It had only 2,600 miles on the odometer and ran very well, so I was pleased to have a nice basic bike to start with. It was my first complete frame-off build, and I really enjoyed my time with the project.
“The frame and all the black painted pieces are powder-coated, and all the bolts, nuts and washers are stainless steel. The wheels were done at Buchanan’s Spoke & Rim with stainless steel spokes and nipples and the brake hubs were polished. The rims were replated chrome while they were disassembled. The paint is House of Kolor candy apple red and white over a gold base, with several coats of clear. It’s as close to original as we could match. I polished the engine cases and a lot of aluminum while I had the engine out, and the handlebars, exhaust pipe and all the other chrome bits were replated while they were off. It was very easy to find new parts from my friends at Jorgensen’s Honda in Richfield, Utah — the wiring, switchgear, turn signals and taillight are new. Great fun!”
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Nice work! I had a blue '71 SL 125 46 years and 100 pounds ago. I know speedometers were 10% optimistic then, but when 15 year old 170 lb. Fred let the SL unwind on some summer nights I would see 65 MPH & 11,000 RPN on those cool dual gauges. Late I geared it down and was sold on an over sized full nobbie rear tire. It could then climb every thing and the front 21" wheel would come up in 3rd gear. Top speed was then at 50 MPH and was now an icy dicey and bump ride with the comicly big knobby. Good timesp! PS I was glad to read your on the road with a hand shifter. Ten years ago I was determined to be legally blind. Though now my vision is limited to a tunnel, I still have an old rare (but not collectable) NX 125 waiting for attention in my garage. I like to get it running as a field/lite trail bike in the spring. But if the lights work in the summer fat Fred may look both ways and let this 8 HP monster unwind. I better not become a hood ormament because if I lived my wife would kill me!