Anyone out there know much old honda bikes?

I just picked up a 1974 honda cl 360 and im having some trouble starting it up. The charge on the battery is too weak for the electric starter, and when I try kick starting it gets so close but won't start up all the way. Once its running it idols fine and runs great. Any thoughts?

I would suggest the following:

Charge the battery, or get a new one if it won't hold a charge.

Drain the gas if it has been sitting for over two months (or over the winter) and put in new gas. Add an ounce or two of "heet" to the new fuel in case there is water at the bottom of the tank.

Change the spark plugs, put in new ones.

If it still runs rough or won't start, or if gas runs out the overflow tubes after it has been running for a while clean the carburetors. If you are not mechanically inclined; get someone who is to help you or have a motorcycle repair shop do it.

if it runs and idles fine i'd say throw a new battery on the bike before you get too involved. after that check the points and plugs. i had a 350 that wouldn't like to run unless the battery was in very well kept condition.

Dang, that bike gets around!
Was a lot of CL360 questions last year.

Sounds like you've got an old battery that's due to be replaced.

I had the very same bike. They are notorious for having pitifully weak ignition coils and a sparkplug with very few miles on it will look fine but just won't fire. Try new plugs.

good tune up should solve it, these were tough bikes in their day

check,clean,gap the points,the old 350/360's were alot of fun and dam near bullet proof