Masked by years of dust and long-forgotten good times, the distinctive square eye looking bloodshot with spider webs. Often passed over for not being worth the effort to save, and due a perceived scarcity of parts, the vintage Honda can be found lurking in any number of barns, basements and bad deals gone wrong.

Charlie O’Hanlon, of Charlie’s Place in Los Angeles, California, has genuine affector for, and a textbook knowledge of classic Honda motorcycles from what he refers to as the Golden Years, the period from 1968 through 1977. If you’re looking for part for a later DOHC Honda, be prepared to leave—you won’t find them here.

“Honda really made their bikes to last during that time,” Charlie told us. “The re-build ability of Hondas from that period is right up there with American and British made bikes.” Did all those stories our grandparents told us about the disposable bikes Japan made turned out to be lies?

Loving these custom bikes? Get a custom painted helmet to match your ride.

Charlie started his brand of business back in 1993 in San Franciso, almost 300 miles from his present point on the map in Los Angles’ Silver Lake district. Recently relocating the store to LA was a significant step in the growth of the business. A cookie-cutter Universal Japanese Motorcycle store it’s not. The west coast northern California independent vibe is strong and starts outside the store with a giant wall mural painted by Becky Slane reaffirming the pitch that You meet the nicest people on a Honda…and they get their parts at Charlie’s Place.

Charlie’s Place has a great ambience about it. Insightful artistic sculptures in metal decorate the walls throughout the labyrinth of rooms either displaying or storing classic Honda parts and bikes. Look again at the steel sculptures and you’ll slowly realize everything is made from used classic Honda parts which would otherwise be languishing in a California landfill awaiting an archeologist’s trowel. Even Charlie’s electric guitar is made from a Honda wheel rim and a fork tube. Being of all steel construction, sustain was long and strong and the guitar was surprisingly quite playable.

The workshop produces innovations, restorations and café racers. With a significant inventory of parts of CBs, CLs, CDs, Benlys, Hawks, Black Bombers and all manner of four cylinder models, Charlies’ either got it, will get it, or ill make it in their machine shop. While we were there, Brandon was spinning spanners on a 1966 Honda CB160 café racer for a customer. An immaculately restored ’69 vintage CB450P K1 Japanese Police bike with rear wheel dynamo siren, upholds the law from the next room, guarding the racks, cabinets and shelves of parts needed to resurrect the classic Honda.

Constantly innovating, Charlie is obviously a gifted Boffin who is pleased to impart his words of wisdom and insight to classic Honda owners. Check out his not to be missed periodic owner maintenance seminars for classic Honda enlightenment. Ever pushing forward, Charlie’s always coming up with new designs. From a unique set of rear-set footrests and gear shift for a small Honda—to his ultra-reliable electronic ignition conversions for 12v twins, made in-house, each unit dynamically run through its paces in a test-rig on a long term loan from the Tardis.

“We never reproduce a design flaw,” Charlie emphasized. And with an ever growing inventory, as well as an expanding line of his own brand replacement parts, soon to include alternator stators for the 350/450 twins, he’s continuing the development of these iconic Hondas by incorporating modern materials and technology to produce a better running bike.

They’ve even got the square headlight for that early ‘60s Honda half buried in your neighbors basement. No more excuses.—Roger Kirwin