Well it looks pretty much complete and worth restoring. Have seen a lot worse. Please do not dismantle it if you lack commitment to finish the job. Keep it in one piece. There are far too many bikes out there that people have dismantled only for the bits and pieces to languish in cardboard boxes for years and years gradually disappearing with no hope of ever becoming a bike again. It is also too good to part off as spares. There are only a finite number of these bikes left and that number is getting smaller all the time.
If it belonged to me I would be already restoring it.
I have driven such examples in the past and the feeling is great.
But the owner is quite unsure of what he wants to do with it so I think the best thing I can do is just preserve it someway untill it finds a new caring home or gets back on her feet.
Thanks for all the info you all are true gentlemen.
Like keith said it is a good bike I have started with a lot less. If your friend does not want to restore it try to get it from him BUT DONT LET HIM TAKE IT APART even if you can get it running it does not need to be fully restored
It hasn't rusted much so it's not likely to deteriorate. It's not a piece of Jap Crap. If the repairs work leave the frame alone. It's part of the bike's history. DO NOT take the bike apart until you are ready to fix it. There are loads of restored 16Hs. There are far fewer with patina. If it were mine I'd do whatever was needed to get it running again but otherwise leave it alone where ever possible
