I really need to stay off Craigslist ...., Version II

[Lil Foot]

While monitoring craigslist a few months ago, I came across an early (1968) Honda Trail 90, (CT90) that appeared to be in great shape, for $2000.
I watched it for a couple months, and it never sold.
Keep in mind that virtually every Trail 90 on craigslist out here is junk, hasn't run in 30 yrs, or has no title, or some combination of all three, and prices average $3500 & up.
I finally went to look at it, and the guy thought it wasn't selling because it has the old leading link suspension instead of telescoping forks.
Could be.
Anyway, the story goes some old guy bought it new, rode it until it was worn out, and parked it.
After some time, he decided to restore it, so he bought $2600 worth of Honda brand parts, and a low mile 1979 engine.
But then lost interest in the project.
Enter the guy I bought it from, who assembled all the parts.
I rode it, and negotiated down to $1800.
It has 4500mi on the ODO, 1400mi on the engine.
NEW tires, tubes, rims, spokes, brake shoes front & rear, new brake cables, throttle cable, speedometer cable, carburetor, air cleaner, air cleaner hose, mirrors, seat, buddy seat, header pipe, muffler, muffler shield, front mudflap, front & rear shocks, horn, front & rear sprockets, chain, gas cap, frame tube wrap, and badging.

It had an intermittent short in the lighting system which occasionally blew the fuse. (very tough to find)
Turned out to be (4) intermittent shorts; one from just old age & wear, the other three from TaterHaids "fixing" the wiring harness.

PO had replaced the original style lead acid battery with a much smaller sealed battery, so I returned it to original form, but could only find the outer half of the battery bracket, and had to fabricate the inner half.
I also upgraded the original selenium rectifier to a new solid state rectifier/regulator

It also had a slight oil leak from the left side engine cover/rear main/High-Low shifter housing area, also fixed now.
Has a newer foot peg assembly, with rubber pegs instead of steel, and a side stand that the older ones were missing.
Street legal, titled, and insured.
It starts first kick very time & runs like Swiss watch.
Turns heads every time I ride it.
It will live at my place in the high country for running the fence line & other fun things.

 

[Lencho]

Nice! I have a soft spot for old Hondas as well. Replaced the head and base gaskets on my ‘74 cb350four just before Christmas. Runs great, it’s my commuter bike. Amazing that parts are still available.

 

[RCW]

Bill- that’s awesome.

When the Mrs. and I were married, we honeymooned in Cancun Mexico.

Rented a “Mexican Harley” for several days, which was a 90cc Honda very similar.

Thing rode great with both of us on. Damned near lost it on a sandy drift when we got tangled up with a large iguana….all worked out fine.

 

[BXHoosier]

Nice little Honda. I had a CT70 when I was in grade school. Got my first broken bone (collar bone) on it in the 5th grade.

 

[Lil Foot]

Never owned a Trail 90, but always wanted to have one.
Rode my parent's CM91 for a while after my '68 CB160 was stolen & wrecked.
(1st pic)
My first real motorcycle was a '63 CA95- a Honda 150 Baby Dream that I rebuilt frame up.
(2nd pic)
You can see why this one is kinda nostalgic for me.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Very cool man!

Looks great!

We had something similar “way back in the day”….But my dad put “Knobby” tires on it, and me and my cousin proceeded to abuse it for years, as a “dirt bike”….

Lots of fun, for sure………….That thing took a lot of abuse and was scrap when were done with it though

 

[Yooper]

My dad had the exact same model! I probably put 100 miles on it riding it up and down the alley when I was 9 or 10 years old. I remember the rack on the back was opposite so a passenger could use it for a handle.

Great score Bill!

 

[Lil Foot]

I remember the rack on the back was opposite so a passenger could use it for a handle.

Never seen one set up that way, but it makes sense.

 

[hedgerow]

A couple in my home town bought a pair of those red Honda 90 trails must of been some where around 1968 or so. He was a dozer man and she drove school bus. They ride them every where. Good little cycles. We had a large Kawasaki dealer in the county seat twenty miles from my home town and I rode Kawasaki when I was a kid. Had many from dirt bikes to street bikes. The last bike I had was a 900 in high school. Had a Great Dane dog come out of the ditch while I was running around 85 on a closed for construction highway about midnight. Hit him and it sent me flying and of course no helmet back then. That was the last time I have ever been on a bike. Fixed the 900 and sold it.