When my granddad passed this March, I inherited two "motorcycles" - a
1970 Honda Trail90 (red) and a 1970 Honda CT-70 (blue). The bikes have
been in our family since original purchase - I even learned to ride the
smaller one when I was about 13. They both have less than 1200 miles
each and are well-maintained but aged - I'm sure the last time the
CT-70 was serviced was when I rode it, circa '88; even longer for the
Trail90. So we got these bikes home and, at the prodding of a
motor-head friend did a little research on them, only to discover that
they are somewhat collectible or at least desirable. But we don't
intend to sell them - rather, I'd like to ride them.
I feel compelled to get at least the Trail90 running for lots of reasons:
1) It's the most street-legal, the other isn't.
2) If it gets decent gas mileage it will actually be useful around town.
3) It's kinda cool looking in a retro kind of way.
4) It seems like the right thing to do as a good steward of what I have been given.
5) I'd really like to be able to say I did.
I
already know it needs SOME work - battery, tires, tags, title etc - but
I for now I want to see if it will run, then we'll get the rest of it
figured out. So I gathered all of the necessary pre-flight materials -
gas, new battery, oil, grease etc. Replaced the battery. Checked the
oil and the drive chain. But when I put gas in the tank, it promptly
came out the bottom.
Upon further inspection, I discovered the fuel lines were weathered,
cracked and broken off. Oh great - looks like this wont be as easy as I
had hoped.
And this is where the adventure begins: I have no
small engine repair experience. I know very little about combustion
engines and even less about motorcycles. I am not mechanically
inclined. I do have some experience from the repairs I have done on my
own, but I harbor more resentment than satisfaction from most of those
experiences. But with the support of my wife and help from a little
thing called the internet, I am determined to make this happen. So far
I have successfully removed the exhaust brackets to get the gas tank
off and remove the bad fuel lines - now I am looking for replacement
parts. New fuel lines are too fat to fit throught the hole in the
chassis, so I am ordering repro parts off the web. I have kept careful
records of where everything goes so I know how to put it all back.
This is uncharted territory for me. I have a feeling this is going
to be an ongoing process of repairs. But we are in it for the long haul
- determined and motivated. I've got the owner's manual and the Shop
Manual as well (my granddad
was pretty organized). I've got all the tools I should need (which
reminds me about a post I am considering writing on a man's tools and
the knowledge how to use them... but I digress). But most of all I am
determined. I suppose if it is worth having, it is worth working for.
So begins the experiment to see if I can repair this bike and get it
running. I'll try to keep you posted of the progress. Wish me luck!
Trey
