Little Trailie-worlds most popular trail bike?

[dodursley]

I have just brought a Honda CT90 which is the adventure version of the worlds most popular bike, the Honda stepthrough. From the numbers sold it is probably the worlds most popular adventure bike having been sold in the 10000's in the US and also as the CT110 'postie' in Oz and other places.
People appear to have done all the 'adventure' things on them Oz to UK etc but perhaps slower than many.
When it is sorted, clutch slips and engine does not turn over, hopefully only seized from standing, it will be used to trundle round the Gloucestershire lanes, also needs the frame cover and battery cover so a bit of $ spending.
More info http://ct90-ct110.com/Home.html

 

[Lutin]

That looks really neat, even if it does appear to require a minimum of tidying.

I'm thinking that the instrumentation does not include a tacho?

What are the tyres (and sizes) on it?

 

[boboneleg]

Nice one Dave, I could definitely see myself on one of those for the local lanes

 

[Mervin]

Yup Ed March did Malaysia to the UK on a C90 , and then to the Arctic circle , then a gang of em back from Mongolia led by him and at the moment he is riding the length of the Americas with his girlfriend on em , so should be pretty reliable for running around here

http://www.c90adventures.co.uk/

 

[Lowflyer]

How strange, but quaint, in a nice sort of way.
Looks ok to me, mind you I think a re route of the exhaust may be beneficial

Nice find

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Have fun, I'm sure it'll be a hoot!

 

[Rubberchicken]

Cool. Is that the one with the low range gearbox?

 

[dodursley]

it has 17" Yokohama tyres front 2.75 back 2.75/3.00.
It has the hi-lo lever for the gearbox and it clucks between the 2 ranges but has no chain so cannot check further.
Spark plug in very tight spent some time trying to find a good socket to get it out instead of the box type plug spanner, done that. Put some oil in it as it had nothing showing on the dipstick, looks like an uncompleted rebuild as the rockers looked clean when I took the valve cover off, put some oil in the rocker box. It has what appears to be new rims and spokes but used tyres. Paint looks good original the front mudguard has the bottom lip dinged so was probably stored with the wheels out and assembled prior to sale in US as it looks though it has been together for a while. The NOVA date was on 2 weeks ago so the dealer had probably done no more than getting it out the crate.
Still off to Daneway for the New Year VMCC meet - on the TA!

 

[dodursley]

Some of the bikes at VMCC Daneway New Years Day meeting
Vincent B series special with new engine said it cost over £20000 to build, sold an Inter to fund it.
A BSA 20's Vtwin outfit, may have been a taxi outfit.
BMW long distance trials outfit thought it was a shakedown for the Exeter but they were not doing it this year.
Mild and dry but filthy roads so everything looked like it had been up green lanes.

 

[dodursley]

A bit of progress got most of the bits from US/Canada, and they fit! The engine has freed up bit not much compression so head will have to come off. Carb came to pieces easily after leaving it overnight in degreaser, float bowl still had a bit of very mature petrol in it and the remainder of the bowl was full of crud. Still all cleaned out, hope it works. My brand new prop stand from C70 requires lengthening and the spring attachment needs reversing-hack it and weld- moment approaching. Got some of the correct transfers (decals) so can paint the bits when it warms up.
First opportunity to take some pics.
Just got an air filter from US at reasonable price, customs charged duty & VAT-£6 fair enough but then Royal Mail charged £8 to collect the £6.
Found some production figures for CT90 & CT110
Estimated to be 25000 to 30000 units/year from 1964 to 1986 then still being produced after 1986 for non US markets -SE Asia, NZ, Oz total estimates 700000 to >1000000 but then they are less than 2% of the total Honda stepthrough production of over 60,000,000 units.