1981 Honda CT-110 Trail Review and Observations

[Canuman]

Originally Posted by nofate

My first bike was also a CT90 in 1966. Dad bought it for me after working all one summer at his sawmill. I also used a boat floatation cushion as a passenger seat. Great memories and I can't remember doing much maintenance to that reliable old bike.

I remember the gas tank leaked fuel onto the motor. It caught fire one day as I was driving past a lake so I drove it into the water to put the fire out. It started right back up and I kept driving it with the gas leak. Its amazing I'm still alive today.

They would probably sell pretty good in north America if they were reintroduced here. Their practicality can't be denied if you can get beyond their looks.

Beyond anything else, is that a Kenmore JT6 Beaver in your avatar? If so, I don't like you, but I want to be your friend anyway. No, wrong tail. Maule? Help me. . .

Dr.

[Canuman]

Trail 90 in Vermont. Kinda steep, but if it's as represented, might be worth it.

Don't know the seller, no affiliation.

http://burlington.craigslist.org/mcy/792244619.html

Dr.

[byron555]

I am looking into repairing my dads old ct110. It runs but it is stuck in neutral. Shift Fork I presume? Any how how easy of a fix is this? What else should I do while I am in there? Oh an the blinkers have gone wonky, front fork needs a rebuild. Ran good last summer up until it stopped shifting.

[YamaGeek]

It's probably the spring on the shift lever shaft's dog and selector. Right side of the engine side case..

Get a new gasket and a impact hammer screwdriver for the screws, once the case is off you should be able to see what's wrong. The primary drive big gear will probably need to taken off, you will have to remove the clutch and it's various mechanisms to get the big gear off.

[2speed]

I'm looking for CT90 or 110 in the New York area, anything within 150 mile radius. Don't care what shape really, just as long as it has a title. I've been drooling over these bikes for a couple years, but there is just nothing in my area.....

[FatChance]

I have a '79 CT90 with 543 original miles. It has been stored inside since new, so it is really in pristine condition. The only thing missing is the left side mirror. I can start it with one kick and it is easy enough that I can work the kickstart by hand. Here is a picture of it dolled up for an adventure ride spoof thread I did several years ago:





In this condition, it could be one of the nicer original CT90s in the country? Maybe there are some lower mileage examples out there, but they are probably put away in storage and never started or ridden. The issue with that is deciding if and how much I should ride it. I mostly use it to ride the mile to our mailbox, but that is about it. The original tires have cracking on the sidewalls, so I don't want to do any more than that until I put on some new tires.

I bought it in Arizona several years ago. Here it is coming home:



Detail:

[nofate]

Originally Posted by Canuman

Beyond anything else, is that a Kenmore JT6 Beaver in your avatar? If so, I don't like you, but I want to be your friend anyway. No, wrong tail. Maule? Help me. . .

Dr.

The plane in my avatar is a Cessna 180. Click on the video in my signature. More fun than even a Honda 90.

[miniroot]

But I've blown the budget rebuilding my DR...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=179164112

[mojave]

My first MC was a yellow 1968 CT90. I bought it in 1970 after working all summer (15 at the time). I got my car license and M1 (motorcycle license) the day I turned 16. Took my "skills" test on the CT90 - I felt like I was cheating because of the auto clutch.

The 1968 had the "leading link" fork, which kinda looks cool but is truly dismal offroad. Unless you really want the retro look get a CT90 with "telescopic" fork. My bike would consistently cruise at 50 mph on level road with no headwind. Seems like the CT110 does no better.

I had that bike for 6000 miles, pretty much wore the engine out completely thrashing it offroad. I could toe the low/high range lever with my boot. And yes, there are plently of places the low range is more than desirable. I went on all day rides in SoCal on it, my first adventure rides.

I've owned two other CT90s since (and maybe a hundred other bikes). I still want another one, don't know why exactly since I absolutely know the limitations of these bikes. For example, a TW200 is a way way funner bike on or offroad.

[Canuman]

Originally Posted by nofate

The plane in my avatar is a Cessna 180. Click on the video in my signature. More fun than even a Honda 90.

I need new glasses, I think.

I had a '56 C170 with 180hp on Aqua 2400's. Now I'm restoring a '68 CT90K1. Lots cheaper per hour. Almost as much fun. No idea what the service ceiling is.

Dr.

[nofate]

Originally Posted by Canuman

I need new glasses, I think.

I had a '56 C170 with 180hp on Aqua 2400's. Now I'm restoring a '68 CT90K1. Lots cheaper per hour. Almost as much fun. No idea what the service ceiling is.

Dr.

I also had a '52 C170B with an Avcon 180hp and cs prop, but I only flew it on wheels and skis. If I could find a CT90 near here I would like to have one again to fix up and ride. It would sure bring back a lot of memories.

[Canuman]

Originally Posted by nofate

I also had a '52 C170B with an Avcon 180hp and cs prop, but I only flew it on wheels and skis. If I could find a CT90 near here I would like to have one again to fix up and ride. It would sure bring back a lot of memories.

My CT90 is potentially going to be at the spearhead of Team National Merkin Spirit, USA "It's all a coverup's" bid in the '09 Mad Bastard in Ontario. Bro-Bro has a HOD of CT90's. I got the good one (blood and ready cash always run true), but if you wanted to piece one together, there are plenty of parts available here. Likely could be brought over as scrap metal. Join up? Hands across the border? Warm Maple Syrup, Mounties in Scarlet and the Queen? No?

The C170 flew really well on water with the AVCON and the compact CS prop. Ran a little afoul of the law when we discovered that combo wasn't really certified here in the states. . . ouch. What's 30 grand here and there?

Liked the Aqua 2400 floats very well, but the makers are slightly shady. Still, they get on step far nicer than EDOs.

Can't afford to fly anymore, sadly.

Dr.

[diesel1959]

Even as large as I am (6'5"/250ish), I love riding around on my CT90's. My 1970 (Mustard) kicks serious butt compared to my 1979 (Ketchup), but I'm still tuning. Both bikes saw service recently in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike out in rural Liberty County, where I'm a police officer for a small town. They were cheap on fuel and could pick their way easily around all the downed trees/wires/whatnot. I'm wondering if anyone else you know has ever used any CT90's for public safety/police patrol duties . . .

[YamaGeek]

Originally Posted by Canuman

My CT90 is potentially going to be at the spearhead of Team National Merkin Spirit, USA "It's all a coverup's" bid in the '09 Mad Bastard in Ontario. Bro-Bro has a HOD of CT90's. I got the good one (blood and ready cash always run true), but if you wanted to piece one together, there are plenty of parts available here. Likely could be brought over as scrap metal. Join up? Hands across the border? Warm Maple Syrup, Mounties in Scarlet and the Queen? No?




Dr.

Tempting.. another dream of me doing a transamerica trip with the Lifanha, meet up in Ontario? I guess an ancient tank between the legs bike isn't quite qualified for the Mad Bastards?

[Canuman]

Originally Posted by YamaGeek

Tempting.. another dream of me doing a transamerica trip with the Lifanha, meet up in Ontario? I guess an ancient tank between the legs bike isn't quite qualified for the Mad Bastards?

I have a line on a Velorex moped that barely gets out of its own way. . . or you could dig up a step-through frame somewhere and make Son of Lifan.

Fella did the MB a couple of years ago on a 1970 Motobecane "ButterPecan" with a raging 2.8 hp. He has a bigger pair than I. Part of the scoring system is based on the rig's theoretical inability to finish the task. Despite being old enough to have two kids and a mortgage, I have no doubt the CT will do it.

Ride yer scrap and shut yer yap.

Dr.