'72 CT70 Clean Up

Streak09

Streak09

Member
Hello All!

Ive been a member here for a few years, but haven't really posted much. Thought I would introduce myself and show my new toy!

So Im a college student just finishing up with my degree in Mechanical Engineering and I have a huge bug for vintage Hondas. The first one I got was a CT70 K0. Cleaned her up got it running and have been putting around here and there for a few years. Then I came across a '65 S90 and I did a full restoration on it. I absolutely love the thing. Since, Ive picked up a '70 CB350, '74 CB360, and a '74 CB550. I parted out the 350 because it was just toast (I was a bit optimistic when I bought it). But the 360 is an ongoing project and the CB550 was just too good of deal to pass up. Anyways, ill get to what you guys care about!

A few days ago i picked up a '72 CT70 in pretty good condition (missing cleaner covers and taillight) for a good price. The plan is to clean it up, get it in tip top (original) condition in time for the Mid Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days so me and my dad can both ride one. After that, ill probably try to sell to fund other projects...but maybe not because I will be employed... :3: So ill be tracking my progress here and Ill probably have some questions along the way!

P.S. If anyone has a K1 style taillight and bracket and looking to get rid of it, pm me!

Eye candy!

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My Baby
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I love those S90s! I bet you dont ride as much as you would like because people are always askin you about it! lol

I always wonder why honda does not "remake" a naked retro low cc bike like that again, no fairings. maybe a 125cc or 150cc CDI EFI but 1960s looking, I know there was talk about remaking a retro CB750, honda even showed it in the tokyo motorcycle show. I guess they have analized it and its not fesible ... too bad.
 
Nice K1. Not a lot of work needed to have it looking great. The K1/HK1 tail light bracket can be a hard one to find as that particular part was made a short time.
What part of Ohio are you from? I own land near Centerburg, Ohio and was born and raised near Sunbury.
 
Thanks guys!

Ctbale, Ive wondered the same. I think a small street bike would sell great nowadays! Its a joy riding it around, and I do get quite a few looks!

Hornetgod, Ive noticed there aren't many of those style taillights floating around. Other than that the bike is in great shape. Pulls good and zippy. Just need to do some little things to make her look good. There is a small oil leak that I need to take care of. When I checked the oil it was filled almost to the brim when stood up straight. My expression as I checked and rechecked the level :13:. Hopefully its just a blown kickstart seal, it looks like its coming from that area. Doesn't smoke, so thats good.

Im in Beavercreek, just east of downtown Dayton. Centerburg is pretty close to Lexington OH isnt it?
 
Gotcha. The air force museum has grown a lot. You should check it out if you are ever back this way again! And check out Mid Ohio if you havent yet!
 
Clearly you're not going to run it continuously with this much oil in it - however, you may want to consider the possibility that the needle on the float valve is leaking, allowing gas to fill the carb, drip into the intake, past the intake valve, past the piston and down into the crank - no joke, it can happen (especially on a bike with no centerstand).

Something to ponder. Congrats on the new ride.
 
That sure is something to ponder... I did smell the oil and it didnt seem have a gassy smell to it, so hopefully Im in the clear there. Ill drain it here soon and see whats going on. Dont know if it will be soon though because it was so cold my truck door was frozen shut this morning! Hopefully its just that the po didnt know to fill the oil to the mark when upright instead of on its stand, and over filled on top of that.
 
Honda does make a small 125cc fuel injected street bikeImageUploadedByTapatalk1358281116.096433.jpg
Unfortunately it probably won't make it to North America.
Google search Honda msx. Maybe check out some of the YouTube videos.
Quite the nice little machine. I want a yellow one:)


If it ain't broke. It soon will be!
 
Here's a tip.....Some of the Honda CB models from the 70's and early 80's used the same tail light assembly but, the tail light bracket was only made for the K1 and HK1 from September 1971 to July of 1972
 
ctbale said:
I think this came off a gold K1, can someone verify that?

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It could be. The K1/HK1 brackets look similar to the K2 and K3. The difference is in the hole spacing where the tail light goes. Measure the distance from the center of both holes and I'll tell you what you got. This one could be cleaned up and saved.
 
hornetgod said:
Have not been to mid-Ohio yet but, plan to go when I move back home when I retire from the Navy.
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Ahh, you're stationed at NAS Lemoore? I was in the Navy, only did 6 years as a CTM then worked for the Navy for 6 more in civil service. I did one job down there in Lemoore.
 
ctbale said:
I think this came off a gold K1, can someone verify that?

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k1 tail pic 1.jpgk1 tail pic 2.jpgk1 tail pic 3.jpg

Someone painted it black years and years ago. This is my '72 CT70K1. Manufacture date is 3/72. The holes are measured center of hole to center of hole. This particular tailight has two extra holes(don't know exactly why) in the plate holder. I guess it might of been for reflectors. I've never seen another K1 with the extra tiny holes and these, upon close inspection, were not drilled.
 
lprdshrk said:
Ahh, you're stationed at NAS Lemoore? I was in the Navy, only did 6 years as a CTM then worked for the Navy for 6 more in civil service. I did one job down there in Lemoore.
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I've been stationed here since early 1998 but, I'm moving to another base next month (El Centro, CA.) I'm an "AM" Senior Chief.
 
cjpayne said:
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Someone painted it black years and years ago. This is my '72 CT70K1. Manufacture date is 3/72. The holes are measured center of hole to center of hole. This particular tailight has two extra holes(don't know exactly why) in the plate holder. I guess it might of been for reflectors. I've never seen another K1 with the extra tiny holes and these, upon close inspection, were not drilled.
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Those extra holes were most likely put there by a previous owner to fit a different sized plate, name tag or plate protector.
 
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