New CT70K0 owner

[Palo Dave]

It's a pleasure to join this group, I'm excited share my barn find with you.
I had a CT70 H back in the mid 70's and sold it later to get a bigger bike. Of course, now I wish I still had it.
A few weeks ago, my father found one in a garage of an old friend that had passed, and family was selling things off. He told me about it and I drove 3.5 hours and was happy to find a red CT70 K0 with the manufacture date of 1/71. 1318 original miles. Serial 237641. The only thing that I believe is missing is the battery cover. I bought a battery, I have spark. I'm currently rebuilding the carb, but the kit I bought did not come with a filter cap o ring, so waiting for an o ring assortment I ordered
I'm trying to decide how far to go with restoring this. For sure pulling all of the chrome off and polishing, it has some minor pitting. Probably pull the engine and paint it, but not sure about the frame. The original paint is really good with the exception of a few scratches down to the metal. Decals peeling in some a couple of spots.
I'm curious what others think about bike value with good original paint vs complete tear down and repainting.
Thanks!

 

[kirrbby]

Wow!
It looks to me like. You've found a gem. I don't think you need to paint anything at all. Clean and wax and leave some patina. It wouldn't hurt to paint the engine covers...but not the center cases. But I don't even think the covers have to be done...it's up to you if course.
That original seat is worth a million dollars. You might consider mothballing it and getting a good reproduction seat for your butt.
The candy red looks great. I think that bike is a better showpiece in it's original paint. A true original survivor, who's paint has survived with very little, if any, fading.
Thanks for sharing with us, and welcome to lilHonda.

 

[Palo Dave]

Thank you. I was hoping to hear that keeping it original was desirable to some. I do love restoring but I cringed a little bit thinking about sandblasting that pretty red off of it. I've already screwed up by leaving the carb in Chem-Dip a bit too long and turned it a darker color. That's not a bad idea about the seat, I'll look into that. Thanks again.

 

[Robert thran]

My opinion is You would be a fool to repaint any of the candy red. Like I’ve said before there only original paint once!!! Just clean, polish, or replace any aluminum an chrome parts an you’ll have a real unmolested gem!!! Most of the CT’s I come across are dented, scratched, rusted or have been spray bombed by Stevie Wounder..…lol. Those are the ones you repaint…

 

[kirrbby]

My opinion is You would be a fool to repaint any of the candy red. Like I’ve said before there only original paint once!!! Just clean, polish, or replace any aluminum an chrome parts an you’ll have a real unmolested gem!!! Most of the CT’s I come across are dented, scratched, rusted or have been spray bombed by Stevie Wounder..…lol. Those are the ones you repaint…

Lololol

 

[Clayton]

That’s a damn nice find in my opinion. I wouldn’t paint it if it was mine it’s way too clean/complete for a full restore. I’m real proud to see that it will live again. If you do decide to restore it be sure to take lots and lots of pics before so you know how an untouched version should look ( ie cable, wiring routing, decal placement, etc )

 

[Palo Dave]

Thank you. I put a carb kit in it and it fired up! It wouldn't idle down, but I think it's the throttle cable or slide hanging up. I'll figure that out later, just wanted to see if she'd run after sitting since for about 40 years. The plan is to disassemble as far as needed to clean and polish the ruby red, chrome and aluminum. Repaint the black airbox and the top gas tank mount. Replace rubber boots on the airbox. New tires. Possibly paint the kickstand/foot pegs and side engine covers, still thinking about that. Any opinions are sure welcomed.

 

[NathanT]

Thank you. I put a carb kit in it and it fired up! It wouldn't idle down, but I think it's the throttle cable or slide hanging up. I'll figure that out later, just wanted to see if she'd run after sitting since for about 40 years . . .

I had the same problem with mine after installing new throttle assembly and cable last week. The problem was the throttle slide wasn't seated properly in the carb. Fixed that and now it runs great.

Your situation sounds very similar to mine although your CT70 looks a little cleaner. I also just started working on fixing up my all original K0, build date 12/70 with 1274 miles. I've owned mine since 1987 but it had been sitting in my shed and hadn't been started in about 15 years. Pics coming soon.

I never had a CT70 when I was a kid, but my first vehicle was a 1972 CB350 that I bought for $600 in 1973, when I was 17 years old. I put 10K miles on that bike, and then sold it to buy an MGB-GT. The Honda was a lot more reliable.

 

[Rudedog]

No mention of how all that dirt got in the air box?

 

[kirrbby]

No mention of how all that dirt got in the air bo

No mention of how all that dirt got in the air box?

That's not dirt. It's the material formerly known as the air filter.

 

[Rudedog]

Whoaaaa lol... yikes..

 

[Gary]

And thats why you need to check any old Honda before you try to start it. Happens all the time.

 

[Rudedog]

I recently picked up a 1970 Sapphire blue one, under 2500 miles & still with the original Sapphire blue paint & no fading. Supper clean, original tires, age cracked but holding air still. Looks 90 oem. I’ve bought all replacement oem parts except a few (non visible) parts when the oem parts are not available. Most all big parts are oem. Not oem: seat cover, air box internal tube, maybe the handle bars as they seem to nice and have no scratches at all. Cleaned all chrome, shocks etc, & came out clean 0 surface pitting. Bought new Bridgestone tires, so thinking I'll sand paint the wheels when I swap out the tires. Maybe paint the side cases? There actually not bad for 52 years old. Painted the foot pegs and side stand.