Silver Tag CT70 build

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Houredout401

Active Member
Finally had the time to document this build. Like many, I’ma dirt bike nut that lusted after other kid’s bikes back in the 70’s, the CT70being one of them. I’ve restored a fewbigger bikes and had my eye out for a CT70, casually looking for severalmonths. Wanted to ride it at the campgroundand use it as a pit bike / conversation piece at the modern bike and vintagebike events that I attend.

Knew little about the CT70’s when I started looking, but gota little education online, and then stumbled on a red KO that was a short driveaway. I had just learned of what asilver tag is a few days before, but had not fully grasped the nuances and wasnot seeking one out.
I go to see the bike and I see that it had a silver tag onit. At the time, did not know it had thewrong horn, headlight and exhaust, but it looked complete enough, and had whatappeared to be a straight frame. Haggled a bit, paid $500 and drove off. This was in March, planned on getting itrunning to bring it to a campground on Memorial Day. I took out my parts cannon, and ordered abunch of OEM and aftermarket parts, but the more I got into it, and with thehelp of this site I realized this was a special bike – a silver tag with serialno 103xxx and matching motor – that would make for a great 100% correct restorationcandidate. For those that don’t know,Honda produced the CT70 from 1969 through 1994 and it was the second mostpopular Honda sold in the US, behind the CB750. Seeing as mine rolled off the production line in the first few weeks, Ifelt I owed it to the cycle gods to do this one right.

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Houredout401

Active Member
Did the usual “bag & tag” of parts and was careful not to throw anything out. I take pictures, but also trace and/or measure the fasteners as I take them off, making notes like “is this correct, check this bolt, need new one”. I get better each time, but always seem to miss some key detail. Thankfully, the internet and lilhonda make searching for those lost details possible.

Then I started sourcing the silver tag bits that I did not have – the duck bill front fender, the two-piece chain guard, the black horn, NOS correct speedo, bullet muffler, NOS switches, and the odd ball air box. Gary at Vintage Minitrails delivered on some of the tough to find NOS bits, while Kirrby, HRC200 and cp42Allen delivered on some good used stuff. More on that later with pictures.
 
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Gary

Gary

Well-Known Member
Will be a great build to watch this winter.Sometimes things seem seem to find the ones best able to bring them back,must be Karma. Not to bust your chops but according to American Honda the z50 at 450,000+ is number 1 in sales followed by the 750 at 400,000 and then the 70 at 380,000. Don't know how they figured that,I'm guessing US sales only because at one time I heard the C 50-70 step thru's had sold over 50 million world wide in 2006
 
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hrc200x

hrc200x

Active Member
Good story, think you would have passed on buying the bike if it wasn't a silvertag? Looks like you had a great base to start a restoration from. Bet it will turn out nicer than when it left Japan in '69.
 
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Houredout401

Active Member
Gary said:
Will be a great build to watch this winter.Sometimes things seem seem to find the ones best able to bring them back,must be Karma. Not to bust your chops but according to American Honda the z50 at 450,000+ is number 1 in sales followed by the 750 at 400,000 and then the 70 at 380,000. Don't know how they figured that,I'm guessing US sales only because at one time I heard the C 50-70 step thru's had sold over 50 million world wide in 2006
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Thanks for the more accurate numbers, I had the other numbers from various posts on this site. I thought the distinction was US sales vs. worldwide sale, because yes the Cub models are the #1 world sellers. Same point - they sold a ton of them.
 
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Houredout401

Active Member
I have found that attention to nuts and bolts is important. It may be a personality flaw, but it kills me to see incorrect or oxidized hardware on restorations. Silver Tags had some unique bolts – not in size, but the stampings on the head known as “8” – a true 8 not the more modern oval with line through it.

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These bolts I learned were used on late 1960’s Hondas – including sandcast CB750s. Except for a few “8” bolts most of the hardware and brackets were there. I found a guy in Japan who sells an “8” bolt kit for CB750’s and it had many of the sizes needed. I wire wheeled the old and new hardware batch and dropped it off at a local plater for re-zinc, doing my best to try and get it all in one shot. Of course, later I discovered I overlooked some “8” bolts that Kirrby was able to dig out and sent to me, along with a correct battery box, so I had to make another trip to plater. Here is a pic of the "wrong" battery box:
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Houredout401

Active Member
Correct battery box de-rusting in evaporust. I love that stuff, It can be used several times. The water bottle just helps with displacement so you use as little as possible.

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Mike_

Mike_

Active Member
Houredout401 said:
Correct battery box de-rusting in evaporust. I love that stuff, It can be used several times. The water bottle just helps with displacement so you use as little as possible.
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Yep, love it, I use it over and over, have had the same half gallon for over a year now, seems to just keep working :red70:
 
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