Survival ride questions

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Excndez

Member
Hey all,
I'm new to this forum and just picked up a stock 1971 CT70. I'm riding this bike in the Big Bear Run in june and have some questions. The Big Bear run is a 180 mile dualsport motorcycle survival ride in Big Bear Lake, Ca

What is the mileage range on a stock tank? The ride is 180 miles with gas stops in between. I will probably have to pack gas.

Does anyone what jetting will work at 4500-8000' elevation. The bike is stone stock.

I will have to ford a 3-4' deep stream on this ride. Suggestions? I'm probably going to bag the air cleaner and plug the exhuast and carry it across@ 30 feet.

Thanks for the advice in advance
 
vrodsss

vrodsss

Active Member
Excndez said:
Hey all,
I'm new to this forum and just picked up a stock 1971 CT70. I'm riding this bike in the Big Bear Run in june and have some questions. The Big Bear run is a 180 mile dualsport motorcycle survival ride in Big Bear Lake, Ca

What is the mileage range on a stock tank? The ride is 180 miles with gas stops in between. I will probably have to pack gas.

Does anyone what jetting will work at 4500-8000' elevation. The bike is stone stock.

I will have to ford a 3-4' deep stream on this ride. Suggestions? I'm probably going to bag the air cleaner and plug the exhuast and carry it across@ 30 feet.

Thanks for the advice in advance
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Mileage on a CT is between 80-100 mpg . Depends on the type of riding you are doing . If there's a stop every 70miles you will probably be good . Although I would take a 1 gallon extra can . Stock jet is usually a #58 - in that altitude you'll probably go with a smaller jet . As far as the water -- I would cool that engine down , rig a strap & carry it across on your back . Spare inner tube may help as well . Or a big bowl of Wheaties . :4:
 
fatcaaat

fatcaaat

Well-Known Member
good luck

If I were you, I'd do as VDROSS says...bring a big inner tube with you and one of those small inflator pumps...You'll be hard pressed to carry a 150lb HOT bike arcoss moving water that is chest deep. And if you drop that engine in the water..race over.

I'd bring a spare wheel...not just a tube..but a complete wheel so that if you get a flat, you can just swap it in. Look at one of the threads that I wrote what I carry in my tool pack on my CT70 for guidance.

I'm sure the bike is up to task...the motors are near indestructible in stock form. You'll bend bars, forks, shocks...but it will keep ticking.

A gallon of gas is a lot to carry as extra if you have gas stops. I'd suggest buying one of those campfire fuel bottles that look like the aluminum water bottles in about a quart size...that would be good for about 40 miles...
 
SS_canuck

SS_canuck

Member
Water for yourself would be good with that much distance being travelled. Maybe some Aleve or Motrin for when its all over (that's a pretty good distance on a CT).
 
P.C.

P.C.

Active Member
a handgun wouldnt hurt,i think a ct in stock form is too slow to get away from the various wildlife that might want to eat you for dinner.
 
E

Excndez

Member
Guys thanks for the info and humor. I carry 3/4 gallon of fuel on most of my rides already. I also carry tools tube, pump, plugs, etc, etc. These rides are on a big bike though- KTM 530. I've done this ride before and earned a plaque for finishing. I wanted to do something different this year, hence the ct70. The last time I rode a honda mini trail was 39 years ago. It should be fun.

Nice forum BTW!
 
MSZ

MSZ

Moderator
Waterproof the Stator assembly and have waterproof connectors on the wiring harness.

Run a snorkle to the carb and have at it!

Or have your buddy with a small boat at the river crossing and put the CT in the boat and pull it across. He could also charge others $$ for the same service and could pay for the entire trip with earnings.

Or better yet, build a huck-finn raft with a rope tied between trees on opposite sides of the river. Load up the raft and pull yourself across! :4:
 
B

bjatwood

120cc
Keep us posted on this event. Should be very interesting to read. Make sure you take lots of pics on the trek to show us all how Honda wanted the Off-Road CT-70 to roll! :3:
You have big Kahonies to pull this off on a Trail 70! :13:
 
nascarnate326

nascarnate326

Member
I would take some Motrin, a Gatorade bottle of gas, plugs, some water, and you may want to consider a sprocket change if its a faster course.

Now that I am so used to H bikes when I get on my dads 3 speed it feels...slow.


You got balls man :):yellow70::yellow70::yellow70:
 
E

Excndez

Member
Thank you everybody for your input.

The Big Bear Run is a dualsport motorcycle ride being held in June in Big Bear Lake Ca. The ride is a one day 160-180 mile offroad adventure. There are hard ways and easy ways. The riders completing all of the hard ways earn a plaque for their acheivement. Typically only around 20-25% of the riders will earn a plaque. The trails consist mainly of mountain singletrack and some fireroad connecting sections. It's VERY rocky and there are some BIG uphills and downhills. I plan on leaving at 5:30 A.M. and trying to maintain at least a 16mph average and hopefully be done around 6:00 P.M. the ride itself is pretty tough, but it is a navigational challenge as well. I won't have any time to stop and take pictures and still have a shot a getting a plaque so I may only have before and after shots. There is usually around 350-400 riders that do this event. I don't think anyone has ever attempted it with a mini bike. I'm 45yo 6'1" 200lb kid that thinks this could be big fun. The last Honda mini bike I rode was a z50 39 years ago. I just bought a 1971 ct70 off fleabay that I'm picking up this Saturday. I have until June to make this little bike trail ready. The jetting and water crossing are my main concerns. I plan on running alongside, pushing, ??? to get up the very rocky steep hills.

What are the most agressive off road tires you can buy for these bikes?

Can you get ultra heavy tubes for them?
 
kmcrab

kmcrab

120cc
I would Green Slime the tubes for sure.

That just sounds like so much fun...I guess you would gear it really low. Are you gonna beef up the motor with HD components? I think the CT90 would be perfect for that ride. Especially with your size and the hills,water and rocks. The CT70 would be awesome too...I bet you will be the only one out there with a mini! lol! Anyway you could do a helmet cam?
 
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Adam-NLV

Adam-NLV

Well-Known Member
That does sound fun but a 200lb rider with a fully loaded 70cc on steep mountain trails? :24:

I'd put on a lifan 110cc and change the rear sprocket to 35T, that's what I've ran and it could follow a billy goat.
 
5

530SLXL

Member
Wow this is cool! Should be one hell of an adventure!

FWIW, I just rode the Sheetiron 300 dualsport ride back on the 22nd and 23rd last month. The thought crossed my mind what it would be like on a mini, all I can say is you are brave! I was on a DR650 that has no problem cruising to 90mph, and we ran into at least 2 brown four legged creatures, one was what looked like a baby cub bear, so the gun suggestion could come in handy! I like Dan's idea, just run a snorkel tube up to the bars or secure it to your chest protector and motor accross! If you do happen to get water in the motor, not a big deal really, saw two do it on my last ride. Just pull the plug out, and kick the water out, and you may need to dry the stator (not sure when the last time I submarined a points type bike) and you should be fine. Also since it sounds like you do these kinds of rides, im assuming you will have your 2way radio and at least a camelback... Also a tube as mentioned is handy, a spare master link for the chain, spoons for the tires, maybe some spare levers in the event one snaps on a drop, and if it burns any oil I strongly suggest a little oil to take with you. I have seen many a bikes burned up on the trails cause no one had any oil, and burned it out.... Think KTM 530 lol It should be nice and soupy out there still and very wet. I would suggest a fresh set of aggressive knobbies before the ride, every little bit helps out in the "snot".

I actualy though about what a big ride would be like on a mini, but im just not there, my knees are bad enough on a big bike, I can't imagine getting up and off the pegs all day on such a small bike, but im 6'3" and the mini's are not the most ergo bikes for my big butt. Would love to read how the ride goes, keep us posted!!
 
P.C.

P.C.

Active Member
Dude,i have heard that a pack of wild dogs ripped a guy off a slow enduro bike in the late 70's down in the pine barrens of south Jersey!no B.S. I believe i mentioned to bring the GUN!a CT70 is not too good at out running too much except gas stations.i always ran a big ol CR500R down there.and i HAVE seen the wild dogs!i really enjoy deep sand riding!the deeper and softer the better.in my profile there is a pic of me down there!
 
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6

69ST

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't try riding through water that's deep enough to reach the stator. Waterproofing the alternator assembly is no mean feat, all it would take is one pinhole leak & it's "lights out" for the ignition. The only real test would be once you're faced with the do or die situation, someplace conveniently situated between "no" and "where".

An extra wheel with a tire pre-mounted & inflated could be convenient, but there's not a whole lotta cargo capacity on a bike this small. I'd carry a couple of spare tubes, possibly an extra tire (in case one gets sliced) and a CO2 tire inflator kit with 2-3 cylinders (they're small).

I'd plan on 45-50 miles per tank. For a stock bike this should be very conservative; better safe than sorry. 10 miles seems like nothing, until you have to push the bike because you ran it out of gas. If the bike has a rear rack, a gallon gas jug can be carried and should extend your range to ~150 miles, if need be. It is, as fatcaat mentioned, a lot to carry if the rack is already laden with water, oil & other backup items.

These suggestions are in addition to what has already been posted.
 
a_smerek

a_smerek

Member
The sprocket change is probably the best thing you can do if the terrain has a lot of quick elevation changes. These bikes are known to have a tractor like first gear and much taller second. You don't want to be in a situation where first is buzzing away but second is bogging down. It sounds like cruising speed isn't going to be achieved in this run anyways so take full advantage of all of your gears

A hydra pack for hands free water is probably a good idea

Make sure you check your engine cradle is secured, ground clearance is always an issue with small wheel bikes like these

Have fun, that is the main thing. This sounds like a lot of fun even if you don't finish
 
5

530SLXL

Member
exc -- I forgot to ask, like most organized rides the ride is probably navigated by roll chart, and since the CT doesnt have a trip oddo to my knowledge, do you have a plan mapped out how to navigate the ride? I would see this as critical on such a small bike, the last place you want to find yourself is on steep muddy switchbacks and shoulder high ruts on a mini! Do you have buddies to 'bounce' off, or do you have a trailtech or something that will allow you to follow a roll chart? Hopefully you are not relying on a GPS as those are sketchy at best, from my experience. Im sure you already thought this part through, but in the event you havn't.. Definately map that out, you will have enough challenges as it is.
 
E

Excndez

Member
Update..
I rode the ride on the 70ko and it ended badly. I only made it 40 of the 188 miles. I found the problem with the bike when I got home. It was only a grounded ignition due to the insulating washer on the points arm melting. To answer the navigation question, I had a roll chart plus a GPS with the downloaded route. It was fun while it lasted. I have attached the latest issue of the AMA district 37 newsletter that talks about the ride. here's a link http://www.district37ama.org/dualsport/Newsletter/100901-Newsletter.pdf
 
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