60's Honda 50/90's Remember when?

[NIsaacs]

Anyone old enough to remember these POS things:-laf



The tractor dealership I went to work for in '69 sold these. It was my first exposure to metric tools.



I made the owner mad when I bought a new Yamaha 1970 50cc dirt bike with a 4 speed manual transmission. It would tear up a Honda 55 with it's anemic 3spd auto Chevy powerglide acting tranys. The one the Hondells sang and bragged about... ...



Nick

 

[BigPapa]

Yep, I remember them. POS? Don't think so. I would think that if the initial offering from a Japanese company in that time period was a POS, Honda would have fallen on their face instead of growing into the mega-company they are today.



Just my $. 02.

 

[RustyJC]

My recollection was that the early Hondas were pretty bulletproof. My 63 CB77 305cc Super Hawk was.



Rusty

 

[NIsaacs]

I wasn't talking about Honda bikes in general, just the little step threw jobs with almost no front suspension. They could barely get out of their own way. The 305 Honda Scrambler was a hot rod.



Nick

 

[Ram4Sam]

The glory days... . I got my Taco mini bike when I was 8 or 9, by age 11 I had a Honda 55, then the big leagues..... Yamaha 80. I'll have to look when I get home today, might even have some pictures somewhere.



Sam

 

[JLEONARD]

My next door neighbor still has one that's in pretty good shape. A few times each summer he takes a ride around the block a few times to cool off, his

dog under one arm. :-laf

 

[The patriot]

I started off with a CT-70. WE'd have to jump start ours. Once started we ran the snot out of it.

I had a LOT of the old dirt bikes. Remember the old Indians from China?

I had an RM80 in the late 70's. I used to beat 125's with it. I was pretty good on it.

 

[jhenderson]

I started with a Z50A Mini Trail. Then graduated to a CT 70. Mine had a 3 speed trans and a centrifugal clutch. My buddy had a 4 speed with a manual clutch. I lusted after his bike. We used to ride them so hard they would seize up from over heating. We would let then cool off, kick em , and ride some more. Too much fun for a 10-12 year old. We would leave after breakfast and not be seen again till supper.

 

[NIsaacs]

I haven't owned or ridden a bike in years, but I still keep my motorcycle endorsement. When I was still in grade school my best friend bought a new '66 I think, Suzuki X6 250 cc, at the time it was advertised as one of the fastest 250 bikes there was. It had a six speed transmission and would do 0-60 in 6 seconds. I lost 3 front teeth and a bunch of hide off my head from it, riding shotgun. My friend was in a wrist cast for a year and dislocated his shoulder, he was a mess, I was actually pretty lucky, I think I landed on him:-laf



Nick

 

[rscurtis]

I remember seeing one of the first 305's in 1964 when my father bought his second Porsche, a 356 coupe. They were also a new Honda dealer. I couldn't get over how smooth and quiet the Honda was compared to contemporary American and English bikes of the day. Naturally, back in those days, neither of the two marques was considered "mainstream".



I subsequently had three bikes, at CB350, a 500-Four, and a 750 SS. All three were very good products.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

My dad has a 1964 Honda Trail 90 that he got from his uncle who bought it new. The bike is still in hood condition and runs good. We've put that thing thru everything imaginable and it just won't quit.

 

[p-Bar]

Dad bought a trail 90 too learned to ride on that. High school bought a perfect condition 69 yamaha 125 enduro with electric start . Then bought a 305 scrambler that bike was awesome pulled the muffler and put snuffers in and when you would rap it up had the neatest sound brother said it had a 180 crank in it . Bikes have come along ways... ...

 

[RustyJC]

Then bought a 305 scrambler that bike was awesome pulled the muffler and put snuffers in and when you would rap it up had the neatest sound brother said it had a 180 crank in it.

Yes, the 305cc Scramblers and Super Hawks had 180 degree cranks; the Dream had an even-firing 360 degree crank like the Brit twins of that era. I had reverse cone megaphones with removable baffles on my Super Hawk - it's a miracle that I still have any hearing left whatsoever. :-laf



Rusty

 

[p-Bar]

Yes, the 305cc Scramblers and Super Hawks had 180 degree cranks; the Dream had an even-firing 360 degree crank like the Brit twins of that era. I had reverse cone megaphones with removable baffles on my Super Hawk - it's a miracle that I still have any hearing left whatsoever. :-laf



Rusty

Ya I put some drag bars on it and was looking at the Powerall stuff to hop it up . Went to the drags for grudge nite and another guy guy had a 305 that looked hopped up we raced and I won . guess I was the first "cafe racer" in town

 

[fox]

I wasn't talking about Honda bikes in general, just the little step threw jobs with almost no front suspension. They could barely get out of their own way. The 305 Honda Scrambler was a hot rod.



Nick

My brother and I build a go cart with one and had a lot of fun!

Until the sherriffs office started to watch for us!

It would top out at 85 with the gearing we had, but topped out in about 200 feet!

It raced and beat many 'muscle cars' of the day! And that was in the quarter mile! We got where we didn't like a 3500 lb car chasing us down!

Those cars were running 110 mph as they drove past us after the finish line.

 

[NIsaacs]

This is my kinda bike!



Nick

 

[BigPapa]

Mennonite Hell's Angels... ... ... ...

 

[Wayne M.]

Yep, I cut my teeth on a '71 CT70K (Clutch 4 speed model) That bike was indestructible. My "more fortunate" friends had the more modern and faster dirt bikes like YZ, RM 80's and 100's but it was always my bike that ran every day on summer vacation. I later moved up to a '70 CL100. I loved that bike. It was so smooth compared to the 70 with its big bike spoked wheels, more refined suspension, 5th gear, etc. I still love how the 70's hondas look with the paint schemes and chrome and all.

Those were the best times. I can still remember scrounging up money for gas- able to fill er up with 75 cents!! ... AHHHH YES.

Today I have a late '70's CT70 tucked away in my shed. Nowadays there's not anyplace to ride anymore without being bothered... .

 

[RideSlow2004]

First bike, Honda 150 Benly also called the Dream. 4 spd rocker shift, single carb, enclosed chain. I didn't think it was cool, but the girls really liked it. 2nd bike was a Honda Super 90. Loud, and slow, but I thot I was a racer for sure. 3rd was a CL 450, and I got my tail handed to me by my buddy on his X-6 Suzuki. Only raced Triumphs, BSA's and Harleys after that whupping.

 

[JLEONARD]

This is my kinda bike!

He won't get whiplash.