Lots of people would put them on carrier racks on the back of RVs. You could swing the handlebars out of the way so they wouldn't hit the siding of the RV. I even recall seeing it on ads.
Thank you guys for what you did for this bike. This was my dads bike and he couldn’t have been more excited than knowing you were going to make a project out of it and put it on RUclips. He sent the link as soon as he saw it was up. Can’t wait to see the end result!
Bars turn sideways so it fits on back of a motorhome or pickup. Trail 90 has battery-powered ignition, and the battery is the Voltage regulator. Needs a fully charged battery so it runs well and doesn't blow all the bulbs.
Guys, the trail or CT series were agriculture bikes to be used on farms and properties and such. We have heaps of them in Australia because our postal system has used them for decades to deliver mail and still do. We call them “Posties”.
The postie bike runs we had a few years ago were some of the best rides! Putting the wrf450 away and buying a cheap postie and going on a huge ride in queensland huge fun!
FOR PEOPLE WONDERING ABOUT THE ANKLE BRACELET! Ike was making a joke on how the bike looks like a DUI bike or a drunkie bike. The ankle bracelet was a joke about how those people would have been wearing one if they were on the ct90, because again, it looks like a DUI bike
You guys should fill both of those grocery containers with groceries and drive the trail 90 as fast as you can on your circuit and see what time you do. All the time trying not to spill any groceries or bust any eggs
when first running these old barn finds you should run 2 cycle mixed gas in them {a quart or so}. It helps loosen up the valves and less chance of cylinder damage. I have done it for 60 years never hurt one. Anyhow just a thought. Keep on rocking boys
I bought a used trail 1966 Honda 50 trail when I turned 14yrs. As you could ride a 50cc legally at 14 yrs old which was cool. But after about 6 months I swapped a 90cc in the trail 50. Which was a huge improvement. Great little bikes. Me and a bunch of guys rode our Honda 50s from Las Vegas to Lake Havasu for spring break 1970 & back! The bikes ran great
The trail 90/110 is fun little bike and seems to be easier to find and sell for less then the trail 70s and z50s. The bars turn so its easier to transport like how the fold downs work on the others. Also that spare tank is often missing so it’s nice to see it still there. The O rings are likely to help keep the motor watertight, the intake actually has a snorkel with the inlet at the rack. You can ride one of these through about 3-4 feet of water. Edit: I commented before seeing John mentioning the snorkel lol
I’m a Trail 90 guy and have watched you guys for years. I can’t believe you’re JUST getting one! Mark my words, you’ll get more. You’ll get more and want to travel long distance on them. Just watch!
This was the first bike I ever road. Always liked them. The older ones actually had two rear sprokets and an extra length of chain vs the modern hi lo range luxury ones lol. vary slim pickings. Always nice to see them put back to work. Vs hiding in a garage for all eternity
Over here in Australia those bikes were the standard equipment for the Post man. Then upgraded to (same bike) CT110. Been used by Australia Post for years. Good work horse.
Thank you thank you thank you guys for doing this. I am the happy owner of one of these and to see you all discover the awesomeness of these bad boys. Slowly John realized how amazing the features are and slowly Ike realized that it was a beast on the track
Had many CT 90s and restored them keep reving that engine and it will blow up Been sitting a long time be easy on the old girl Replace and repair and it will run forever.
Patrick, one of my Honda ST90s doesn't shift as smoothly as the other, especially when shifting from 3rd to 2nd to 1st, It feels a bit rough or jumpy when shifting at speed. I adjusted the clutch to factory specs, but it made no difference. All shifts well at low speed, Any suggestions? Thanks!
@@larryalexander4833 Thanks, Larry. I did try that adjustment as per a youtube video tutorial, but it made no difference -the jump is still there when downshifting from 3-2-1.
From what I remember those need a battery hooked up to get spark. Does not need to be a good battery just one hooked up to complete the circuit. Also with a working battery you will not over work the charging system.
Awesome! I have a 77 Honda Express and she would go 37 downhill and tuckin'! Even after years of sitting - a carb rebuild and 37 downhill and tuckin'! Been about 20 more years since she's ran - will have to bring her back out! Can't wait to see more of this one!
i’ve been working on my own trail 90 for the past few months and from what i’ve learned, the battery supplies the voltage for the points up until around 2k rpm. And there’s a seat that mounts on the rack in the back, that’s the purpose of the rear pegs
oh also, i believe turning the handlebars has 2 purposes, storage and disassembly. When you’re taking apart the front end suspension, it’s a LOT easier when you can turn the handlebars out of the way
Did you remove the emulsion tube from the carburetor and clean it when you cleaned the jets? The main jet screws in to it. The emulsion tube has holes in it's side which get clogged.
Excellent find! I once had a Honda CL90, and it developed wiring shorts wherever a wire rested against frame components. Honda wiring back then “enjoyed” thin insulation. Another electrical item to watch is the rectifier. My 90 would outrun all the dozen or so others in my town. One of my secrets was setting timing one or two degrees advanced and using 93 octane. Aviation gas was really good, and it cleaned the fuel and combustion paths. I used cigarette paper as my points feeler gauge. The CT90 handlebar latch is for hanging the bike on the back of an SUV so the back window doesn’t get broken. After watching ya’ll clean carbs the “organic” way, I recommend your buying an ultrasonic cleaner. I have one for gun parts, but I hear they are really useful for carbs, chains, etc., etc.
Keep up the good work yall, I watch all your videos and am a builder/fixer of bikes/karts/buggys as well. You guys have a great energy between yall and make great videos that are actually fun to watch! Again, keep up the good work, and stay safe, stay riding.
Thank you for the video. I have repaired about 30 of these things and have pretty much figured them out. First you did right by cleaning the points. But then you need to put a good battery in them to get them to start well. Otherwise they are hard to start or will not at all. Second they are jetted and set up to run with the air filter installed. You can play with them and jet them but when you put the stock air cleaner back on you will have to take it back to stock jetting and adjustments. These are excellent mountain trail bikes with the high and low on them. The early 70's have more chrome on them.the 60's have a " knee action " front suspension but usually no hi/low switch. Their biggest draw back is the 6 volt electrical system. Even on good examples the headlight is dimmer than modern 12 volt systems but you get used to them. Hope this helps. Top speed with me on road is about 45-50 mph but I'm 250 lbs. Hopefully this helps.
Guys the foldable handlebars are for when you strap the bike to the back of a Motorhome especially but I suppose also on a rack on the back of a truck also
They were steel wheel hoops that the wheels went in suspended from the front or rear bumper. I still have a set that I used on the back of my 75 Scout II .
Great find! Don't underestimate the torque available from a good running Trail 90. A friend back in 1973 or 1974 had one and it propelled us up to 50 or 55mph two up! 240 lbs total?
After you guys get the fuel system right , Be aware the points are touchy on the 90's .. I adjust them with the engine running . You can also adjust the timing on that engine with the point plate .. I have had 100 or more of them over the years fun bikes !!
Man I love this episode! I had a Trail 90 back in the day and two things, they make a seat for the back rack and in the low gear setting, they’ll do a wheelie. Loved to have one again.
Eugene's back yard repair tip for broken bolts with no extractor. You can drill hole in bolt and use a torx bit hammered in the hole to remove the bolt.
One of the greatest small motorcycles ever made, and possibly the greatest trail cycle ever made, I've owned several, the last one was one of the modified ones that folded in the middle of tube frame, it had all the extras just like this one, the spare gas can was great when going out in the wilderness for a few days
I think the carb needs the restriction of the air box to run better. All carbs are a bit different. Even without the filter it should run/idle better. That would explain why it ran better when you had it in the higher RPM’s. Hope this helps! Awesome bike and great content in all of your videos!
I had a Bridgestone 90, moped. It was too heavy to use the pedals for more than about 50 feet. Loved that quick little bike! So, this video made my day. Love Hondas! 👍😁 🏍️
Hi Guy's, about 30 years ago I brought a CT 90 for my late nephew exactly like yours, I went through a stage when I had 2 CT 110 Honda's myself and they where ex Postie bikes and to this day that model is still used here in Australia as postie bikes to deliver mail. Even though I could have afforded a "real bike" the CT110 was a perfect daily for going around town as needed and "as a can It do it" journey I put a new front chain cog 2 teeth bigger on the bike and used to drive it the 100km to Perth and do shopping and visit family on it achieving 65mpg on it I put a box on the rack on the back and got a couple of rear footpegs drilling the holes out so I could mount them on the front forks so I could stretch out my 6 foot frame on the long drive The shear enjoyment of it all was fantastic also giving people a chuckle when my border collie dog would jump up in the box as well. Great little bikes with reliable miles /kms of fun BTW you will find by putting a battery on board it definitely will run FAR BETTER it just seems to need the extra power for the electrics and it is crisper on the acceleration etc The handle on the handle bars is a great idea I used to bring the bike down to Perth in my XA Ford Falcon panel van by clocking the hbs 90 degrees you can fit it right up close to the side of your vehicle and fit a lot more stuff inside with it as well rather than a bike taking up most of the room leaving not much for anything else. Tony from Western Australia 🇦🇺
the trail 90/110 is the greatest multipurpose motorcycle ever built; simple, easy to ride, can go anywhere. Even the AU and NZ post used them to deliver mail. That's why they are known as postie bikes down under. My grandfathers CT110 had been in storage for 34 years, I got it running late last year and have been thrashing it around the farm since. Great bike for towing saplings and ripping around with my friends. Friend of mine told me the handle bar quick release was for putting the bike on the back of an RV on a cargo carrier but idk
Ed March's is slightly different being a c90, its actually a street cub with no low range and a plastic faring that protects your legs, they are a bit cheaper to buy here in the states, look up "cub 70" or Honda pilot (like the mini van) or cub 90 for ed's style bike,. The trail bike like Ike's here goes by a ton of names depending on the year, trail 55 (late 1950s to about 1964), trail 90 (1968-1979), trail 110(1980-1986), ct200 (1964- real early 1968, it is still a 90cc engine but is a older pushrod motor with no high/low gear but instead has two sprockets on the back wheel), also a ct90 if you are looking them up on Craigslist or OfferUp might be called a trail 110 or a trail 90. There is 2 different forks for them also 1968 is the cross over year, you get the real early bike looks and front fork but you get the modern overhead cam engine and high low transmission come 1969 through 1979 they are all pretty much the same but there are some differences but nothing major in technology or looks . In 1980 they become the ct110 also in 1980 it is a one year only bike because it has no high and low transmission, in 1981 to 1986 they have high low and are all ct110s... The ct110 is the most valuable bike and the cheapest is probably a ct200... The most practical is a 1968 to 1979 probably the best years being 75 to 79 if you are serious about buying one. Also Honda has just now came out with a brand new one I believe it's called a CT 125 or trail 125 I don't know a lot about it but it looks the part of an older bike but has a warranty and it's pretty cheap price wise plus it has fuel injection and I believe LED 12v lights... Don't quote me on any of this because I haven't read up on the new bike the older bikes I love them for trail riding, not dangerously fast and small enough you can lift them if you need to. Perfect hunting or exploring bike because its quite (for what it is).
@@AtomicReverend hey man super thanks for all the awesome info i was wondering why they kept calling it a tc90 lol anyway sweet deal also it looks like they make the trail 70 again love how they kept the old school look and body style freaking sweet. Do you know why the handlebars fold like that is it really so that it can be transported easier? I woud love to get one and maybe do some cross country trips kinda like ED but probably not as epic lol i suck at filming
@@kost157 Yes it's so they could be hauled, hanging from the front or rear bumper , on rv's or pickups. I used to haul mine this way on the back of my 75 Scout II .
Hears a story you won't hear very often. In the early 2000's my buddy and I rode into one of our hunting spots and shot a mice 3x3 mule deer 10 miles away frome a trail head. After field dressing it we sat its back on the rear rack and tied it's legs around my neck - balanced beautifully. Easiest packout of my life. Good memories and good equipment
My dad used to own one of these when I was little. He kept driving it from the late 80s to the early 00s. He sadly sold it when my brother was born, but I still remember getting rides to school on the back of this bike.
Wrong. There are 2 wires that come off of the 6 volt battery. One is fused, the other is not. I know, I just got one of these running last year. Now licensed and street legal.
@@keithlibner9259 some models did not come with the extra charging wires. If you notice on this one all the battery cables are there, then 2 extra wires. But thanks for the feed back.
You guys are great to watch! So neat to see John's enthusiasm with this bike. You definitely need a battery in it for it to be right. With the points on the head, they run straight off the end of the cam
People used to haul these on a bumper mount on the front of their truck. The folding handle bars helped with clearance. In addition to the high low transfer case dual jetted carb allowed you to change jets by pulling a knob for over 5k feet. Cool.
I put one of these ('76 CT90 IIRC) back on the road last year for my neighbors, they love it. make sure the KEY IS ON (or bypassed) in addition to the kill switch being in run, or she aint starting.... and adding a modern regulator/recitifier is a cheap, easy upgrade to get rid of those old electrons hiding in that battery compartment.
I had some early ct-70s. we were walking home from school I was about 9 years old, a friend of mine and I seen these bikes in a pile of leaves out by the curb, we started drooling, and immediately drag these things to his house as quick as we could. (thank God he lived across the street, LOL.) when it was all said and done, we had three, 68 through 71 CT70, trail 70s, that were in really good shape. they don't have any wear on them, looks like they sat in the shed their whole lives. so, there ended up being 4 speed, manual clutch bikes, a metallic blue one, and a metallic forest green one. there was also a metallic yellow three speed automatic. well, he said, since I'm getting them running, I can pick any two of them, and he'd take the other one. so I took the green 4 speed, & the yellow 3 spd. automatic. I just really wanted to see how much different in speed they would be. I like the manual clutch any day of the week. anyway, he took the blue one, and off we went. after dragging them home, I looked, and realized, I am the proud owner of two motorcycles! my first two bikes ever! and there was only 9 years old! long story short, I got them running the next day, and I rode them until I was about 13 years old. some of the best entry level starter bikes you will ever ride. super smooth motors that everyone copies nowadays, you must remember these motors are from 1968-69 70, a long time ago. all those Chinese companies waited for those patents to run out, now there's millions of them everywhere. but a smooth silk little one cylinder, simple points ignition, the gas tanks a plastic tank under the seat, simple simple. one of the best parts was the ct70s rims. 10 inch solid steel rims with bolt-in center steel hubs. no spokes, nothing to bend, nothing to break. other than the goofy handlebars, these things were perfection. that's a 💯, Honda!
In one of the podcast videos, he said this style bike reminded of a "DUI bike." A bike that people would drive to the store to get alcohol because they lost their license 😂 so he's referencing that lol
The Honda trail 90 was my first bike. Had the racks everything I was 12 years old and mowed lawns all summer for that thing. The high and low range worked great....... The bars turn for storage
The handlebars lift and turn for storage purposes. It takes up less room in a truck bed. My dad picked one of these up a year ago. He's been wanting one since they came out. They're quite unique and full of engineering headscratchers but a blast to ride
You're both right. I've worked on and/ or owned about 30 of these ranging from 1959 ct90 up to 1981 honda 110. They start easily with a fresh battery but will still start on a weak one- but trying to run the lights is nearly impossible. The batteries are available for around $20 so just keep a fresh one in it . If the battery is gone or shot it will blow bulbs and the headlight bulb is nearly the same price as the battery. Been down this trail too many times.
Yes you can add a passenger seat, and yes it was for transport. They hauled them with RVs and on campers ALOT back in the day. Know of guys that cross country with them back when they were new...so they used the grocery racks for fuel cans and had packs over top.
Dad bought a "Honda 90 step through" to chase sheep on his 20 acre property. It was the first bike I ever rode back in about 1969. I spent a few days chasing sheep to the sheep dip and then to the sheering shed down two public roads and then back home. It was a 10 mile round trip all by myself not even a sheep dog to help me. I can't remember how many sheep I think it was 50. Lots of fun when they went into open gates on other peoples properties and I had to chase them back out on to the road. I was 17 years old . I live in Australia.
A tip I was taught long ago by a friend who was a bike mechanic for 30 years, if you have a small jet or large one stopped up you hold it over a flame for minute or two the sludge inside will cook and can be cleaned out a lot easier with air n carb cleaner 😃
back in the 80's in Sydney western suburbs I had a school holiday job helping fix these postie bikes CT 90/110 test drives were fun in the bush behind the servo (gas station)
The Bars move so you can ship, stow, pack...Etc. Now you got to find my old bike. Honda SL70 Blue, I think it was 1972-4 ? I'm old now .. lol. Had a few trail 90's real fun in the sand...Great veido.
This is the first honda I ever worked on. It was a religious experience replacing the entire wiring harness and electrical system and getting it to putt around for the first time in 15 years on rotten tires. Its an amazing bike.
Love those bikes. From memory they dont work the same as the 50/70. If you put a charged battery on you may find it sparks ok without hot wiring it. Also they're jetted lean so dont run well with the stock filter off.
Growing up an old guy in his eighties had one of those an it was cherry. He would ride it on Sunday after church in his suite an tie around the community, Classy guy, that brought back memories.
Lots of people would put them on carrier racks on the back of RVs. You could swing the handlebars out of the way so they wouldn't hit the siding of the RV. I even recall seeing it on ads.
JOHN, PIN THIS COMMENT
@@wurthmannd024 just posted same comment
oop, I just posted the same comment as well. (more or less)
yessir , those were the days
I agree.
Thank you guys for what you did for this bike. This was my dads bike and he couldn’t have been more excited than knowing you were going to make a project out of it and put it on RUclips. He sent the link as soon as he saw it was up. Can’t wait to see the end result!
It looks like Baby is in good hands!
Nice!
Bars turn sideways so it fits on back of a motorhome or pickup. Trail 90 has battery-powered ignition, and the battery is the Voltage regulator. Needs a fully charged battery so it runs well and doesn't blow all the bulbs.
yep , every detail , was thought out...very kool
Jon is spot on. Needs battery to provide spark at low rpm.
Was looking for someone to mention this.
Oh, hey Jon!
@@TravieSpots hey Travis!
Guys, the trail or CT series were agriculture bikes to be used on farms and properties and such. We have heaps of them in Australia because our postal system has used them for decades to deliver mail and still do. We call them “Posties”.
Still the best selling "Motorcycle" in Australia .
The postie bike runs we had a few years ago were some of the best rides! Putting the wrf450 away and buying a cheap postie and going on a huge ride in queensland huge fun!
especially when you see a postie on gumtree and wonder what postie was beat up for his bike😂
Ps the handle bars turn side ways so that you can mount them on a bike rack. On the back of a vehicle or caravan or motor home
The Postie variety was different in one significant way: no high/low transmission shifter, they were high-range only.
You guys should really invest in an ultrasonic cleaner for as many carburetors as you have to clean on his old revival
I have one & forgot I had it!
@@CarsandCameras LOL
I was just going to say that lol.
Agreed, I have one at work and it works wonders!
I did, Mike, and they work great!
I've got an '81 trail 110, and I can confirm that it will reach highway speeds as long as you're going downhill with a tail wind
Almost an hour of john and ike......man this made my monday so much better. Cheers
And at the same by 2 used in The Terminator movie with the kid is the other person on the front of it and hes my way from The Terminator
Began call musty one for Tech Support
Set the point 16 file
What is the valve lash supposed to be on a 110 loncin
And then another upload before I woke up for work 😂😂
FOR PEOPLE WONDERING ABOUT THE ANKLE BRACELET!
Ike was making a joke on how the bike looks like a DUI bike or a drunkie bike. The ankle bracelet was a joke about how those people would have been wearing one if they were on the ct90, because again, it looks like a DUI bike
Around my neck of the woods, we called them liquor cycles
oh ok
You guys should fill both of those grocery containers with groceries and drive the trail 90 as fast as you can on your circuit and see what time you do. All the time trying not to spill any groceries or bust any eggs
Now that would be comical.
I know that's why I suggested it. I'm a funny guy that way. Just kidding
@@quevicular Golf clap*
Nice
Grocery getter Grand Prix
46:34 that bumpstart is the most majestic thing I've ever seen
when first running these old barn finds you should run 2 cycle mixed gas in them {a quart or so}. It helps loosen up the valves and less chance of cylinder damage. I have done it for 60 years never hurt one. Anyhow just a thought. Keep on rocking boys
An hour of John and Ike, man it feels like 10 mins. I love these videos, makes me even feel like I'm there having a blast. You guys are awesome!!
it’s still crazy to me that you guys are almost at million, granted it’s well deserved but it feels like yesterday when that 100k burnout vid dropped.
I remember that burnout! It seemed like a turning point for them..
They just hit 1 mil a week ago now
I bought a used trail 1966 Honda 50 trail when I turned 14yrs. As you could ride a 50cc legally at 14 yrs old which was cool. But after about 6 months I swapped a 90cc in the trail 50. Which was a huge improvement. Great little bikes. Me and a bunch of guys rode our Honda 50s from Las Vegas to Lake Havasu for spring break 1970 & back! The bikes ran great
I kept seeing this bike In the background, I was wondering when you were going to post the revival video
The trail 90/110 is fun little bike and seems to be easier to find and sell for less then the trail 70s and z50s. The bars turn so its easier to transport like how the fold downs work on the others. Also that spare tank is often missing so it’s nice to see it still there. The O rings are likely to help keep the motor watertight, the intake actually has a snorkel with the inlet at the rack. You can ride one of these through about 3-4 feet of water.
Edit: I commented before seeing John mentioning the snorkel lol
😲Damn near an hour long video!?!?
I'm so here for this 🤘🏻😁🤘🏻
More please!?!?
IKR! I WAS LIKE. 😯 UMMMMM...YES! ✌
I’m a Trail 90 guy and have watched you guys for years. I can’t believe you’re JUST getting one! Mark my words, you’ll get more. You’ll get more and want to travel long distance on them. Just watch!
This was the first bike I ever road. Always liked them. The older ones actually had two rear sprokets and an extra length of chain vs the modern hi lo range luxury ones lol. vary slim pickings. Always nice to see them put back to work. Vs hiding in a garage for all eternity
Me too, was my 2nd bike.
Over here in Australia those bikes were the standard equipment for the Post man. Then upgraded to (same bike) CT110. Been used by Australia Post for years. Good work horse.
“What a unit, thats our biggest one yet”. As Isaac come through the door.
🤔🤔🤣 these dudes are the real shake and bake
Thank you thank you thank you guys for doing this. I am the happy owner of one of these and to see you all discover the awesomeness of these bad boys. Slowly John realized how amazing the features are and slowly Ike realized that it was a beast on the track
Keep it coming guys. Grand pop's hand a junk yard when I was a kid. I always was dragging shit out and making it work again. I miss the old guy.
Had many CT 90s and restored them keep reving that engine and it will blow up Been sitting a long time be easy on the old girl Replace and repair and it will run forever.
The way John is rocking back and forth, it's like he's on a quarter ride outside of a store! Lol I love it!
Being a 61 year old man and working on these a lot when I was young I was laughing
Patrick, one of my Honda ST90s doesn't shift as smoothly as the other, especially when shifting from 3rd to 2nd to 1st, It feels a bit rough or jumpy when shifting at speed. I adjusted the clutch to factory specs, but it made no difference. All shifts well at low speed, Any suggestions? Thanks!
You too? I had an ATC 90 that was hopped up with a 150cc kit, tricked out head, intake and aftermarket exhaust.
😆
@@markh.2899 Adjust the clutch .first. It has a locknut and adjustable screw on the kick start side . Look it up
@@larryalexander4833 Thanks, Larry. I did try that adjustment as per a youtube video tutorial, but it made no difference -the jump is still there when downshifting from 3-2-1.
My first motorcycle when I was 8, was a Honda 90. I have no clue of the year, but I had a blast on it.
I love Cars and cameras Videos, always so fun and good energy! 👍 Keep it up guys!
My dad bought a 1968 Honda 90 Trail when I was a kid that I would ride around. That was the most awesome bike. Loved it.
My parents had one just like that! I have great memories of that wonderful bike!
From what I remember those need a battery hooked up to get spark. Does not need to be a good battery just one hooked up to complete the circuit. Also with a working battery you will not over work the charging system.
Ike-"It's good for a six-pack ooorrrr twelve!" John-"If your feeling something tingly, your in to deep!" I appreciate these videos. I love it!
Awesome! I have a 77 Honda Express and she would go 37 downhill and tuckin'! Even after years of sitting - a carb rebuild and 37 downhill and tuckin'! Been about 20 more years since she's ran - will have to bring her back out! Can't wait to see more of this one!
these wee trail 90 are awesome .they will run to the end of the world and back around again:)
i’ve been working on my own trail 90 for the past few months and from what i’ve learned, the battery supplies the voltage for the points up until around 2k rpm. And there’s a seat that mounts on the rack in the back, that’s the purpose of the rear pegs
oh also, i believe turning the handlebars has 2 purposes, storage and disassembly. When you’re taking apart the front end suspension, it’s a LOT easier when you can turn the handlebars out of the way
Did you remove the emulsion tube from the carburetor and clean it when you cleaned the jets? The main jet screws in to it. The emulsion tube has holes in it's side which get clogged.
Excellent find! I once had a Honda CL90, and it developed wiring shorts wherever a wire rested against frame components. Honda wiring back then “enjoyed” thin insulation. Another electrical item to watch is the rectifier. My 90 would outrun all the dozen or so others in my town. One of my secrets was setting timing one or two degrees advanced and using 93 octane. Aviation gas was really good, and it cleaned the fuel and combustion paths. I used cigarette paper as my points feeler gauge. The CT90 handlebar latch is for hanging the bike on the back of an SUV so the back window doesn’t get broken. After watching ya’ll clean carbs the “organic” way, I recommend your buying an ultrasonic cleaner. I have one for gun parts, but I hear they are really useful for carbs, chains, etc., etc.
Keep up the good work yall, I watch all your videos and am a builder/fixer of bikes/karts/buggys as well. You guys have a great energy between yall and make great videos that are actually fun to watch! Again, keep up the good work, and stay safe, stay riding.
Thank you for the video. I have repaired about 30 of these things and have pretty much figured them out. First you did right by cleaning the points. But then you need to put a good battery in them to get them to start well. Otherwise they are hard to start or will not at all. Second they are jetted and set up to run with the air filter installed. You can play with them and jet them but when you put the stock air cleaner back on you will have to take it back to stock jetting and adjustments. These are excellent mountain trail bikes with the high and low on them. The early 70's have more chrome on them.the 60's have a " knee action " front suspension but usually no hi/low switch. Their biggest draw back is the 6 volt electrical system. Even on good examples the headlight is dimmer than modern 12 volt systems but you get used to them. Hope this helps. Top speed with me on road is about 45-50 mph but I'm 250 lbs. Hopefully this helps.
Guys the foldable handlebars are for when you strap the bike to the back of a Motorhome especially but I suppose also on a rack on the back of a truck also
As Jon said for carrying on your RVs. Also we made Racks that hooked on to the bumpers in the old days.
They were steel wheel hoops that the wheels went in suspended from the front or rear bumper. I still have a set that I used on the back of my 75 Scout II .
Great find! Don't underestimate the torque available from a good running Trail 90. A friend back in 1973 or 1974 had one and it propelled us up to 50 or 55mph two up! 240 lbs total?
After you guys get the fuel system right , Be aware the points are touchy on the 90's .. I adjust them with the engine running . You can also adjust the timing on that engine with the point plate .. I have had 100 or more of them over the years fun bikes !!
This is one of the best motor cycles evet made. I had 2 of them and foolishly sold them. Here in NZ they fetch proper money.
Man I love this episode! I had a Trail 90 back in the day and two things, they make a seat for the back rack and in the low gear setting, they’ll do a wheelie. Loved to have one again.
the handlebar thing is probably for storage when its on the back of an RV. also i think thats a spoke wrench.
Traveling on the back of a motorhome was my first thought as well.
Defo a spoke wrench
Eugene's back yard repair tip for broken bolts with no extractor. You can drill hole in bolt and use a torx bit hammered in the hole to remove the bolt.
Here in Australia, we use these as our Australia post bikes..
Australia Post specified a model without the high/low shifter though and most had a 110 instead of the 90 engine.
One of the greatest small motorcycles ever made, and possibly the greatest trail cycle ever made, I've owned several, the last one was one of the modified ones that folded in the middle of tube frame, it had all the extras just like this one, the spare gas can was great when going out in the wilderness for a few days
I think the carb needs the restriction of the air box to run better. All carbs are a bit different. Even without the filter it should run/idle better. That would explain why it ran better when you had it in the higher RPM’s. Hope this helps! Awesome bike and great content in all of your videos!
I new you guys would hang onto that little gem, they really are pure magic all the way around. So utilitarian,, so Honda, good stuff.
Mustie1 refurb'd a Trail 90 back in July 2019, check his out.
Hey I'm subbed to that guy too haha! I kinda want that tractor he's been working on recently lol
@@lilredwagon5311 yup love his cougar
he's a flipper, no love, nor respect.
hard pass
@@mkuehn5450 who
@@sureshkumarc.k6534 think he means mustie?
I had a Bridgestone 90, moped. It was too heavy to use the pedals for more than about 50 feet. Loved that quick little bike! So, this video made my day. Love Hondas! 👍😁 🏍️
Oooooo old AZ tag~!! That's a survivor for sure.
Hi Guy's, about 30 years ago I brought a CT 90 for my late nephew exactly like yours, I went through a stage when I had 2 CT 110 Honda's myself and they where ex Postie bikes and to this day that model is still used here in Australia as postie bikes to deliver mail.
Even though I could have afforded a "real bike" the CT110 was a perfect daily for going around town as needed and "as a can It do it" journey I put a new front chain cog 2 teeth bigger on the bike and used to drive it the 100km to Perth and do shopping and visit family on it achieving 65mpg on it
I put a box on the rack on the back and got a couple of rear footpegs drilling the holes out so I could mount them on the front forks so I could stretch out my 6 foot frame on the long drive
The shear enjoyment of it all was fantastic also giving people a chuckle when my border collie dog would jump up in the box as well.
Great little bikes with reliable miles /kms of fun
BTW you will find by putting a battery on board it definitely will run FAR BETTER it just seems to need the extra power for the electrics
and it is crisper on the acceleration etc
The handle on the handle bars is a great idea I used to bring the bike down to Perth in my XA Ford Falcon panel van by clocking the hbs 90 degrees you can fit it right up close to the side of your vehicle and fit a lot more stuff inside with it as well rather than a bike taking up most of the room leaving not much for anything else.
Tony from Western Australia 🇦🇺
I use to see a few of them during the seventies. Been a while since I have seen one.
I restored a 72 trail 90. Mars orange and I bored it up to a 105cc with a performance cam
Love too se some more 2stroke build.
Greetings from sweden
the trail 90/110 is the greatest multipurpose motorcycle ever built; simple, easy to ride, can go anywhere. Even the AU and NZ post used them to deliver mail. That's why they are known as postie bikes down under. My grandfathers CT110 had been in storage for 34 years, I got it running late last year and have been thrashing it around the farm since. Great bike for towing saplings and ripping around with my friends.
Friend of mine told me the handle bar quick release was for putting the bike on the back of an RV on a cargo carrier but idk
Love ur builds ❤️ keep doing all ur doing
I have never seen one of those in the UK but as a boy the best time of my life was spent on a c90 Honda they were so much fun ❤
Just watched C90 adventures great channel dood goes from Alaska to south America on one of those bad boys i want one so bad.
Ed March's is slightly different being a c90, its actually a street cub with no low range and a plastic faring that protects your legs, they are a bit cheaper to buy here in the states, look up "cub 70" or Honda pilot (like the mini van) or cub 90 for ed's style bike,. The trail bike like Ike's here goes by a ton of names depending on the year, trail 55 (late 1950s to about 1964), trail 90 (1968-1979), trail 110(1980-1986), ct200 (1964- real early 1968, it is still a 90cc engine but is a older pushrod motor with no high/low gear but instead has two sprockets on the back wheel), also a ct90 if you are looking them up on Craigslist or OfferUp might be called a trail 110 or a trail 90. There is 2 different forks for them also 1968 is the cross over year, you get the real early bike looks and front fork but you get the modern overhead cam engine and high low transmission come 1969 through 1979 they are all pretty much the same but there are some differences but nothing major in technology or looks . In 1980 they become the ct110 also in 1980 it is a one year only bike because it has no high and low transmission, in 1981 to 1986 they have high low and are all ct110s... The ct110 is the most valuable bike and the cheapest is probably a ct200... The most practical is a 1968 to 1979 probably the best years being 75 to 79 if you are serious about buying one.
Also Honda has just now came out with a brand new one I believe it's called a CT 125 or trail 125 I don't know a lot about it but it looks the part of an older bike but has a warranty and it's pretty cheap price wise plus it has fuel injection and I believe LED 12v lights... Don't quote me on any of this because I haven't read up on the new bike the older bikes I love them for trail riding, not dangerously fast and small enough you can lift them if you need to. Perfect hunting or exploring bike because its quite (for what it is).
@@AtomicReverend hey man super thanks for all the awesome info i was wondering why they kept calling it a tc90 lol anyway sweet deal also it looks like they make the trail 70 again love how they kept the old school look and body style freaking sweet. Do you know why the handlebars fold like that is it really so that it can be transported easier? I woud love to get one and maybe do some cross country trips kinda like ED but probably not as epic lol i suck at filming
@@AtomicReverend Very well detailed ! I liked the early 70's because they had more chrome- later one's had black paint.
@@kost157 Yes it's so they could be hauled, hanging from the front or rear bumper , on rv's or pickups. I used to haul mine this way on the back of my 75 Scout II .
Hears a story you won't hear very often. In the early 2000's my buddy and I rode into one of our hunting spots and shot a mice 3x3 mule deer 10 miles away frome a trail head. After field dressing it we sat its back on the rear rack and tied it's legs around my neck - balanced beautifully. Easiest packout of my life. Good memories and good equipment
My dad used to own one of these when I was little. He kept driving it from the late 80s to the early 00s. He sadly sold it when my brother was born, but I still remember getting rides to school on the back of this bike.
The extra wires at the battery compartment are for a charger that you could buy at the time.
Wrong. There are 2 wires that come off of the 6 volt battery. One is fused, the other is not. I know, I just got one of these running last year. Now licensed and street legal.
@@keithlibner9259 some models did not come with the extra charging wires. If you notice on this one all the battery cables are there, then 2 extra wires. But thanks for the feed back.
You guys are great to watch! So neat to see John's enthusiasm with this bike. You definitely need a battery in it for it to be right. With the points on the head, they run straight off the end of the cam
One of these days they're going to do a real true thorough carb cleaning the right way and maybe have no running issues @ fire up and ride time..
It seems they know nothing about cleaning carburetors.
first 4mins i was already loving it, i love the old hondas :)
The things john is amazed by is just things I just assumed every guy just knew . That said tho I'm a 50 year old motorhead.
Iam Going To Be 65 July 20th And That Was My First Brand New Honda In 1971. I Had Alot Of Fun On It
Dang it, missed it during my lunch, have to wait until after work
I KNEW IT WAS A TRAIL 90 I SAW IN THE BACK! hell yeah! i havent even started watching and im bouncin in my seat!
“Ike took a spin around the compound with the tank strapped to the wheel of his truck.”
??? And you didn’t get it on camera!!?!
People used to haul these on a bumper mount on the front of their truck. The folding handle bars helped with clearance. In addition to the high low transfer case dual jetted carb allowed you to change jets by pulling a knob for over 5k feet. Cool.
Jon, there was a whole lotta giggity's in that first 30 seconds. 🤣
what can I say I love old Hondas
I put one of these ('76 CT90 IIRC) back on the road last year for my neighbors, they love it. make sure the KEY IS ON (or bypassed) in addition to the kill switch being in run, or she aint starting.... and adding a modern regulator/recitifier is a cheap, easy upgrade to get rid of those old electrons hiding in that battery compartment.
After you sand the points you're supposed to grab a dollar bill and pull it through them a couple of times to clear the film off
Match book cover or heavy packaging paper with no plastic finish works well too.
Yes Isaac I had a set of screw extractors with the different reversable drill bits I inherited from my pops. Pretty cool tools they are.
The purpose for the handlebars to turn like that was to be able to transport the bike and bumper brackets or a rail on a motorhome or pick up our car
I rode a dirtbike half a mile on starting fluid one time, granted the engine was done anyway
Can you say 6 volt battery??. See Mustie1.
Mustie1 is fantastic hes done a few trial 90s I think
I had some early ct-70s. we were walking home from school I was about 9 years old, a friend of mine and I seen these bikes in a pile of leaves out by the curb, we started drooling, and immediately drag these things to his house as quick as we could. (thank God he lived across the street, LOL.) when it was all said and done, we had three, 68 through 71 CT70, trail 70s, that were in really good shape. they don't have any wear on them, looks like they sat in the shed their whole lives. so, there ended up being 4 speed, manual clutch bikes, a metallic blue one, and a metallic forest green one. there was also a metallic yellow three speed automatic. well, he said, since I'm getting them running, I can pick any two of them, and he'd take the other one. so I took the green 4 speed, & the yellow 3 spd. automatic. I just really wanted to see how much different in speed they would be. I like the manual clutch any day of the week. anyway, he took the blue one, and off we went. after dragging them home, I looked, and realized, I am the proud owner of two motorcycles! my first two bikes ever! and there was only 9 years old! long story short, I got them running the next day, and I rode them until I was about 13 years old. some of the best entry level starter bikes you will ever ride. super smooth motors that everyone copies nowadays, you must remember these motors are from 1968-69 70, a long time ago. all those Chinese companies waited for those patents to run out, now there's millions of them everywhere. but a smooth silk little one cylinder, simple points ignition, the gas tanks a plastic tank under the seat, simple simple. one of the best parts was the ct70s rims. 10 inch solid steel rims with bolt-in center steel hubs. no spokes, nothing to bend, nothing to break. other than the goofy handlebars, these things were perfection. that's a 💯, Honda!
Ankle bracelet?! WTF! Did you get married Issac? That's what I call my wife, lol
In one of the podcast videos, he said this style bike reminded of a "DUI bike." A bike that people would drive to the store to get alcohol because they lost their license 😂 so he's referencing that lol
@@kshepthedrummer Thanks for the clarification!
The Honda trail 90 was my first bike. Had the racks everything I was 12 years old and mowed lawns all summer for that thing. The high and low range worked great....... The bars turn for storage
"One of the bolts broke off. I did not break it, it was already broken." Lol
Keep these longer vids comin John! They are awesome.
Nobody puts BABY in the corner. Man I’ve been married a long time, I just realized that none of y’all are gonna get that movie reference lol
Oh yes we do .. but I still don't like dancing 😂🤣😂
I got it. Was thinking the same thing as soon as they said the name.
The handlebars lift and turn for storage purposes. It takes up less room in a truck bed.
My dad picked one of these up a year ago. He's been wanting one since they came out. They're quite unique and full of engineering headscratchers but a blast to ride
It doesn't need any of those parts it needs a new owner 😂
Love these things, have one myself with a modified 190cc... here in Australia they use the ct110 as postie bikes (mail persons bikes)
Them old hondas won,t run without a battery
Won’t run well
You're both right. I've worked on and/ or owned about 30 of these ranging from 1959 ct90 up to 1981 honda 110. They start easily with a fresh battery but will still start on a weak one- but trying to run the lights is nearly impossible. The batteries are available for around $20 so just keep a fresh one in it . If the battery is gone or shot it will blow bulbs and the headlight bulb is nearly the same price as the battery. Been down this trail too many times.
Yes you can add a passenger seat, and yes it was for transport.
They hauled them with RVs and on campers ALOT back in the day.
Know of guys that cross country with them back when they were new...so they used the grocery racks for fuel cans and had packs over top.
Dad bought a "Honda 90 step through" to chase sheep on his 20 acre property. It was the first bike I ever rode back in about 1969. I spent a few days chasing sheep to the sheep dip and then to the sheering shed down two public roads and then back home. It was a 10 mile round trip all by myself not even a sheep dog to help me. I can't remember how many sheep I think it was 50. Lots of fun when they went into open gates on other peoples properties and I had to chase them back out on to the road. I was 17 years old . I live in Australia.
Ike will just NOT admit how much he loves it😄
A tip I was taught long ago by a friend who was a bike mechanic for 30 years, if you have a small jet or large one stopped up you hold it over a flame for minute or two the sludge inside will cook and can be cleaned out a lot easier with air n carb cleaner 😃
back in the 80's in Sydney western suburbs I had a school holiday job helping fix these postie bikes CT 90/110 test drives were fun in the bush behind the servo (gas station)
The Bars move so you can ship, stow, pack...Etc. Now you got to find my old bike. Honda SL70 Blue, I think it was 1972-4 ? I'm old now .. lol. Had a few trail 90's real fun in the sand...Great veido.
This is the first honda I ever worked on. It was a religious experience replacing the entire wiring harness and electrical system and getting it to putt around for the first time in 15 years on rotten tires. Its an amazing bike.
Love those bikes. From memory they dont work the same as the 50/70. If you put a charged battery on you may find it sparks ok without hot wiring it. Also they're jetted lean so dont run well with the stock filter off.
I love this show. I myself have made many things run that shouldn’t have. But I’m learning so much from you guys. Plus your a great team.
Growing up an old guy in his eighties had one of those an it was cherry. He would ride it on Sunday after church in his suite an tie around the community, Classy guy, that brought back memories.
You guys are soo lucky you find these timeless bikes! I'm quite jealous. These are what most people should be driving as a daily instead of cars.