I reacted to your comment, "Who would tour on a 90cc?". In May of 1969 I bought a used 1965 S90 for $150 CDN in London, England. Over the next two months I rode around the complete coastline of England, Wales and Scotland. It was cold, wet and slow...but still the trip of a lifetime. The little bike only quit once. A passing biker reset the points and I was on my way. Great bike, and I sold it for $100 when I got back to London. I ride a Goldwing now and at my age am hoping to find another S90.
I was the youngest of five. Mom said, "Save $100, and you can get a minibike." Available for $150 at the time. That stopped when my best friends brother died on his 350 honda. When I moved out, I bought a Honda CB750F. Thanks
The S90 is a 1967-68 domestic S90 with an enclosed chain guard and winkers, as mentioned. A batch of them have rotary gearboxes. I rode my CL90 1500 miles in three days, back in 1967. San Diego to Reno, to SFO to LA at 100 mpg WFO all the way.
They all have rotary gearboxes there's no difference in any of them except for the automatics and they're still the same If you're talking about going from first back to 4th yes
As a teenager in the late '60's my first motorcycle desire was a Honda S90. My dad wasn't to keen on me getting a bike so I had to wait until I turned 18 in 1971. At which time I headed down to Rick Case Honda in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and purchased a new 1971 CL175. Had that bike for the summer and than traded it in on a new 1971 CB750K1 that fall. Pretty much been a Honda rider all my life but have own a Kaw KZ400 and a Suz VS800 Intruder.
bought an s90 back in 2012, leaving high school as a fun summer project. Didn't run but it was all there. Simple condenser fix and it putted me around for 6 years as I toyed with the idea of building an RSC90 rep but eventually sold it after the cylinder locked up while riding to work one day. I regret that decision everyday man
This brings back memories of my first bike after turning 16 in 1968 when I borrowed £45 from my dad to buy a 1965 Honda S90 exactly the same as yours. I loved the bike despite two low sides on black ice in the space of 10 minutes. Then someone tried to steal it and somehow cracked the gearbox casing, presumably by jumping heavily on the kick starter. A friend offered me £25 which I gladly accepted as I couldn't afford a new casing and £25 was enough to pay off dad's loan.
@@albertful1967 Yes life was different and better in many ways back then when we had little and made the most of what we had. 54 years after the S90, I still love Honda's, my present being a 2020 CB1100 RS, in black, the same colour as the S90.
I had a 1964 S90 and as a kid loved it. It was a 4 speed, got 100+ mpg, and would hit 60 mph with my skinny teen-aged body on it. A cousin had a Cub 90 with a 3 speed auto, a totally different animal. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda."
I had a '49 Cushman Highlander when I was 12 and was hooked. Here in Oklahoma a 14 year old could get a scooter license and the summer I turned 14, Dad said he had some business in Tulsa so we headed that way and he pulled up at the Yamaha shop and there was a brand new 1965 80cc running with my name on the paper tag. Dad said I could have it if I could ride it back home. I had ridden only one modern bike once in a parking lot. Needless to say I jumped on that bike sans license and rode that bike the ten miles home. All my buddies had Honda 50's and 90's but I loved that bike. Thanks Dad, RIP. Now bringing back a 305 Dream at present.
I bought one of these c-200s brand new in '65, I think it was $350. out the door. But I never knew it was a c-200, I always called it a Honda 90. It was the most carefree, dependable bike i ever had by far.
Love it! I have multiples of all three of those bikes you’ve displayed there. Including a highly modified supercub variant. Looking forward to seeing more footage of the small displacement bikes!
Thats awesome! I'm working on a 68 C65 at the moment, and aiming to sort it out for the upcoming 2024 show season. Hoping to potentially film the progress and posting videos of it all. @@motorcyclerewind
Please send me an e-mail (motorcyclerewind@gmail.com) with your contact info. I have to talk to you about this story. I always say, these old motorcycles are cool but the stories and way cooler. Look forward to hearing from you.
had a Honda CL90 as my first bike, I wanted a car, but that 90 got me into bikes and I'm still there now that was in 1970. I've since restored a CL90 and loving it
They Were Genius ------- Evergreen Motors --------- I Had A Trail 90 ------- Made Me A Honda Guy For Life --------- My Whole Life I Have Had At Least One Honda Motorcycle -------- To This Day ------------ They Knew What They Were Doing ------- My Mom Tolerated Motorcycles --------- I Loved My Mom ----------- Ahead Of Her Time
You lay your fingers on some nice bike! I've always had a soft spot for 100cc bikes - partly because I started on a 100cc even though I was licenced for a 125cc - But having that moped sized frame with that bit more power led to more adventures and more fun, they fit down little footpaths into the woods or by the rivers (mostly illegal in the UK as footpaths are for feet) and unlike the dirt bike crowd, if you bumped into someone instead of them instantly calling the police they'd usually stand and chat / admire such a retro cool little bike and tell you story's of their mis-spent youth....
I am pretty fortunate to have done good friends with great motorcycles. That I go them a favor and I get to share their motorcycles. Stay tuned we have some really cool ones coming up.
My person opinion is that the SL90 is the best 90. I have two of them that I’m restoring and I love the look and feel of them. I think they would make awesome touring bikes.
How does the C200 and the S90 compare in power and speed? Which shifts smoother? I hope you can do another video of C200 vs S90 comparing the mechanics, such as the riding comfort level of the suspension and the frame and bars. Thank you for this video! It was very informative and interesting.
My 1967 Honda 90 was a CD90E. It looked exactly like your C200 (but red). There were many small external differences. None were obvious to the casual glance ,but the "main" difference was internal. The C200 pre 67 were push rod engines , my 67 bike had an ohc engine. Again, from the outside they looked identical. Lovely bikes you have.
I bought a 1964 CA200 for $200 as my first motorcycle in 1966 at age 16. I drag raced against, and rode, the Super 90 which was technologically superior since it was an overhead cam while my CA200 was had push rods. But I could run with, and sometimes outrun, the S90. Top speed on my CA200 was 65 mph. Advertised horsepower was 6.7 but I put a megaphone exhaust on it giving it about 8 hp. I owned it for 7 years and for awhile, it was my only transportation as a college student. In typical Japanese engineering prowess, my little 1964 90 cc motorcycle had a 4 speed synchromesh transmission, an alternator instead of a generator, and a Hemi style dome shaped cylinder head.
Well, there is a silly question. The OHC 90 has been in production in one form or another ( mostly as the trail 90 and cub in asia) for 6 decades. The push rod 90 lasted about 2 years in the US. The link front suspension used on all the various dream bikes was able, and simple, but the travel was limited and for whatever reasons, fell out of favor everywhere. The S-90 did everything right - right up to it's top speed of 62 mph. It would cruise all day at 55, and while most were owned by beginners like me who killed them through lack of maintenance... they had the potential to go 30,000 miles before a top end overhaul.. and longer on the bottom end. There were no flaws in the handling, braking or reliability, for a bike in this class.The set the standard for what a first motorcycle should be. Capable, safe, reliable, and powerful enough to keep up anywhere besides the freeway. I regularly took 150 mile trips to Mendocino from the SF bay area on the S-90. Putting an unsealed battery inside a pressed steel frame...now seems stupid. But we had no VRLA or AGM sealed batteries in 1965.
I believe the pushrod engine was Superior only in the fact that didn't have a slapping cam chain every 6000 miles it would last longer plus the fact that if you look nowadays there is a brand new motorcycle with a q a 50cc Honda engine pushrod it's on a newer street bike I couldn't believe it when I saw it but it is a qa50 head and cylinder it might have a three-speed by now instead of the two speed I love to see one in person
I used to take that c200 and Motocross the hell out of that thing pushrods press steel frame leading link front end whatever that thing would take some punishment
When I got that 20090 in 1970 I wired the two battery terminals together and it would start but it would not rev up and I put a toggle switch on it and once I got it started I turned to the toggle switch off and it would run but it wouldn't idle that good I rode that bike forever that way without a battery
My mate had a C200 , he recon-ed that if you thrash the nuts off it constantly , it' would be knackered after 10,000 miles . My first bike was a CD90 . My personal preference is for the leading link front suspension , forks are rubbish . The front brake on both bikes was not great . A super commuter though and good m.p.g. from both bikes . Thanks for the Nice video
Road both of these bikes back in the day; the S90 was called Super 90 and was faster than the other bike. A friend of mine had one and we road alot together. I had the CB160 Honda.
@@motorcyclerewind I’m currently riding a 2009 Bonneville and a 2015 Honda Forza. I do have a 1958 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon that runs but is not really road worthy. Finding a good mechanic is a problem that most riders can relate to. I had a 1965 Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler but couldn’t find anyone willing to work on it.
If Harley (and Triumph, BSA, etc) were perceptive, they would have looked at the lineup and seen that Honda was saying "We're coming for you - you better be ready!
It seems impossible that the S90 is 180lbs while the C200 is 120lbs, I don't understand where the weight comes from.. the S90 seems slimmer and the C200 integrated fender is hefty, on top of the cast iron cylinder head.. even the C200 tank looks larger. The metal front fender and slightly larger wheels account for 60lbs?
I reacted to your comment, "Who would tour on a 90cc?". In May of 1969 I bought a used 1965 S90 for $150 CDN in London, England. Over the next two months I rode around the complete coastline of England, Wales and Scotland. It was cold, wet and slow...but still the trip of a lifetime. The little bike only quit once. A passing biker reset the points and I was on my way. Great bike, and I sold it for $100 when I got back to London. I ride a Goldwing now and at my age am hoping to find another S90.
That’s awesome. I really enjoy these stories. Thanks for sharing.
I have an s00 that I bought for 20$ that I’m rebuilding
I was the youngest of five. Mom said, "Save $100, and you can get a minibike." Available for $150 at the time. That stopped when my best friends brother died on his 350 honda.
When I moved out, I bought a Honda CB750F. Thanks
These little bikes were fun, fun, fun to ride.
What’s the saying. It’s more fun to ride slow bikes fast than fast bikes slow. Thanks for watching.
The S90 is a 1967-68 domestic S90 with an enclosed chain guard and winkers, as mentioned. A batch of them have rotary gearboxes. I rode my CL90 1500 miles in three days, back in 1967. San Diego to Reno, to SFO to LA at 100 mpg WFO all the way.
That sounds like an awesome trip.
They all have rotary gearboxes there's no difference in any of them except for the automatics and they're still the same
If you're talking about going from first back to 4th yes
I had the C 200 a 1965 £50 back in 1983 i took it on a road trip in England happy days...
I have plans to 90 on a 90. Ride 90 miles on my C200. Thanks for watching.
@@motorcyclerewind Sounds great..
As a teenager in the late '60's my first motorcycle desire was a Honda S90. My dad wasn't to keen on me getting a bike so I had to wait until I turned 18 in 1971. At which time I headed down to Rick Case Honda in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and purchased a new 1971 CL175. Had that bike for the summer and than traded it in on a new 1971 CB750K1 that fall. Pretty much been a Honda rider all my life but have own a Kaw KZ400 and a Suz VS800 Intruder.
That’s and impressive bike line up you have had. Thanks for sharing.
bought an s90 back in 2012, leaving high school as a fun summer project. Didn't run but it was all there. Simple condenser fix and it putted me around for 6 years as I toyed with the idea of building an RSC90 rep but eventually sold it after the cylinder locked up while riding to work one day. I regret that decision everyday man
This brings back memories of my first bike after turning 16 in 1968 when I borrowed £45 from my dad to buy a 1965 Honda S90 exactly the same as yours. I loved the bike despite two low sides on black ice in the space of 10 minutes. Then someone tried to steal it and somehow cracked the gearbox casing, presumably by jumping heavily on the kick starter. A friend offered me £25 which I gladly accepted as I couldn't afford a new casing and £25 was enough to pay off dad's loan.
I love hearing these old stories. Thanks for sharing.
@@albertful1967 Yes life was different and better in many ways back then when we had little and made the most of what we had. 54 years after the S90, I still love Honda's, my present being a 2020 CB1100 RS, in black, the same colour as the S90.
I had a 1964 S90 and as a kid loved it. It was a 4 speed, got 100+ mpg, and would hit 60 mph with my skinny teen-aged body on it. A cousin had a Cub 90 with a 3 speed auto, a totally different animal. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda."
Awesome and you’re right, you do meet the nicest people on a Honda.
"You meet the nicest people on a Honda", the Honda marketing catch phrase.
I had a '49 Cushman Highlander when I was 12 and was hooked. Here in Oklahoma a 14 year old could get a scooter license and the summer I turned 14, Dad said he had some business in Tulsa so we headed that way and he pulled up at the Yamaha shop and there was a brand new 1965 80cc running with my name on the paper tag. Dad said I could have it if I could ride it back home. I had ridden only one modern bike once in a parking lot. Needless to say I jumped on that bike sans license and rode that bike the ten miles home. All my buddies had Honda 50's and 90's but I loved that bike. Thanks Dad, RIP. Now bringing back a 305 Dream at present.
That’s such a great story. Thanks for watching.
Tulsa here as well. My older bro had a C200 i was younger and got a 68 Suzuki 80cc. Many bikes later I have my 05 ZX10R and a 67 Suzuki X6 Hustler.
I bought one of these c-200s brand new in '65, I think it was $350. out the door. But I never knew it was a c-200, I always called it a Honda 90. It was the most carefree, dependable bike i ever had by far.
Wow! Very cool. Thanks for watching
Love it! I have multiples of all three of those bikes you’ve displayed there. Including a highly modified supercub variant. Looking forward to seeing more footage of the small displacement bikes!
I love these small displacement bikes. We will be building an early Z50 from a pile of parts!
Thats awesome! I'm working on a 68 C65 at the moment, and aiming to sort it out for the upcoming 2024 show season. Hoping to potentially film the progress and posting videos of it all.
@@motorcyclerewind
Yes. I was 18 bought a Suzuki 100 and rode to ALASKA from indiana with 10.000 miles of story to tell....fun..fun..fun
Please send me an e-mail (motorcyclerewind@gmail.com) with your contact info. I have to talk to you about this story.
I always say, these old motorcycles are cool but the stories and way cooler.
Look forward to hearing from you.
had a Honda CL90 as my first bike, I wanted a car, but that 90 got me into bikes and I'm still there now that was in 1970. I've since restored a CL90 and loving it
That’s so awesome. Thanks for watching.
They Were Genius ------- Evergreen Motors --------- I Had A Trail 90 ------- Made Me A Honda Guy For Life --------- My Whole Life I Have Had At Least One Honda Motorcycle -------- To This Day ------------ They Knew What They Were Doing ------- My Mom Tolerated Motorcycles --------- I Loved My Mom ----------- Ahead Of Her Time
Thanks for watching.
You lay your fingers on some nice bike! I've always had a soft spot for 100cc bikes - partly because I started on a 100cc even though I was licenced for a 125cc - But having that moped sized frame with that bit more power led to more adventures and more fun, they fit down little footpaths into the woods or by the rivers (mostly illegal in the UK as footpaths are for feet) and unlike the dirt bike crowd, if you bumped into someone instead of them instantly calling the police they'd usually stand and chat / admire such a retro cool little bike and tell you story's of their mis-spent youth....
I am pretty fortunate to have done good friends with great motorcycles. That I go them a favor and I get to share their motorcycles. Stay tuned we have some really cool ones coming up.
It's not a big motorcycle It's a groovy little motor bike!!!
You got that right. It is definitely Groovy Baby!
Oh those are so beautiful ! I'll take the S90, please. I'll be over to load it up tomorrow ;-)
Unfortunately, the S90 has already gone home. Thanks for watching.
Great of you to tell us the storry about them🌹👌
Thanks.
I Love these little bikes 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Me too! Thanks for watching.
My person opinion is that the SL90 is the best 90. I have two of them that I’m restoring and I love the look and feel of them. I think they would make awesome touring bikes.
The SL90’s are awesome. A friend of mine has one. Very cool.
Really enjoyed this video. Great explanation of Honda’s marketing plan in the 1960’s. Thank you.
Thanks for watching.
How does the C200 and the S90 compare in power and speed? Which shifts smoother? I hope you can do another video of C200 vs S90 comparing the mechanics, such as the riding comfort level of the suspension and the frame and bars. Thank you for this video! It was very informative and interesting.
Thanks. I did not ride them both because the S90 was not running when I did this video. Thanks for watching.
My 1967 Honda 90 was a CD90E. It looked exactly like your C200 (but red). There were many small external differences. None were obvious to the casual glance ,but the "main" difference was internal. The C200 pre 67 were push rod engines , my 67 bike had an ohc engine. Again, from the outside they looked identical. Lovely bikes you have.
Thanks for the info and thanks for watching.
I had the pleasure of getting a c 200 pushrod 90 1 time and it was the best thing I ever owned
So much fun.
I bought a 1964 CA200 for $200 as my first motorcycle in 1966 at age 16. I drag raced against, and rode, the Super 90 which was technologically superior since it was an overhead cam while my CA200 was had push rods. But I could run with, and sometimes outrun, the S90. Top speed on my CA200 was 65 mph. Advertised horsepower was 6.7 but I put a megaphone exhaust on it giving it about 8 hp. I owned it for 7 years and for awhile, it was my only transportation as a college student. In typical Japanese engineering prowess, my little 1964 90 cc motorcycle had a 4 speed synchromesh transmission, an alternator instead of a generator, and a Hemi style dome shaped cylinder head.
These are such fun motorcycles. Thanks for sharing.
That's what I was trying to say I could not believe how fast that push rod engine was compared to the overhead cam
Both the pushrod engine and the overhead cam engine have hemi heads hemispherical combustion Chambers
My first mc was a 1963 c200 i loved it ,guy next door called it a baby dream
That’s awesome. They do look like a Dream that shrunk😂
And I liked it because it had pushrods better
Fabulous information! Thanks for sharing! ❤
Thanks. I really like these small displacement motorcycles.
Well, there is a silly question. The OHC 90 has been in production in one form or another ( mostly as the trail 90 and cub in asia) for 6 decades. The push rod 90 lasted about 2 years in the US. The link front suspension used on all the various dream bikes was able, and simple, but the travel was limited and for whatever reasons, fell out of favor everywhere. The S-90 did everything right - right up to it's top speed of 62 mph. It would cruise all day at 55, and while most were owned by beginners like me who killed them through lack of maintenance... they had the potential to go 30,000 miles before a top end overhaul.. and longer on the bottom end. There were no flaws in the handling, braking or reliability, for a bike in this class.The set the standard for what a first motorcycle should be. Capable, safe, reliable, and powerful enough to keep up anywhere besides the freeway. I regularly took 150 mile trips to Mendocino from the SF bay area on the S-90. Putting an unsealed battery inside a pressed steel frame...now seems stupid. But we had no VRLA or AGM sealed batteries in 1965.
You are right it is a silly question. I always lean towards the one I own!!😂 the S90 was the future.
I believe the pushrod engine was Superior only in the fact that didn't have a slapping cam chain every 6000 miles it would last longer plus the fact that if you look nowadays there is a brand new motorcycle with a q a 50cc Honda engine pushrod it's on a newer street bike I couldn't believe it when I saw it but it is a qa50 head and cylinder it might have a three-speed by now instead of the two speed I love to see one in person
I used to take that c200 and Motocross the hell out of that thing pushrods press steel frame leading link front end whatever that thing would take some punishment
When I got that 20090 in 1970 I wired the two battery terminals together and it would start but it would not rev up and I put a toggle switch on it and once I got it started I turned to the toggle switch off and it would run but it wouldn't idle that good I rode that bike forever that way without a battery
They always had a vent hose that run to the bottom
Had a 1966 Honda S 90. Good bike for the country roads when I was 16.
Thanks for watching.
My mate had a C200 , he recon-ed that if you thrash the nuts off it constantly , it' would be knackered after 10,000 miles . My first bike was a CD90 . My personal preference is for the leading link front suspension , forks are rubbish . The front brake on both bikes was not great . A super commuter though and good m.p.g. from both bikes . Thanks for the Nice video
Thanks so much for watching
Road both of these bikes back in the day; the S90 was called Super 90 and was faster than the other bike. A friend of mine had one and we road alot together. I had the CB160 Honda.
The CB160 is an awesome motorcycle! Thanks for watching
My brother had a C200. The S90 is definitely overhead cam.
Such cool motorcycles.
They also had a trail 55 and a street 55 CC pushrod and then the 65cc overhead cam
Love the pushrod engines.
I just sold my C200 6 months ago after 5 years of ownership. I do miss it but I couldn’t keep it running even as simple as it was.
Dang that stinks. What are you riding now.
@@motorcyclerewind I’m currently riding a 2009 Bonneville and a 2015 Honda Forza. I do have a 1958 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon that runs but is not really road worthy. Finding a good mechanic is a problem that most riders can relate to. I had a 1965 Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler but couldn’t find anyone willing to work on it.
@@jeffreyhurst9552yeah you need to be able to work on them if you want to own one and have fun
I had a 1964 C200 engine in a Yamaguchi frame that I bought as a kid (first bike) for $50. I should have kept that crazy bike!
If we had the ability to get them back. That would be awesome. Thanks for watching.
Overhead cam was correct on the S90. The C200 ('Iron Head') engines were pushrod overhead valve engines.
You are correct. Thanks for watching
In 2024 i still used my honda CS90 1969
That’s awesome. Love seeing these old bikes being used.
Harley also had a small motorcycle. It was a 2 stroke. It looked like a mini sportster.
I know they had the Aermacchi ones did early make their own?
Got my first Honda 125 twin in 1966 and now on a Honda 700 twin with DCT and next bike, guess what, will be a Honda 750 twin!
That’s awesome. Love to hear the motorcycle origin stories. Thanks for watching.
I was in the 9th grade in 1964. I wanted a Honda 90 so bad. I didn't get one, though.
They are such cool bikes! You should get one now! You know you want to!
I put lots of miles on a Honda S90 in the mid 60's
Have to be some great memories. Thanks for watching.
The CA200's actual displacement was 86.7 cc and 6.7 hp.
4:58 they did make a step through 90 that was a three-speed I'm surprised you did not know that it was called the ca200
I thought it was the C100. Thanks for watching.
have a honda cd 125 cant find much info on it year model ? anywhere you would recomend i could find some info would be a great help thanks.
Here are a few links for some info:
www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cd125.htm
CMSNL for parts
www.cmsnl.com/cd125_model7907/info/
thanks enjoy your channel
Thanks so much.
If Harley (and Triumph, BSA, etc) were perceptive, they would have looked at the lineup and seen that Honda was saying "We're coming for you - you better be ready!
Agreed. They had that “to big to fail” mentality. The same way Kodak did with regards to digital cameras. Thanks for watching.
The 66 S90:)
Such a cool motorcycle. Thanks for watching.
It seems impossible that the S90 is 180lbs while the C200 is 120lbs, I don't understand where the weight comes from.. the S90 seems slimmer and the C200 integrated fender is hefty, on top of the cast iron cylinder head.. even the C200 tank looks larger. The metal front fender and slightly larger wheels account for 60lbs?
Thanks for watching
So, where does my 1967 C201 in Canada only blue fit in?
Is it the same as a c200. Did yours have push rods? Thanks for watching.
@@motorcyclerewind Similar, but it does have the OHC. Also referred to as a CD90.
Overhead cam is correct
Thanks for watching.
Send me your S90 to indonesia please😊😊
Sure thing😊😊 send your address😊😊