The restoration of a 1972 Honda CT70 K1 Mini Trail

[tdlane1]

I thought the speedometer on mine was not round like this one is this a newer model speedo?

[7863348]

@tdlane1 the 1972 CT70's had the spedo outside the head light shell. I think the 1971 ones had them in the head light shell but the stand to be corrected :)

[2nightstalker]

I always get a kick out of the one decal thats by the seat it says"preserve the enviroment wear a helmet"

[7863348]

@2nightstalker Ya me as well :) I remember as a kid looking at that same decal and wondering what in the heck are they talking about! lol 

[bayoubiker71]

awesome work

[7863348]

@bayoubiker71 Thank you very much :)

[siementj]

I saw you did your carburator like in a friemaker (don't know the word in english) with petrol in it or what? did you actually turned it on or?

[7863348]

@siementj To clean the carburetor I use a Ultrasonic cleaning machine with cleaner added to it. Works perfectly. It has heat in it as well.

[veho1978]

really great job, I also currently restoration monkey who is apparently from 70 to 80 fold century

[sharkfin2009]

Nice...Just brought home a red one today...all winter to make it pretty

[7863348]

@sharkfin2009 Thanks. Good luck with it.

[Flax220]

Nice work, I have the same one only it's red and yah know no restored but it still runs great

[7863348]

@Flax220 You know what they say, the gold ones are faster lol Great bikes. I still enjoy seeing mine. Thanks for posting.

[7863348]

@kiiiro Oh ya good times for sure. I can tell you've been there. They were the best thing on wheels back then. I've had a lot of toys since then and nothing has come remotely close to the thrill I got out of these little bikes. Those 600 lbs guys were from New Brunswick I believe. I'm in my 50's now and although I don't use the bike I love to go out and just look at it. Ah it's great to hear from someone who really knows these little bikes. . Glad you enjoyed seeing the restoration :)

[rockbay79]

Nice bike! I always wanted one as a kid, but just couldn't afford one. I knew a friend who had one and I rode it and loved it. I was maybe 11 years old.  His was gold and looked just like yours. They were nice back in the day. Yours is very nice, great job!

[7863348]

@rockbay79 Oh man. Sorry to hear you missed out on one of these way back when. I had one as a kid and loved the thing, Still do actually. Although this one is just on display now, when I see it, it reminds me of my younger days and still brings a smile to my face. I was 12 when I had mine. Thanks for taking the time to post and I appreciate your kind comments on my work/restoration.

[MisterSHTL]

Nice job & bike. I had one when I was a kid

[7863348]

@MisterSHTL Thanks. They sure were fun weren't they! Oh the memories :)

[quincee33]

@MisterSHTL what's the top speed on these?

[MisterSHTL]

@quincee33 I think around 45 mph

[quincee33]

@MisterSHTL thx, i guess their 3 speeds right?

[Sickfab530]

Great video, beautiful shop.....

[7863348]

@Sickfab530 Thank you very much. Appreciate the kind words :)

[fisherman463]

How come you painted it inside where the overspray gets on everything?

[7863348]

@fisherman463 Question for you. Where do you see the over spray?? I use a HVLP gun and there are two exhaust fans in the shop and guess what? There is NO as in zero over spray in my shop. Not only that, there is no sign that anything has ever been painted in my shop. There's not a droplet of paint to be seen anywhere. There's no dust in my paint either and after an item is painted it's wet sanded and then buffed. Check out my Gasoline Alley video. It's all been painted in the same shop.

[sassui3]

Nice Job!:)

[7863348]

@sassui3 Thank you ;)

[625h62555]

where did you get the side decals

[7863348]

@625h62555 FleeBay

[ilivefre]

Awsome job!!!! 8D

how mutch of time culd it take to do a restoration like this?

[7863348]

@ilivefre Well It took me about five weeks in my spare time. It's allot of work but in a fun kind of way :) Thank you for posting and I'm pleased to know you enjoyed seeing it.

[popojose09]

I saw one replica on retrobikes website are they street legal?

[7863348]

@popojose09 Should be. This one is the real deal and is licensed.

[7863348]

@9ew001 Thank you! Yes my shop is very well equipped and I take on allot of different jobs because of it. Helps pay the bills ;) Thanks and Merry Christmas

[vettefret]

Sweet restore...I have the same bike and was wondering if you had any yellow/goldish paint left over that you can sell me?...I would really appreciate it...Anthony

[7863348]

@vettefret If I did you could have had it free.I usually make the mix and start spraying.when the bike is painted I pour the small left over paint in a jar and keep it on hand just in case I scratch something during assembly. Turns out I got it assembled with out a scratch but within a few months of the paint being in the jar it dries out due to the thinners in it and I throw it out. You might try taking a none faded part or the bike to your local paint supplier and see if it can be scanned.

[7863348]

@vettefret Those candy colors are hard to scan and can be a hit and miss most of the time. Good luck, Happy Holidays and thanks for your post. Cheers, Paul

[7863348]

@26marbay I'd do it if I were you. Although mine is restored I have it added with my collection I go out and sit on it some times and it brings me back to the day in 1972-73 when I got it. No my friend. There's nothing wrong with trying to recapture ones youth. In this hectic world it's nice to have a little break from all the BS out there these days. Hope you get one. There still around. Good luck!

[7863348]

@26marbay I really enjoyed reading your experience with your CT70. It was almost good as being there. I bet you'll never forget that and it shows you have great parents to do that for you. My story was similar although mine wasn't stolen. I ended up selling mine and now that I hit 50 I wanted another one to restore so that's why I have it. I also did the first bike I ever owned which was a "69 Z50 and there's a few vids of it on here. Sorry to hear some jerk stole yours. Thanks for posting.

[soldadoroberto]

Congratulations! You are a genius,i remember a friend using the same bike,you made a great job!

[jellis649999]

I have a 1974 CT 70 in Candy Riviera Blue all original and in very good condition.I also have a 1979 Kawasaki KV75 in immaculate condition.Really lucked out on the find and price and the bike is just past the break in period.If you like I can send you pics of all my mini's.

My others are a 1986 Honda Z50R and a 1969 Honda Mini Trail with a 110cc engine 4 speed clutch.Slightly modified and looks really nice.I am going to change the colour concept though this winter with my Dad

[baloneyjazz]

My Dad got one for me and my brother when I was 9. (He's a little younger).

It created a platform of agility and mobility in my childhood that permitted me to explore.

Today I have a small bike I put around with on the street.

Gives me great happiness.

Going out on it now. Destination... Salsa club!

[7863348]

@baloneyjazz Great to hear your still riding. I ride as well. My ride now is a GL1800 GoldWing but I will never have the same feeling I had when I was on the CT70. Ride safe my friend!

[baloneyjazz]

I think I had a 72 in the gold color. What an amazing experience of my child hood.

Honda rules.

[7863348]

@baloneyjazz Mine was like this one I restored in the video. Dad bought it for me when I was 12. A year later my mom passed away and that little bike got me through some very difficult times. Doing this one for the collection was like a "Thank you" for being there when I needed it. Your right about the experience. Thanks for your comments.

[jellis649999]

Awesome RESTO Buddy,love the little fairing.

[7863348]

@jellis649999 Thank you very much. Glad you liked it. Appreciate your kind words. Ride safe!

[MidwestMadness775]

how hard is it to get parts for these and how much would one oh....lets say half there be worth? i want to restore one they look fun to ride one of my local used bike mechanics and dealers has one and its missing the cylinder and stuff they also have a red honda mini trail

[7863348]

@MidwestMadness775 Dealer can still get most parts and there easy to find on fleebay. "Worth" is a complicated word. Depends on what year, what condition and how bad someone wants it. Check out Ebay. That will usually tell what they are going for on today's market.

[MidwestMadness775]

well this place has 2 one is a gold one idk if its a 50 or a 70 and they got a red one that is a 70 and they are in need of tlc so im going to call them today and see how much they want for one

[JorgeHunter]

Ecxelente trabajo, ¿cuanto esta valuada una Dax en esas condiciones?

[7863348]

@JorgeHunter Ikke sikker på, hvad det er værd. Mange tak

[bwsams]

Excellent work on the bike, it looks great. I have two of those from when I was a kid and would like to restore. I was curious where you got the reproduction decals?

[7863348]

@bwsams Thanks. Glad you liked the bike. I had one just like this as as kid as well. The decals are easy to get. I actually bought mine off of Ebay. I think they were around $15. which I thought was a really good price and there great quality as well.

[dolli93]

where did you buy the paint

[7863348]

I mixed it at my local paint supplier. There's a pearl in it and in the shade it looks gold BUT when you put it out in the light it turns candy yellow. It shows that in the video. Hope you liked it.

[manonthemove2020]

Very well put together video and the bike is very nice,great job,on my way doing my bike hope it come out as nice as yours.keep kicking somebody knows your here,peace

[7863348]

Thanks man. i think I put as much into the video as I did the bike :) It was a fun project and reminded me of days long past when I had one like this. I'm sure yours will turn out as good or better but the important thing is to enjoy the restoration. Ride safe and thanks for your comment.

[SpeakerKevin]

How many hours did you put into her?

[7863348]

Gee I always set out to count the hours when ever I start a project but end up getting so focused on the restoration aspect of it I forget to keep track of the hours but I will tell you that I work all day at my day job and this bike took me every evening and every weekend to do for two months.

[woodwardcars]

Nice job man. Been there and done that myself.

[7863348]

Thanks. There a fun project for sure.

[crazzygunner]

great quality restoration.

[7863348]

Thanks. Much appreciated!