So as I was looking around craigslist and came upon a CL70 for a small sum that needed a little work. I checked it out and the guy started up and I rode it around the court and the engine sounded fine. It needs a tune up and being fairly mechanically inclined i decided to give it a shot. I'm not planning on going after a full restoration but getting it safe, running and titled is plenty for me at the moment. here are the pictures:

Be careful the first time you use the brakes - - not very good on those drummy Honda's

Nice lookin' bike, good luck with the reviving.

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"Side effects may include: Mild kidney explosions...Testicular cranberrying... And Rectal hallucinations."

That CL-70 looks great, daxsonvt. I have a little bike too, and I enjoy
the ways it resembles and the ways it differs from the Wee-Strom.

With limited power, you may find yourself getting very intimate with the machine, crouching and drafting and wondering if the bike will tolerate full throttle for a long time. It probably will. Mr. Honda knew what he was doing.

I hope you ride your CL-70 on the Skyline Drive. Getting to Front Royal or Luray might be a mixture of fun and its opposite, but I am sure you will have a great time.

If you want some cheap luggage, get a couple of similar knapsacks from Goodwill and snip off most of the straps, then tape (or sew) the shoulder-straps together to make a pair of throw-over-the-saddle saddlebags. If you need waterproof, use heavy duty garbage bags inside them.

I wish you and your new pony continued good luck!
Keith

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Needless to say, I discovered the brakes will need some work . I have a shop manual on order and once I figure the parts I will need, I'll start bringing the bike back to life. I have a little time before the summer, which I won't be able to work on it, and then the fall and summer so it will be some time before it's good to get titled. Once I get it safe I'm going to teach my GF to ride it. She's not exactly the motorcycle type and was kind of excited about it and when she came with me to look at it and sat on it she got really excited so it will be a fun project.

It's hard to imagine a way to use up brake shoes with a 70-cc engine in 2037 miles, unless someone misadjusted the brakes to make them drag all the time. I suspect that you'll disassemble them, remove the dust, lubricate the parts, and find your brakes are perfect. My 250-cc Honda has 25000 miles and its original brakes, and it still stops fine. My 125 just turned 10,000 kilometers yesterday, and its brakes are still perfect.

When you want more power, you can consider something like this:
Chinese Engine 23 Chinese Dirt Bike Engine 125cc - Eng177-23 - Chinese 125cc Engines - Chinese Engines
I know nothing about these engines, but you may be able to find reviews.

Good luck!
Keith

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Thanks, I got the front wheel off last night. I've found more rust than I expected on the frame but I'm hoping to find no major section loss. With all of the oxidation that I've found on the bolts, not one bolt has been frozen, thankfully enough.

I found a 140cc engine and carburetor for sale about an hour north of me but the posting expired on craigslist and I don't have the phone number. It appears that a big bore kit was installed on it, but I could be wrong. I also may be able to bolt on the Honda 90cc engine from the same era.

opened up the carburetor yesterday and it was extremely dirty. The gasket on the bowl was shot, no wonder it liked to leak gas so bad.

Great little bike! Very nice that the other half is interested. Something like that is non-threatening and should be fun all around. I bought a '74 RV125 with the same hopes but my wife wants nothing to do with riding on two wheels.

Congrats on the find!

Picture after I finished with it last night.





Figure I'll get around to draining the oil tonight, looks like it has been changed recently though based on the dipstick.

Virtually every old Honda from the late 60s and early 70s was put away at the 2K mile mark. At that point the valve seals start leaking and it burns oil. Most assume that the engine is shot and give up. A little head work with newer seals will give you a new bike.

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Penmaker

04 GL1800A - Traxxion suspension
11 DL650 ABS - Lowered, Risers, Richland Rick stuff, Sgt seat, Madstad
01 Aprilia 150

everything was going fine, until I uncovered the upper fork tubes.



both tubes looked like this at the lower clamps. I rifled off a number or expletives because I knew this was going to bust my budget. I've asked around about getting them resurfaced but most don't believe it is a viable solution. I've checked around and I can get a reproduced set for $300 shipped. I might have to get creative before I bite the bullet. I've contacted a couple of distributors that deal in OEM vintage parts and the costs are less, I just haven't found anyone with them in stock yet.