Earlier this summer (1999), I was browsing through my favorite newsgroups, and found the following message in the ott.motorcycles newsgroup:

    Subject: 1974-76 honda ct70
        Date: 1999/06/10
     Author: Philippe Gravelle

    1974 honda ct70 minibike $550 obo
    1976 honda ct70 minibike motor seized $175 obo

    Call Ron

    Being that my sons and I were interested in purchasing a second CT-70, and that this was the first one we had seen for sale in the Ottawa area, I gave Ron a call, and made an appointment to drop by one Saturday afternoon, so that we could have a look at the two bikes.

    We were mainly interested in the 1976 model, and I was not considering the older bike (although it would have "fit in well, since we already owned a 1974 Honda CT-70).

    The bike was described to me (over the phone by Ron) as being very rough, and with a number of problems.

    After having had a good look at the bike, my youngest son and I, discussed what we had just seen, it's condition, and it's possible worth while in the car, on the way home.

    The bike was nearly complete.
    The engine was seized.
    The carburator was "very" dirty, with a lot of varnish and "flaking" build-up everywhere.
    The spark plug was missing, and so was the associated "high tension wire cap".
    The seat was complete, but it did have a couple of "tears" in the covering plastic.
    The seat pan was not bent, or cracked. The chrome seat trim was still on the seat.
    The frame was in "decent shape", with the red paint faded, and with some rust problem areas.
    The rubber on the wheels was worn, and the "rims were showing signs of rust.
    The handle bars were in good condition, with minor rust, and only a small bend in them.
    The kickstarter shaft and splines were in near perfect condition.
    The speedometer was in place, with 4288 Miles on the odometer.
    The wiring harness was complete, and the key was in the ignition.
    All of the front lights and reflectors were in place.
    The rear tail light assembly was broken, and the rear right signal light lens was missing.
    The exhaust pipe was completely deteriorated, and was NOT useable.
    The chain and sprockets were in pretty good condition.
    The front and rear "chrome" fenders had some rust damage, but were not bent or dented.
    The front shock "boots" were torn, and would need to be replaced.
    The front brake cable is "brand new", but the spedometer cable is missing.

    Having recently replaced a "kick starter shaft on our 1974 CT-70 (K3) (which means I had to "split" the transmission case) and rebuilding the complete "top end", I was confident that I knew what would be required to make this motor run again, and that the parts would be available from my local Honda motorcycle dealer.

    We decided to make Ron an offer of $100.00. for this bike. Ron later countered, and we agreed to buy it for $125.00. We picked it up one week later.

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    This page last modified on: July 28th, 1999 by: 1976 CT-70 Project Owner.