So I'm doing a "rural restoration" on this Honda CT 200 ('67 version
of the Trail 90, and based on the venerable Cub 50) and I've come
across some weird things this guy did to the bike to "improve" it.
1. Front hub and brake assembly completely packed with wheel bearing
grease...guess he was from the old school of "don't want to get throwed
over them handlebars if'n I grabs the front brake" way of thinking.
That or maybe it was to keep the water out when it was parked.....
2. A wrap of LEAD SHEET around the end of the exhaust- apperently was
a "repair" to where he or someone else cut off the back of the stock
muffler to "improve performance". Either that or some kind of
experimental exhaust catalyst device. The exhaust is rusted out in a
couple of spots from water sitting in it while parked. I'll need to
replace the head pipe.
3. A GIANT knobby on the rear that was rubbing the fender when
anything bigger than a crack in the sidewalk was encountered. It also
effectively removed the wiring for the rear turn signals and tail
light/brake light.
4. A specially shaped piece of wire to keep the centerstand from
rubbing the chain due to the wheel being placed very far forward....Was
the chain too short, or was he shortening the wheelbase for quicker
handling?
5. Mud flaps make of everything from old inner tube to truck mud flap
material. At least ten pounds of this stuff. Front fender, rear fender,
engine splash guard, BEHIND the engine splash guard, and a piece up by
the aircleaner box, I guess to keep water out when riding under water,
or maybe it was to keep the water out when he parked it?
Finally, this thing has been a great exercise in rust removal. It sat
for over ten years that I know of in water ranging from a couple of
inches to deep enough that the exhaust port was under water at times.
The wheels are pretty rusty and the front tire has a considerable
amount of water inside when I removed it.
Anyhow, it has made a nice little quicky resto job and my total outlay
has been under 70 dollars- a new chain, two tires, two tubes, a battery
and a few cans of cabr cleaner and brake cleaner. Oh yeah, and two wire
wheels and some "Extend" rust killer I had laying around (now nearly
gone).
Runs good, shifts good and now I even have brakes. It will do a little
better in traffic than my Vino 50, which may be sold this spring to
finance one of those Cheap Chinese Scooters you can buy off the
web........just to torture myself.
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