If you enjoyed this video and my MR2 project series, I also have a similar Fiat Spider series in the works, but it's taking a lot longer to film because of how much slower it is to work on compared to this tiny motorcycle. So look out for that eventually.
you may not have heard of these, but all over the world, there are fund raising classic/vintage motorcycle rides called the Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride. Once you get that bike running well, you might look into them. Washington has several rides, usually in late Spring. They're fantastic events!
Try removing the gas tank cap, and see if it still cuts out. The breather hole may be blocked, which will not let fuel out past a certain level of partial vacuum created in the tank as fuel flows out- air must enter to replace it.
I have a very similar bike I bought about 4 years ago. I completely took down the engine and transmission and rebuilt them, but hit a dead end on the coil and gave up for a while. I'm just now starting to look back into it again. Your video gives me hope!
I have a cl90 i got from a tweeker. Told me he just had it running and he swore up and down the it was a two stroke(its not) and it didn't need a battery to run(it does) I got it home fixed the broken points wire and put some gas on it and it fired right up but was making some awful rattling sounds. I took it for a spin but it kept popping out of gear despite running fairly well. I drained the oil and found it was filled with blue two stroke oil and metal shavings. After taking it apart, Literally every part of the engine is destroyed. All the sealing surfaces are deeply gouged with screwdriver marks, the timing gears have no teeth, the generator wires are all broken, every nut screw and bolt is stripped or has inch bolts jammed in the holes... super disappointing and i payed way too much for it
Interesting project and great video. I picked up an barnfind S90 (1969) for about 3 years ago. Had a lot work done to it. Engine needed rebuild, full restauration on almost the rest of the bike. Mine actually has the 12mm spark plug in it. When it comes to the CT90 marking on the magneto/flywheel, mine has the same on both flywheel and on the points, seems like just honda reused the same parts on all bikes. On yours i would check the ignition (and replace the condenser, these tend to go bad with age and could fail when hot). Also do a check of the compression on the cylinder. On the ride in the end of the video, it seems like it might was puffing a bit of blue smoke (burning oil).
Thanks for the input. I have started testing a few things and filming the next episode and I’ve come to conclusion the next step is indeed to test and replace the condenser. I just haven’t gotten to dropping the engine yet. Regarding the smoke, I am kind of debating rebuilding the top end while the engine is already off. Would take extra time and money but would likely be a big benefit in the long run. I’d imagine you can rebuild it while it’s on the frame, but it’d likely be easier off the bike.
Very nice restore! I'd recommend changing the oil regardless and asking an old Honda mechanic to check on the bike for the idling, it's probably something he has come across somewhere in the past!
Yeah I plan on changing the oil next but want to pick up some real Honda GN4 oil (unsure what I put in it back when I got it). The nearest dealer is a few towns over so it’s on the to do list. I have a few more ideas to check myself first, but if those still come up with nothing then I’m definitely going to start asking around.
You know man, I discovered your channel because of your Hitachi CRT video. I also consider myself a "hipster" vintage nerd. I'm not even a car guy, but I've been binging these car and motorcycles videos because the connection you make to these items is so relatable. The cool editing is also a plus. Really great stuff man; keep it up.
Thanks man, in an ideal world I’d like to have a balance of the vintage stuff and car/motorcycle stuff but I end up making more car stuff since I just work on them more often in my regular life. I feel like lots of people are like me and are into both but just don’t really realize it. Hoping one day I have more free time to make more vids regularly.
5 years ago I had the chance to buy a CL90, but life situations got in the way. The 60' Hondas are the most beautifully styled (I have an attraction especially to the Dreams) and the S90 is no exception. As I was watching your vid, I was scouring the Craigslist to see what was out there....nothing (sigh....). Never part with yours. Never.
Cool! I just restored my dads old ct90. Same thing I bought a cheap Chinese carb, but mine works even better than the original!😂 fuel starves itself when wot at high rpm tho they are neat bikes.
Yeah I still have a few more things to test but if I narrow it down that my original carb is too worn to work right then I may consider finding a reputable Chinese one and taking my chances. They can work, it’s just a roll of the dice if you get a good one or not. It’s that or spend $200+ for another old original one and hope it’s not worn either.
You did that quite well! I own a ´69 CL90 as well (for 25 years at least now). Just planned to make a walkaround video anytime soon- I take that little one out for a ride once a year and it almost never fails to start on 1-2 kicks. The stock plug is D (12mm) size btw, so you probably have a rethread to 14mm ("B") there. Just keep it that way as long as it works.
Great vid. Definitely sign up for an MSF course in your town. Also get a DOT helmet. Boots and Gloves are also good to have. I like your photography in this. Pretty good close up shots and lighting at night.
I have an 1955 DKW motorcycle with a simular problem, dies after running it for a few minutes, after starting it again it can run for a few more minutes before it dies again. While riding it i can force it to stay alive with more throttle but eventually it looses all the power and dies again. Everything on the bike is original and the issue I was having was that the ignition coils (or whatever its called on bikes) inside the flywheel was about to give out. It might be a simular problem you are experiencing.
I’ve started filming the next episode and have tried a few more things. But this is 100% my next guess based on some further digging. The only downside is the ignition coil and condenser are both located on top of the engine and require dropping it from the frame to access. Not huge but a bit annoying. I haven’t gotten around to it yet but that is my next step. I’m just debating if I spend the extra time and money and do a top end rebuild while the engine is off anyways.
Hello, I just bought a celica ST162 1989 GT 2.0 and I have to change the Shock absorber but in France this is very hard to find, if you have a web adress for celica st162 part in US you can inform me please ?
They tend to run better with the exhaust on them also to your stripped bolt find a 1/4-20 bolt of the same length and run that bolt in to repair the intake manifold to cyl. head. Later you can time sert or heli coil it. Good luck
Be careful with the brakes and clutch and possibly some other parts on such an old bike. (The same applies to old cars) In the past, asbestos was used, which is very carcinogenic and has other serious health consequences I like your Videos very much, they are very cool and qualitativ :)
Hey! Regarding the carburetor (Mikuni vs Keihin), the difference mostly lies on the design of the choke and the piston size (20 vs 18). If I recall correctly, the Mikuni gave a bit of better performance than the Keihin. Regarding the flywheel, the Honda 90 series shares a lot of part due to being on the same platform; as you tear into the engine, you will see parts with CS90 or S90 labelled on it. As long as you get the right part, then no matter what the model series is, it will work :) If I recall correctly, the only difference in the part is between the early 90 engine and the late 90 engine, which is the kick-starter. As you have an earlier version of the 90 engine, when you kick-start it, you will hear a gear-grinding sound. On later version of that engine, that sound is gone due to the kick-starter being revised so the shaft now retracts slightly into the engine. Overall, very nice bike! Those do require a lot of tinkering to get it to run right, but once you got it just right, those just flies like a dream. - Khoa
The 2nd part is already in the works filming. I do need to wait on some funds to order a few more parts though. But after that work should go pretty quick. Likely will be out late next month.
If you enjoyed this video and my MR2 project series, I also have a similar Fiat Spider series in the works, but it's taking a lot longer to film because of how much slower it is to work on compared to this tiny motorcycle. So look out for that eventually.
you may not have heard of these, but all over the world, there are fund raising classic/vintage motorcycle rides called the Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride. Once you get that bike running well, you might look into them. Washington has several rides, usually in late Spring. They're fantastic events!
Try removing the gas tank cap, and see if it still cuts out. The breather hole may be blocked, which will not let fuel out past a certain level of partial vacuum created in the tank as fuel flows out- air must enter to replace it.
wow my first bike in 1965/66. It would only do 50 down hill wind pushing me. Now I am 75 and no bike.
I have a very similar bike I bought about 4 years ago. I completely took down the engine and transmission and rebuilt them, but hit a dead end on the coil and gave up for a while. I'm just now starting to look back into it again. Your video gives me hope!
I have a cl90 i got from a tweeker. Told me he just had it running and he swore up and down the it was a two stroke(its not) and it didn't need a battery to run(it does)
I got it home fixed the broken points wire and put some gas on it and it fired right up but was making some awful rattling sounds. I took it for a spin but it kept popping out of gear despite running fairly well.
I drained the oil and found it was filled with blue two stroke oil and metal shavings. After taking it apart, Literally every part of the engine is destroyed. All the sealing surfaces are deeply gouged with screwdriver marks, the timing gears have no teeth, the generator wires are all broken, every nut screw and bolt is stripped or has inch bolts jammed in the holes... super disappointing and i payed way too much for it
Interesting project and great video.
I picked up an barnfind S90 (1969) for about 3 years ago. Had a lot work done to it. Engine needed rebuild, full restauration on almost the rest of the bike. Mine actually has the 12mm spark plug in it.
When it comes to the CT90 marking on the magneto/flywheel, mine has the same on both flywheel and on the points, seems like just honda reused the same parts on all bikes.
On yours i would check the ignition (and replace the condenser, these tend to go bad with age and could fail when hot).
Also do a check of the compression on the cylinder. On the ride in the end of the video, it seems like it might was puffing a bit of blue smoke (burning oil).
Thanks for the input. I have started testing a few things and filming the next episode and I’ve come to conclusion the next step is indeed to test and replace the condenser. I just haven’t gotten to dropping the engine yet.
Regarding the smoke, I am kind of debating rebuilding the top end while the engine is already off. Would take extra time and money but would likely be a big benefit in the long run. I’d imagine you can rebuild it while it’s on the frame, but it’d likely be easier off the bike.
Very nice restore! I'd recommend changing the oil regardless and asking an old Honda mechanic to check on the bike for the idling, it's probably something he has come across somewhere in the past!
Yeah I plan on changing the oil next but want to pick up some real Honda GN4 oil (unsure what I put in it back when I got it). The nearest dealer is a few towns over so it’s on the to do list.
I have a few more ideas to check myself first, but if those still come up with nothing then I’m definitely going to start asking around.
You know man, I discovered your channel because of your Hitachi CRT video. I also consider myself a "hipster" vintage nerd. I'm not even a car guy, but I've been binging these car and motorcycles videos because the connection you make to these items is so relatable. The cool editing is also a plus.
Really great stuff man; keep it up.
Thanks man, in an ideal world I’d like to have a balance of the vintage stuff and car/motorcycle stuff but I end up making more car stuff since I just work on them more often in my regular life. I feel like lots of people are like me and are into both but just don’t really realize it. Hoping one day I have more free time to make more vids regularly.
5 years ago I had the chance to buy a CL90, but life situations got in the way. The 60' Hondas are the most beautifully styled (I have an attraction especially to the Dreams) and the S90 is no exception. As I was watching your vid, I was scouring the Craigslist to see what was out there....nothing (sigh....). Never part with yours. Never.
New video idea “ 8 Track Tapes “ ?
Im a fan!! Your content deserves a service like S M Zeus!!
Cool! I just restored my dads old ct90. Same thing I bought a cheap Chinese carb, but mine works even better than the original!😂 fuel starves itself when wot at high rpm tho they are neat bikes.
Yeah I still have a few more things to test but if I narrow it down that my original carb is too worn to work right then I may consider finding a reputable Chinese one and taking my chances. They can work, it’s just a roll of the dice if you get a good one or not.
It’s that or spend $200+ for another old original one and hope it’s not worn either.
You did that quite well! I own a ´69 CL90 as well (for 25 years at least now). Just planned to make a walkaround video anytime soon- I take that little one out for a ride once a year and it almost never fails to start on 1-2 kicks. The stock plug is D (12mm) size btw, so you probably have a rethread to 14mm ("B") there. Just keep it that way as long as it works.
Great vid. Definitely sign up for an MSF course in your town. Also get a DOT helmet. Boots and Gloves are also good to have. I like your photography in this. Pretty good close up shots and lighting at night.
I have an 1955 DKW motorcycle with a simular problem, dies after running it for a few minutes, after starting it again it can run for a few more minutes before it dies again. While riding it i can force it to stay alive with more throttle but eventually it looses all the power and dies again. Everything on the bike is original and the issue I was having was that the ignition coils (or whatever its called on bikes) inside the flywheel was about to give out. It might be a simular problem you are experiencing.
I’ve started filming the next episode and have tried a few more things. But this is 100% my next guess based on some further digging. The only downside is the ignition coil and condenser are both located on top of the engine and require dropping it from the frame to access. Not huge but a bit annoying. I haven’t gotten around to it yet but that is my next step. I’m just debating if I spend the extra time and money and do a top end rebuild while the engine is off anyways.
Hello, I just bought a celica ST162 1989 GT 2.0 and I have to change the Shock absorber but in France this is very hard to find, if you have a web adress for celica st162 part in US you can inform me please ?
They tend to run better with the exhaust on them also to your stripped bolt find a 1/4-20 bolt of the same length and run that bolt in to repair the intake manifold to cyl. head. Later you can time sert or heli coil it. Good luck
Congratulations, she's a beauty!
i miss the mr2!
Be careful with the brakes and clutch and possibly some other parts on such an old bike. (The same applies to old cars)
In the past, asbestos was used, which is very carcinogenic and has other serious health consequences
I like your Videos very much, they are very cool and qualitativ :)
Thanks, trying to get back into making them again after a long while gone.
I have a SL90 slightly related to this. Same engine.
Hey, will you continue making any more content? How’s the 13” Vintage Hitachi running these days?
Just like my Honda lawnmower starts on my first pull😅
Hey!
Regarding the carburetor (Mikuni vs Keihin), the difference mostly lies on the design of the choke and the piston size (20 vs 18). If I recall correctly, the Mikuni gave a bit of better performance than the Keihin.
Regarding the flywheel, the Honda 90 series shares a lot of part due to being on the same platform; as you tear into the engine, you will see parts with CS90 or S90 labelled on it. As long as you get the right part, then no matter what the model series is, it will work :) If I recall correctly, the only difference in the part is between the early 90 engine and the late 90 engine, which is the kick-starter. As you have an earlier version of the 90 engine, when you kick-start it, you will hear a gear-grinding sound. On later version of that engine, that sound is gone due to the kick-starter being revised so the shaft now retracts slightly into the engine.
Overall, very nice bike! Those do require a lot of tinkering to get it to run right, but once you got it just right, those just flies like a dream.
- Khoa
Awesome job. Keep it up!!!
Do more video’s please! 🙏
The 2nd part is already in the works filming. I do need to wait on some funds to order a few more parts though. But after that work should go pretty quick. Likely will be out late next month.
luv this channel
Dang dude we both got mr2’s and project bikes mine is a can am tnt 125 with no spark sadly
Where’s the Celica?