Honda ST 70

HI folks,
I'm a newby to this forum. I am the proud owner of a 1976 Honda ST70 and have been since 1988. Over the years I have ridden the bike to and from work and numerous other places. Subsequently, I laid the bike up. She has been languishing in the garage for more years than I care to mention. I always knew that one day I would get her out again. Due to the awful circumstances we all find ourselves in I have decided to do a full restoration.
After getting her out I was surprised how good her condition is, very little rust.
I have decided to restore her to her full glory. I'm not doing a full nut and bolt restoration but spending time cleaning and buffing all her original parts. I'm surprised with a little bit of elbow grease her parts are coming up fantastic. I will renew items like seals, bearings and anything that it perishable.
I'm at the point now where I need to decide whether to have the frame and axillaries either powder coated, or spray painted the original colour Candy Ruby Red. I'm sure many of you have had asked yourselves the same question. Your thoughts would be very welcome.
I will keep you posted as how I get on.
Regards, Neil

Hi Neil,
Have been a Forum member for a few years, and over the past months it seems to be dying a death.
Don't know what it is--lack of interest or other social media channels.
The Forum has been most useful to me in the past, and I would hate to see it disappear, so let's see if we can generate some interest again.
Your Question of paint or powder coat?
I have restored quite a few bikes over the years, vintage and modern, always using paint.
I purchased recently a restoration project of a Dax 1976 which had been standing for some years, as the owner had lost interest.
He had had the frame powder coated, so no paint option on this one.
However, in the process of the rebuild, I came to realise the benefits of the powder coating.
Inevitably you scratch or bump frame parts when you are working on the bike.Paint can be touched up, but never looks 100%.
But powder coating takes a lot more punishment,and is less susceptible to damage.
So I am quite impressed with the powder coating.
Nevertheless it does need an absolutely clean and rust free surface, as any corrosion left will eventually lift the powder coating off.
This is then even harder to touch up than a painted surface.
The powder coating on my bike was done by a company in Bristol, who did a complete job, blasting and coating.
As already said,I am very impressed with it.
No idea of the cost, and could get the name of the company if you are interested.
Perhaps I should note that if you are using paint, any imperfections can be filled----I don't know how this works with powder coating.
Will attempt to attach a couple of photos. Yes I know this is not the correct engine as the bike came with no engine and I could not locate a replacement. It is now a Dax/ Lifan 125 cc Special.
If any one else is reading this, lets have some input to the Forum and keep it going.


Ken

I'm also a proud new owner of an ST70, although its not arriving until next week. In researching my purchase I read a lot on this forum and I too hope that in can be re-invigorated.

I nearly purchased a bike that had been powder coated. But the thick coating had hidden the frame number. Was it even a genuine Honda if I couldn't see the frame number? And the colour wasn't right. With powder coating its impossible to match the original colour. Even if the you get the right colour, it looks different because Honda used a particular base, top coat and clear coat to get the finish.

With a classic bike you should be making it as original as possible. If you want it to be more powerful, more durable etc than you wouldn't have bought a bike from the 70s. So I would go for the real thing and use paint!

Just my view, but when I repaint my bike it will be with paint not powder

Keith

Hi Keith,
Congratulations on your ST 70 purchase.
Perhaps I should explain a little more about my recent Dax restoration and which is the 2nd Dax I have restored.
The first Daz,(1972) we have owned since 1992, purchased second hand for my then 12 year old daughter.
I restored this Dax 5 years ago to original condition, and it has been a 3 times class winner at the Stafford Classic Bike Show, and yes it is painted, not powder coated. (Unfortunately it seems that I am unable to load photos onto this Forum)
The second Dax came to me already very nicely powder coated (but in bits) and was a life saving lock down rebuild project back in March 2020, albeit with no engine.
The powder coating was so good,and the colour near enough for me, I decided to leave it as it came, plus the problems of having it stripped and sent for painting during lock down conditions.
Regarding your comments on keeping the bike original, as mentioned above I already have one which is original, so this one was. again as I have said just a project to keep me occupied during the lock down, and was more of a Special.
The main deciding factor was the bike had no engine, and I was unable to source a suitable replacement. The best I was offered, was a clapped out Honda engine for £250 which would need considerable amounts of work and money spent on it.
The Lifan engine 4 speed CDI came along brand new in a box, complete with a new carburettor and electrics for £140.
I think you may agree that my decision was not a difficult one!
Was I to be left with an engine-less restored bike taking up garage space, or build a bike I could use, having more power (125 cc) and a 4 speed gear box, plus 12 volt electrics.
Yes you are correct, it is not original, but the old saying "one bike on the road is worth 12 bikes in the garage/shed"
I have other bikes up to 1000 cc--Vintage and Classic--British and Japanese, so the Dax performance was irrelevant.
As you say, your bike has not as yet arrived, so I wish you well when you start your restoration. You may be surprised at the cost of genuine Honda spares should you wish to stick to originality,, hence my engine choice.
Good Luck

P.S. If you should know of a genuine Honda 70 cc engine at a reasonable price, please contact me, and I might consider changing the bike back to original spec. Meantime I ride and enjoy.

Ken

Can any one advise me how to put photos on this site.
All my attempts have failed, but have no problems putting photos on other forums.
Thanks,

Ken

Hi chaps
Thanks for getting in touch regarding paint or powder coating. I have taken on board all
your comments and have decided to paint it the original colour of Candy Ruby Red code R-4C. The restoration is going well everything is stripped down now to the bare bones. Ive started to clean the engine and replace anything that is perishable, seals etc. Also been doing a bit of research regarding where to get the original Cloud Silver as well as the Candy Red. It doesnt appear to be that easy getting hold of these original Honda paints. Has anybody been able to get hold of them. I'd appreciate a bit of help.
As for the forum, I have spent hours trawling through members posts. I have to say its been invaluable, and continues to be so. It would be very sad if it was to fold due to lack of use.
Cheers Ladies and Gents
Regards Neil

Thanks both for an interesting discussion.

Ken, I would have made the same decisions as you. I doubt if I'll go for all Honda - as you say the parts are expensive if they even exist. My bike has the wrong front mudguard/fender but it won't be my top priority to replace it. Did you have to modify the frame, or anything else serious, to change to the Lifan 125?

Neil, I found Cloud Silver NH-35M at advancedpaints.co.uk when I was looking at what was available.

I've tried attaching a picture of my new bike, that hasn't arrived yet, don't know if it will work. Plus point is the original seat, minus point the mudguards



Cheers
Keith

Hi Keith,
Eventually got your photo . The bike looks good and is exactly the same as our 1972 Dax--the original and first one I restored.

MODIFICATIONS NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE 125 CC ENGINE---- On the 2nd Dax --1976

The engine fits exactly into the frame using the existing mounting holes, but is approximately 25 cm longer than the Honda engine, so fouls the front mudguard. However luckily I have fitted the short sports type mudguard (as in your photo) so the engine just clears this.
If you use a standard mudguard,you may have to do some alterations.

The front exhaust pipe had to be cut and extended because of the extra length.

A new petrol tap was purchased and mountings made up (as the original petrol tap on the Honda is on the carburettor).

The throttle cable fixing to the carburettor had to be made up, as the connection is totally different to the original.

The Lifan engine is 12 volt and the Dax is 6 volt, so it was either rewire the bike as 12 volt or purchase a regulator/rectifier from Beatrice Cycles USA.
This I did, and it works very well, and should I at any time wish to fit a 6 volt engine, the conversion back is very simple.

As already stated I fitted the 125 cc engine because it came along at a good price, but it would seem the 110 cc Lifan engine is a more popular fitment.
Wherever possible, I have re manufactured all fixings, nuts and bolts etc. myself
Best of luck with your project.

Ken
WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW TO PUT SOME PHOTOS ON. IF ANY ONE CAN HELP LET ME KNOW HOW.

Hi Ken

I think we've got distracted from the original discussion. But thanks for all the information about the 125 conversion, although its not for me with this bike.

How did you get the photo?

Where's everyone moved to? Is there a more active ST70 forum. Should we start a facebook group?

Cheers
Keith

OK, found the photo. Look in the source html and click on the link