Original or Replica

Hi Guys
This musing was brought about by seeing an original but well used incomplete Flowery Seat on ebay this evening, I really do need this to make my restoration complete but should I bid on a less than perfect and incomplete seat which is already over £30.00 with several days to go or save my pennies for a replica complete seat, having seen the great lengths that people used to go to on the Street Rod scene with very deep pockets and that most of these became show ponies and trailer toys it makes the decision more difficult because we would all like an original low mileage bike but would we use it having spent mega bucks on the restoration or better still get a looker of a bike but use it, I will leave this as an item for debate and hope that I am not bidding against one of you guys.
Regards tufty

What? 36£ already?
I was watching that myself...

I am struggling with the same thoughts:
I have a replica cover now, with Honda written on the back, pretty nice, but... still a replica.

But I was wondering, what's the value of a half worn set cover?
You can't clean it nor repair it. O well, I just don't know what to do with it.
Price will probably sky rocket + postage to Belgium is another 10£...

I do not think I would go for an original. Vinal has a usable life as it is and 20years + is pushing it. Maybe to hang on the wall next to the Ridge Reamer. Even for a show bike, how clean can it be? I think I will just get a decent repro and ride. .

I am not a big fan of the flowered seat at all but I can see what you mean about wanting to keep it original.

I am still in two minds about whether I should use a new black seat or put my original flowered one back on....

£36 is a bit steep for that cover!

hi James
I do tend to agree with you about the seat as you will see by the pictures of my Lady and I sometimes wonder why Honda chose this particular flowery pattern and did not go for a plain colour as vinyl is not the best material to keep clean and it does not have a great resistance to UV light. It would also appear that original black seats have stood the test of time as alot of the flowery seats have staining and fading (just an observation). I have seen some really nice covers from a company on Ebay.com which is the American site I think the company is called classic 3, I will check on that later.
I can see this debate rumbling on between purist's and the more practilly minded amongst us, also there are some great bikes on Ebay.com look under CT70.
regards Tufty

£75 and still going strong!!!
I tend to like the pattern, but, I like the Japanese version the most.
The black sides with it's chrome piece around and the bright pattern offers a good contrast to the white bike, and suits the green decals well.
I have a replica cover myself, the only decent with Honda written on it.
I'm not sure if I like that one better than a plain old original black OT cover...

On the other hand, there are lots of Japanese parts on my lady. (Takegawa, Kitaco, Over,...)
The mains thing I look when adding/replacing parts on my bike are:
- quality! (So I strongly prefer Japanese parts over Chinese parts. Cheap parts don't do these bikes justice)
- performance! (What's the point in not buying Honda parts if there is no better substitute from another brand)
- overal look (Wether it's original or not, you're building this bike for your own viewing pleasure, aren't you?)
- originality (You don't want to loose all the bike's charm? There's no point in buying a 35yo classic and turning it into a brand new scooter, is there?)

Hi Waynus
I agree 100% percent with that sentiment and also whose to say that Mr Honda got the look right to start with.I believe one of Honda's ideas was to continually develop on the original idea.
I thought this might rumble on and on and it would appear that is the case.
Please put your thoughts forward to further the discussion.
Regards Clive AKA Tufty

Saw my uncle today who gave me my bike and told him about the flowered seat going on ebay and he thought it was crazy.

I have to admit that I am a fan of keeping things original but cost must play a factor in all this. It all depends on how much you want something and how deep your pockets are. If my bike was missing the flowered seat then I personally wouldn't try to acquire one, I would get the black one on MBUK.

The guy who is selling that seat also has 2 ST's for sale. One is going for £650 and has a flowered seat on it and in great condition. If you think about it you could buy that bike and sell the parts for more if you are really desperate to get the right seat.

£75 for the seat is OTT (in my opinion) because you will need the foam and then a pan as well. Tufty are you stilling bidding on it?

Hi james
NOOOOOOOOO I have stopped bidding I suppose on principal that is I can see this going over £100 which is OTT for something that is possibly going to be trash, if you look at the work both you and I have put into our bikes it would detract from all the good stuff a bit like rebuilding a Ford Cortina 1600E and then fitting a shabby vinyl roof, far better to fit a new repro and admitting to this, may not be original but would look great. I suppose that I could have kept my original tyres even though they were starting to perish and were an MOT failure and of course the majority of people only see the finished machine and would probably be more than impressed with the overall bike and would very likely see it as just another unfinished project if you used perished parts.
As I have mentioned in other posts it is better to ride and enjoy as well as giving other pleasure than to have a trailer toy that only see's the light of day at shows.
regards Clive AKA Tufty
P.S I hope others share my view and will ride their bikes and not just polish them, perhaps we should put it to the vote also it would be nice if members could put their location if only the county ???????????

Hi Guys
Who would have guessed that the cover would have reached £121 with 4 hours to go perhaps we should put membership of the ST70 owners club on ebay and see what people will bid for it ????????????????
Tufty