Hello and any ideas?

Just found the club and it's relit my interest in the poor old bike in the garage! I've owned my ST70 for about 3 years, and although it ran, it was a pretty sorry looking example and sounded rough.
As with so many things, I started off full of enthusiasm stripping it down (and carefully tagging - I've started on 'a month maximum' projects before!), managed to source a few missing parts, and that is about where it got.
The guy I bought it from had a great story about it being very early, from the very initial batch of ST70s in the UK. Can anyone give me any idea of roughly how old it is? The number on the frame is: ST70 137586.
It is reasonably complete and original looking, other than the engine which looks like it has come off something else (it has a squared off chain guard area so C70?) but I will need to get quite a few bits before it is fit for the road. The question I'm facing is whether to go for as original as possible, or just get any ST bits that fit and get it running again? What do you guys reckon?
I've set a new deadline of Easter 2010!

Welcome to the club!

It's an interesting frame number.
While the original '69 version ST70Z has a maxium frame number of 137313, yours has to be a different model.

My best bet for the moment is that it is a US version, dated between '69 and '71.
If you got a semi-autoclutch, its the CT70 K0 model, if the clutch is manual, it's a CT70H HK0 model.
Some pictures could help: tacho, decals, front fork, seat,...

Good luck and enjoy!

Thanks Waynus

How interesting!

I'll get some photos done over the weekend. Although, as I mentioned, it's now all in bits.

It is semi auto clutch, has the big flared mudguards, plastic fuel tank and holes where the Honda badges went on the crossbar (sorry I'm sure there is a much cooler name for this bit of the frame!). The frame itself has been roughly painted in the past and has no decals. I have put a replacement seat cover on the seat but will the bit identifying it be the pressed steel seat moulding itself? The bike came without any registration documents or plate. Have others found similar problems ok with the dvla?

Sorry if I am showing my complete ignorance here guys! All help and advice very welcome.

Plastic tank
Engine guard
--> US CT70!

The front fork is different from the other versions, a different tacho, possibly the rims and tires as well.

Thanks Waynus. Your bikes look stunning. One day!

I have found a photo of the bike when I bought it. I'm trying to get it to work on here but I'm not having much luck! I'll get my son to do it for me when he get's up this afternoon! (he's just worked a nightshift).

Mine has no engine guard and the mudguards are the larger UK style flared ones.

I guess a lot of bikes have an assortment of bits put on over the years. Mine has a tatty upswept exhaust that the guy I bought it from had put on to sell it, although I gather it had a low slung one on when he'd got it.
Lot's of bits missing when I bought it. He'd used it as a field bike I think, so no wiring loom, no rear light or headlamp (although rear bracket and both casings were there), no airfilter box (I've got one now), etc, etc. I have now got most parts, but I'm not convinced by some of my ebay purchases, especially the Thai and Vietnam supplied wiring loom and headlight which don't look too substantial at all!

Other than ebay, does anyone on here have a ST70 secondhand parts sales operation? I will still need various bits as the project starts to get moving, especially some switches and cables. I'm also sure that the engine isn't the original, and as it was running badly in the first place, maybe I should think about sourcing another altogether. The handlebars are pitted and the stand is broken. When you start to list it all, you begin to wonder if there is anything worth hanging on to!

I'll get the photos up ASAP. Thanks for the interest and assistance.

Unfortunately, the bikes on the picture aren't mine.

That's what I was thinking myself.
When a bike was used offroad, chances are high the parts and models are all mixed up, and it can be difficult to determine what kind the original bike was.

I would advise not to go with the Thai / Vietnam stuff as sold on ebay.
They look OK at first sight in the picture, but can be pretty dissapointing when they arrive.
Especially technical parts such as a wire loom.
It's not woth saving a couple of pounds on a repro wire loom, while you have to spent hours to figure out the colors + adjusting the conncetions and risking the need to replace it with a real one after a couple of runs.
Quality of Japan Honda parts and repro Thai parts is uncomparable.

I've got some small parts for sale (only real Honda OT parts) such as the headlight switch, rectifier, air box, seat,...
But not that many anymore.

Uploading the pictures is pretty easy
http://www.st70.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=38

Not a very clear photo I'm afraid, but here is the little devil!
As you can see, not quite in the same league as the beauties you posted up, but maybe one day! Lot's of fun over the Winter evenings!


I'd be interested in the headlight switch and rectifier, both of which I need eventually. Please can you let me know how much you want for them.

I'm hoping to get the frame, swing arm, headlamp moulding, front forks and chain guard in for spraying in the next couple of weeks. Trouble is what colour? It was originally Candy red, so got to go that route I think...but there again. Lot's of decisions!
Thanks

Looks untidy but seems to all be pretty much there.

Carb looks a bit odd, from the photo it looks like there is no inlet manifold and it is bolted direct to the head (?!?). I would have to check the manuals but this may from a step-through which would tie-in with you saying you think the engine is off one of these. Even if you stick with that engine (engine-number will confirm which model it is from) you can easily pick up the bits you need to make it look correct.

What is your seat-base like? The foam (I assume that is the foam and not a light coloured cover?) looks ok so if the base is in good condition then you should be able to get away with just a new cover which does wonders for the looks.
I was bringing in new seats (see the ones sold by CMSNL but at half the price) but sales were slow so I am not doing it any more.

Don't forget to check out David Silver before trying to source secondhand parts, you might be surprised at just how reasonable some new parts are which makes looking for secondhand items not worth the time, effort & cost.

Yes, that was just the foam. I have sourced and fitted a new cover and it looks much better now.

Top marks for observation!! You are right, the carb is mounted directly onto the head - I'm not sure if it is just that the previous owner nailed it on to flog the bike, or whether the engine originally had it like that. Either way the engine was described as being a runner but with a rattle from the timing chain. I haven't looked at it closely but the engine cog seems very loose as well. Like I said, lot's of fun for the Winter!

Thanks for the advice re buying new Litch. I checked Silver's prices and I see what you mean.

Whilst on the point of replacing parts: What is the general concensus on what I should replace without even looking at the old bits? Bearings, headset bearings, brake shoes, all cables, coil, front suspension repair kits, rear shocks, anything else? or should I just assume everything is OK until proven otherwise? (on the basis of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'!). I'd prefer to keep it a reasonably low budget renovation but want to do it once and do it right.