Advice please BTH on girly step-throughs

Yo BT,

I'm searching for some, well, a lot of bits for a 1969 C50 stepthrough
that I'm restoring as a family pet. A man with your proclivity for
CT90s might know where such things hide these days, other than in
council clean-ups and in the bottom of landfills.

Most urgently need a rear wheel to replace the oversized Yamaha wheel,
complete with mudguard-jamming knobby, currently bolted into the
swingarm. Makes it a bit hard to assess the bike's performance when
the rear tyre is shredding itself under the seat. At the moment its
accelleration could be said to be arthritic, tending towards risible.

I know I can get lots of trim and mechanical bits off eBay stores in
Asia and US for not much money, but would prefer some local sources of
decent original parts.

In the words of the Bard, it's a wee ripper. Any help gratefully
etc...

Peter in Brisbane
bumblebeeman1150 (at) hotmail.com

 

Why shucks ma'am... *blush*

*If* they're the same size as C90/CT90 wheels (i.e. 17") then I have a
couple. However, I'm sure there would be something closer to home for
you, wheels turn up on e-bay for bugger-all from time to time.
Johnnie5 might also be able to help, and he's a good 250km closer to
you. ;-)

What exactly do you need? If you're happy to keep the discussion
public, chances are some other residents will be able to chip in with
bits of their own. A photo or two might be a good starting
point... ;-)

We'll do our best!


BTH

 

Actually, a good start would be to buy this CT90 so that I don't have
to! ;-)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/_W0QQitemZ330121737336QQcmdZViewItem


BTH

 

I've been keeping an eye on eBay but not regularly enough it seems. If
I don't turn anything up in a month or two I might come back to you
about a wheel. I'm sure its the same 17-inch rim with a 2.75 road tyre
in lieu of the CT's knobby.

Ah, what I need most is either a stuffed frame with a decent rear
guard section to cut and weld onto mine, or a better frame complete
with rear section on which to transfer my running gear.

The most important bits to get a decent running chassis completed are:

rear wheel and tyre
rear guard section of the frame and the rear light mount that goes
with it
headlight and rim
lower section of the handlebar cover
front mudguard in blue (or if I get a decent red or green one then I
might repaint the bike that colour...)
righthand switchgear (which would then make the lefthand switches look
crap, so probably both)
chainguard
the correct shock absorbers with full covers (or just the covers)

There's a list of other stuff like better indicators, new cables, a
better air filter set, side covers and other odds and ends, but maybe
another mostly complete bike might turn up sooner or later to provide
these.

Much of the wiring, trim and rubber will be replaced and those can be
Asian eBay bits. Likewise I can get the white legshield for next to
nothing if I don't turn one up here.

The project is a bit of occupational therapy really, although I
consider the C50 Cub to be an important bit of motorcycle history. My
total investment so far is a carton of beer, and I'm hoping to fund
most of the other parts purchases at similar rates of exchange.

The engine is pretty good, and runs with only a trace of oil smoke at
full revs, so unless I find absolute sin and chaos in the cylinder,
I'm thinking an oil flush, valve grind, hone and rings might bring it
back to the full glorious 4 horsepower. Needless to say, a 90cc engine
would be good, or the kit to take my 50 to 80cc. But the engine seems
to be the 1969 original and that would be good to keep.

Your help and advice would be welcome. I can send a photo if you give
me an e-mail address.

It seems an age since I caught up with you at the Indian restaurant
meal here in Brisbane that Clem organised, must be four years ago.

Cheers,

BBM1150

 

The strategy I'm adopting with my CD90 is to pull the original 89cc
motor out to tinker with later, and stuff a $300 Chinese 125cc in
there for the time being (read that as "for as long as it lasts").

I'd love to see it. My address in the headers above is genuine.

I'll have to take your word for it! I think I was last at that
restaurant with Sharkey for Clem's birthday party.


BTH

 

Naah; that was Mexican, BT.
The curry was a few years earlier (maybe when you rode The Jackal up?)
Boky also showed up rather unexpectedly.