Author Topic: Trail 55 (C105T) found in a dumpster, potential project? (Read 35338 times)

Shoeboxjoe · « **on:** January 31, 2010, 09:25:06 AM »

So, the company my brother works for owns several properties around the state, one of them being a trailer park. One of the tenants, believe it or not, had a problem with too much junk in their lot and were ordered to clean it out. A dumpster was provided for the tenants and when it was collected this little gem was inside. Some of my brother's coworkers grabbed it knowing we appreciate early Honda motorcycles. Long story short (too late) my brother traded it to me for an exhaust for his 750 cafe project.

I called the local police and had them check the vin, it came back clean so I think I should be able to get a salvaged title for it.

Now my thoughts on the project. Seeing as I don't spend a lot of time on the ATV trails up north i was thinking of making this into a slick little street scoot. I have a couple questions though first...

It looks to me like i could convert this to a super cub just by buying a plastics kit and getting the low exhaust? The frames look identical.

Also these aftermarket Lifan engines look like they would bolt right in to the C105T frame, i was hoping someone could confirm that. They do mention they are a bolt in replacement for CT70s and several other similar models, what do you all think?
http://www.pccmotor.com/lifan-125cc-motor-eng.html

Thanks!
Joe

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2010, 09:30:32 AM »

Nice score! Wish I could find motorcycles in dumpsters.

dagersh · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2010, 10:31:42 AM »

It sure looks like it could be converted that way. Nice find!!!! I want a Super Cub for NYC.....

luder · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2010, 10:47:01 AM »

great find....luder

754 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2010, 07:44:53 PM »

Mine is a 200 model I think, 90cc..looks the same that is 64 or 65 I think.

Several cool things, the covered bars, the tiny signals, and amazingly they are one of the few rare OHV models, so I guess we cant talk about them on here..

Nice exhaust on yours BTW..

clayman74 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2010, 10:31:17 PM »

i wouldnt change that exhaust at all. love the over the top pipes. something badass about it. even on a trail haha.

and im jealous! what a blast for a little tinkering project. great find man! cant wait to see what you do with it.

bwaller · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:49:41 AM »

Cool find. I rebuilt a C110 (90cc) for a friend a year back. Yours is the older push rod engine and in my opinion I'd keep it rather than putting in one of those "other knockoff engines"

Shoeboxjoe · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:32:26 AM »

The muffler and shield are in good shape but the header is broken. It looks pretty straight in general but as you would expect from an old trail bike everything that sticks out is bent. I might just put some street tires and the leg shield on it and keep the high pipe

We'll do something cool for sure. I guess we'll see how well the 50cc pushes my 200lbs around first before tossing out the original engine. I just don't want to be that guy on a scooter holding traffic up on my way to work. Hell if I could get this to go 65-70mph I'd go to the big Harley rallies around the state

Shoeboxjoe · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2010, 07:01:21 AM »

lol i might just have to do something like this...
[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="

name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="

type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]

HondanutRider · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2010, 08:43:24 AM »

Quote from: Shoeboxjoe on February 01, 2010, 04:32:26 AM

The muffler and shield are in good shape but the header is broken. It looks pretty straight in general but as you would expect from an old trail bike everything that sticks out is bent. I might just put some street tires and the leg shield on it and keep the high pipe We'll do something cool for sure. I guess we'll see how well the 50cc pushes my 200lbs around first before tossing out the original engine. I just don't want to be that guy on a scooter holding traffic up on my way to work. Hell if I could get this to go 65-70mph I'd go to the big Harley rallies around the state

Hey Joe,

That's not a 50cc motor you got there - its a 55!

Here in Canada, Honda sold the Cub in both 50cc and 55cc versions. In the USA they only made available the 55cc in the trail version that you have. And yes, the frames are identical so you should be able to mount "plastics" from the Cub on it quite easily. A few years ago I fixed-up a Super Cub 55 and I got a new set of plastics from the Orient off ebay. There seems to be lots available for these models. I was particularly motivated in my restoration, because that's the model I had as my first bike back in the early 60's. BTW that's the only bike I ever got a speeding ticket on...so far. (But I didn't weigh 200 lbs

)

Shoeboxjoe · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2010, 05:50:43 PM »

Got the 55cc running but the transmission makes some scary noises and has some ominous looking cracks...

So seeing as I'm Oprah rich with tax returns I ordered up a Lifan 125cc w/ 24mm carb which arrived this evening!

Will try to have it installed this weekend if I can convince my brother to help me drag the bike into my basement. The wife loves the sound of me using the angle grinder from the basement all evening. I'll keep the OEM 55cc which should be a fun little engine to tinker with, it only had 3rd gear when it was running though.

I'm still looking into how I can possibly title it but that's a whole other thread. It turns out Wisconsin DOT is the worst in the world to try and title something like this. I'm still working with the state patrol to find out if it's even possible. I've spoken to probably 8 different DOT employees, all of whom had different answers for me. Good times!

ksmith0034 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2010, 06:22:40 PM »

Quote from: Shoeboxjoe on February 01, 2010, 07:01:21 AM

lol i might just have to do something like this...
[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="
name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="
type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]

That's HILARIOUS! I don't know which I like better, the jockey shifter, velo stack or that massive front disc!

Shoeboxjoe · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2010, 02:49:38 PM »

Took about 10 minutes to drop the old engine, far cry from the 750

Had to shave a little off both sides of the frame to make room for the larger 125cc...

Just barely fits!

Need to find a new clutch and throttle cable, run fuel lines, wire it up and she's good to go! I'll try to get it running this week, will post more pics.

When i finish my cb750 cafe i'll return to this and give it a proper rebuild. I want to make it look like an old banana bike, cut the fender down, new seat, big chrome handlebars, and some heavy 70's style metal flake paint...

BlindJoe · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2010, 03:22:22 PM »

Cool man, that should be a blast to ride

Shoeboxjoe · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2011, 06:25:00 AM »

Several friends in town always talked about starting a Vespa gang but that never took off. I think we've switched focus now to vintage Honda scooters thanks to this dumpster find and posts on http://chalopy.blogspot.com/

Scooter gang is born...

Pictured here from back to front is a '67 C110, '81 C70, '66 CM91 and my '65 C105T (the frame), not pictured is the newest members '66 C100

So started tearing mine back down after fitting the 125cc lifan

Fitted a smaller C100 fuel tank

Initial rear fender cut, had one of the scooter gang members who can weld fill several holes and and smooth out the original air box mount

Trimmed rear fender, not sure if i'll take anymore off at this point.

Forks from a Yamaha PW80 are similar in size to the originals but needs the steering stem swapped.

Front fork and stretched swing arm mocked up for now.

New rubber mounted on painted wheels. Was thinking of powder coat and relacing but trying to keep this just a cheap fun project for bombing around town on.

Free Booter · « **Reply #15 on:** March 10, 2011, 12:58:17 PM »

100% pure bad ass....Been thinkin about modding out a little engine scoot...Seen some kids throw in engines on old bikes too.

This is how it all started back in the day of the first motorcycles and board runners.

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2011, 08:08:25 AM »

Did you ever get a title for this thing? If not, I have some good info on how to get a title in WI.

Coyote13 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2011, 08:35:00 AM »

Hahahaaaaaaa! This is so fu*king cool! Inspires me to go pick up my CB100 for a little around town putter

Shoeboxjoe · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2011, 08:54:37 AM »

Yea got a MN title in a round about way that was very simple actually. I did initially try following the proper channels in WI DOT but that was a nightmare. Problems I had were establishing legal ownership since technically this was an abandoned vehicle, We couldn't identify the last registered owners so we couldn't get them to file for a lost title. The DOT reps i spoke with also said since it didnt have the VIN/Safety tag riveted to the headset on the frame that this couldnt be titled for street use (even though this vehicle was manufactured before that act was in place). So yea, went through MN

andy120t · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2011, 04:50:13 AM »

Nice job & what a great freebie find - it's looking great.

Check out the price of this one on UK Ebay - currently at £770....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Honda-CT90-Trail-Rare-Classic-1967-C90-Cub_W0QQitemZ280639866838QQcategoryZ9806QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7683658725380278795

Flying J · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2011, 09:02:45 AM »

Ill watch this one. I love messing with the smaller bikes. Started with a 750 then a 550 now ill be picking up my second 125 and selling the 750. Great project!

Shoeboxjoe · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2011, 08:00:33 AM »

Primed

Duplicolor Metal Specks silver base coat
with Duplicolor MetalCast green translucent/candy coat (its hard to get a pic of the color, this is the best i could do)

triple trees and forks installed

Handlebars and front wheel.

At this point I'm waiting on a chain and rear sprocket and have to adjust the front wheel a bit, its about 1/4" over to the right.

RickB · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2011, 08:25:15 AM »

This is looking ridiculous in the most flattering way. Keep it up.

Honda! · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2011, 08:52:38 AM »

I've had a bunch of CT 90s, and I never thought to do something like this with them! Awesome build, I'm cheering for you!

Scott S · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2011, 12:21:03 PM »

Loving this....I really don't need any more crazy ideas about future projects, though....

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Author Topic: Trail 55 (C105T) found in a dumpster, potential project? (Read 35338 times)