Restoring a Classic Mini

T

TimC

Well-known member
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Hey Folks,

need some reco's here

bought this as a "winter project"....it's a 1969 Honda Z50AK1

z50.jpg


problem is....this winter project has been sitting untouched in my basement for 5 years now.....and I'd be kidding myself thinking I'm gonna restore this back to mint on my own accord

I want the bike restored back to mint and need reco's on shops I could hire to do the job

I have a good budget....just zero time to do it myself....and in all honesty, I doubt I could personally restore the bike to the level I want by doing it myself

appreciate any feedback

cheers

Tim
 
Daniel at Heritage Auto. He's been doing a lot of restos as of late. Solid mechanic and great guy. I think he's a forum sponsor so just search up his username.
 
Cool arse little bike......I had one like that back when I was a kid (no clue what model it would have been).

If you decide to forego the resto and want to sell let me know. My little guy would love that after getting it all fixed up.
 
How adverse are you to dealing with people over the border?

http://www.mytrailbuddy.com

They not only sell parts (they've gotten enough of my money in the past, that is for sure) but they've also got an in-house shop where they build new china-spec parts CT70's and Z50's, but also do restorations for customers. They've been around for a while now. Located in Zeeland Michigan, not too far over the border.

I too know the feeling of having one of these classics in the garage in bits, but no time/motivation to build it up. I originally bought 2 3/4's CT70's.. built one up with aftermarket parts/140cc engine, and then stopped before getting to my second CT70, restored as all-stock... the first one that i built was just that much fun to play with, at the expense of garage time working on the second one..

Good luck.



82Seca750 said:
Hey Folks,

need some reco's here

bought this as a "winter project"....it's a 1969 Honda Z50AK1

problem is....this winter project has been sitting untouched in my basement for 5 years now.....and I'd be kidding myself thinking I'm gonna restore this back to mint on my own accord

I want the bike restored back to mint and need reco's on shops I could hire to do the job

I have a good budget....just zero time to do it myself....and in all honesty, I doubt I could personally restore the bike to the level I want by doing it myself

appreciate any feedback

cheers

Tim
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Bandit Bill said:
How adverse are you to dealing with people over the border?

http://www.mytrailbuddy.com

They not only sell parts (they've gotten enough of my money in the past, that is for sure) but they've also got an in-house shop where they build new china-spec parts CT70's and Z50's, but also do restorations for customers. They've been around for a while now. Located in Zeeland Michigan, not too far over the border.

I too know the feeling of having one of these classics in the garage in bits, but no time/motivation to build it up. I originally bought 2 3/4's CT70's.. built one up with aftermarket parts/140cc engine, and then stopped before getting to my second CT70, restored as all-stock... the first one that i built was just that much fun to play with, at the expense of garage time working on the second one..

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I remembered your thread from a while back and I searched for it before I even saw your post in this thread.
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...t-1976ish-Honda-CT70-with-Lifan-140cc-Pitbike
 
Bandit Bill said:
How adverse are you to dealing with people over the border?

http://www.mytrailbuddy.com

They not only sell parts (they've gotten enough of my money in the past, that is for sure) but they've also got an in-house shop where they build new china-spec parts CT70's and Z50's, but also do restorations for customers. They've been around for a while now. Located in Zeeland Michigan, not too far over the border.

I too know the feeling of having one of these classics in the garage in bits, but no time/motivation to build it up. I originally bought 2 3/4's CT70's.. built one up with aftermarket parts/140cc engine, and then stopped before getting to my second CT70, restored as all-stock... the first one that i built was just that much fun to play with, at the expense of garage time working on the second one..

Good luck.
Click to expand...

awesome feedback there...thank you

was hoping for local to do the resto....but they sure do have the parts bin covered

gonna zipp them over a note

cheers
 
I have a CT70 and a Z50R. They are not perfect, but are all original and they run well. Unless that bike has sentimental value, sell it and buy one that's been restored or in mint condition. It will be a lot cheaper.

i see crazy prices for old minis but I don't think that they are getting those prices. I bought an old KE100 with 300 original kms, I paid $1000 for it, but when I looked at Junkers for 400, I realized it would be cheaper to find a mint one. The front fender for the KE is over 100 dollars, it adds up pretty fast.

the mini I would like to add to my collection is a Kawasaki KV75.
 
yyz said:
I have a CT70 and a Z50R. They are not perfect, but are all original and they run well. Unless that bike has sentimental value, sell it and buy one that's been restored or in mint condition. It will be a lot cheaper.

i see crazy prices for old minis but I don't think that they are getting those prices. I bought an old KE100 with 300 original kms, I paid $1000 for it, but when I looked at Junkers for 400, I realized it would be cheaper to find a mint one. The front fender for the KE is over 100 dollars, it adds up pretty fast.

the mini I would like to add to my collection is a Kawasaki KV75.
Click to expand...

One day i would love to have a KV75 pitbike.
 
The Honda 50 was the first bike I rode before I got my my CT70 about 45 years ago. Absolutely brutal power as I recall (maybe 1 or 2 HP) and it took off on me as I rode over a small embankment, flew over the bars and then had the bike land on top of me. Great first ride and left the owner and my friends howling in laughter at me.
 
Is there anywhere to ride them, or do people sneak onto private property, and then wake up the neighbors?

Here's what mine, made in Delhi, Ontario, roughly looks like:
DMP_Mini_Bike.jpg
 
Baggsy said:
Is there anywhere to ride them, or do people sneak onto private property, and then wake up the neighbors?
Click to expand...

Precious few places to ride them.. hopefully if caught, the cop has a sense of humor and nostalgia - that worked for me the one time i got chased down by a cop in the school parking lot, next door to me.

These are truly bikes of another era - pre-insurance, and pre soccer mom will bubble wrap your kids for safety before getting within 20 feet of one. In many aspects, time has pretty much passed them by (in nanny-state Onterrible, anyway.).

I also have on occasion rode mine within the confines of my townhouse development, but for the sake of neighborly peace i usually ride a more image-friendly and quieter scooter counterpart to these mini-fiddy's. The 140cc CT is really just too loud, to risk pissing off 100+ unit occupants... Otherwise, mine just sits on a coffee table in the back of the living room, as a Redneck objet d'arte... nostalgic home decorating, if you will - in lieu of space in the garage.
 
yyz said:
I have a CT70 and a Z50R. They are not perfect, but are all original and they run well. Unless that bike has sentimental value, sell it and buy one that's been restored or in mint condition. It will be a lot cheaper.
Click to expand...

cheaper...yes

but bringing it back is fun

my plan is to get it plated and ride it on the side streets

my mother lives about 10kms away....and I can side-street it there and back for the most part.....that and convenience store runs etc
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