Dusted off a relic

[Nambaster]

After hiking trails marked for foot/horse traffic, or motorcycle, I remembered that my dad had an old relic sitting in his garage. I called him up and asked him if I could have it since it had been 13 years since he had parked it for storage. He didn’t hesitate to tell me it was all mine if I came and got it. After driving my old Dodge 300 +/- miles I was pretty worried the bike wouldn’t start. All the dust it collected over the years definitely made things discouraging. I got her out to see sunlight for the first time in 13 years.

 

[ccc23454]

And parts bikes, hell ya!

 

[Nambaster]

I wheeled her out of the garage and gave her a few kicks. On the third kick I swear I could her some compression going on. I loosened the wingnut on the intake and sprayed a few shots of starter fluid and gave her one kick and sure enough she fired right up and idled for 5 or 10 seconds. I couldn’t believe it. I scrambled for some ethanol free gas and poured a half gallon in the tank. I gave it a kick and she fired right up. I opened up the choke and she idled on her own. As she was idling I scrambled to get the air compressor plugged it in and ran the hose up to the tires to air them up. I popped her into gear and off we went. Zipping around the neighborhood was ephemeral. After making a few adjustments to the choke she ran strong.

 

[Sytes]

That's pretty cool! Grats.

 

[Nambaster]

Now for the real test. I drove her up to the local fire break road and put her up on her kick stand and dropped it into neutral. As the wheel was free spinning I pulled the lever to put her into low range. She shifted in nice and smooth and I idled her up a steep hill. Giving her very little gas she crawled nice and slow. Coming down the hill she held her gears and the engine would brake as I popped up and down the trail. The low range was fully functional!

 

[Nambaster]

After loading her up in the bed of my truck and brining her home the DMV was already closed. The next morning I woke up at 8:00 and got in line to get her registered and licensed. This bike is a street legal dual sport so she works for street and off-road use. After getting my plates and registration stickers, I went to the back of the line for my motorcycle endorsement knowledge test. I briefly reviewed the manual while I waited in line and also registered it as an OHV for trail use in National Forests and bought the sticker for $12 on my phone. I was then called up to take the test and 25 questions later I am now able to ride it on the streets until my skills test.

The first place I drove it was to the gas station to top her off with some ethanol free gas. She took 1.1 gallons costing me a whole $2.75. Just like that I am good for 77 miles of driving. I zoomed over to Walmart to do some grocery shopping and picked up a milk crate for $5.97 and 2 bungee cords for $1.77 with that crate I picked up 5 quarts of oil,an oil filter for the dodge, 2 gallons of milk, a head of cabbage and other small groceries. The crate bungeed strait to the rack in the back and I zoomed back home. It’s fun to run errands now! I got her up to 55 mph on the airport frontage road on my way home.

 

[Nambaster]

Now I can’t wait til deer/elk season to see how she handles packing out some meat.....

 

[2rocky]

did the helmet come with it?

 

[CUElk]

How cool is that. I love bringing old machines back to life. Can't wait for a pic with an elk quarter on your back.

 

[2rocky]

 

[Nambaster]

did the helmet come with it?

Boy do I have a treat for you!!!! My dad told me I had to wear his helmet that goes with it.....

 

[Nambaster]

 

[JLS]

Absolutely awesome! Both the bike and the helmet.

 

[Cogreeny]

That is really cool I wish they still made those bikes. Congrats on it.

 

[MJE2083]

 

[tarheel]

If your Dad were closer I'd be trying to talk him out of that 90. I'm slowly but surely acquiring the parts necessary to resurrect my old '63 Honda CL-72 250 twin Scrambler. I wonder how many even know what that bike looks like.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Those old Hondas bring back a lot of memories! I had one of those gold-metallic helmets and that Evil Knievel helmet is a beauty.

 

[kentuckybow]

View attachment 143992

looks like Super Dave Osborne rides again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nambaster]

If your Dad were closer I'd be trying to talk him out of that 90. I'm slowly but surely acquiring the parts necessary to resurrect my old '63 Honda CL-72 250 twin Scrambler. I wonder how many even know what that bike looks like.

The trail 90 is seized up but while I was at the DMV a guy waved me down and asked all sorts of questions about the CT110 and mentioned that he has 2 froze trail 90’s that he is either going to fix or get rid of. He gave me his card and I just may figure out what he is willing to take for them.

 

[ashersdad]

That is so great!! My Dad had a great Trail 90 when we were kids. I loved that thing. Wished he still had it. Thanks for sharing. Those pictures bring back alot of great memories.