1981 Honda C70 Passport bought today!

txsizzler · 01-19-2013, 03:42 PM

Well, just happened to be browsing through the local Craigs ads, and happened upon this, just as it was posted moments before:

So, I called him up, asked several questions (mileage: 5520. Condition: Very good, has minor cracks, front fender needs replaced, front tire low, battery needs replacing, but starts right up! Title: Clear, ready to go! Asking price: $250 (

)

Anyhow, he lives about a mile from me, so I went on over there, and brought over my tire inflator. Sure enough, it was exactly as described. He had been doing some spring cleaning in his garage, and saw the bike just sitting there (hadn't moved in over a year). So, he tries to start it, nothing with the electronics. Kick starts it, starts right up!

Well, I inflate the front tire (put some air in the rear as well), take it for a spin. The brakes will need adjusting (barely stops when fully engaged). The three shift up deal was weird to me (I ride a Suzuki Savage 5 speed also), especially given its clutchless. Still though, the bike was an absolute hoot to ride! I did notice the petcock leaking just slightly when open... will probably have to replace it (looks like about 10 bucks on fleaBay).

Anyhow, $250 dollars later, I have it in my garage now. Here are some pics I took of it at home:

fullmetalscooter · 01-19-2013, 07:25 PM

cool find

luckychucky · 01-19-2013, 07:31 PM

I loved mine, got me all over an island in Greece. When others had no way to come and go, I always knew my scooter would get me around the island. Of, course I probably only weighed 140 or 150lb back then. Great ride.

GinoXB · 01-19-2013, 07:32 PM

Great bike at a great price! Congratulations! They are built like tanks. Probably the toughest bike ever built.

Nihon Newbie · 01-19-2013, 09:48 PM

Congrats on the sweet find!

YamaGeek · 01-19-2013, 10:24 PM

Too bad the PO cut off the legshield.

Starbuck21 · 01-20-2013, 05:43 AM

Great find! The seat and muffler are probably worth the price you paid for the whole thing!!!

PinkSteel · 01-20-2013, 10:48 AM

I've owned two Passports, and currently have one with a Lifan 125. It's the scooter that started my whole family riding. Bulletproof, easy to maintain, plenty of parts and aftermarket parts. Dr.ATV.com has everything you need, and the Yahoo Passport Group is very large and lively, with answers and files for everything.

The C70 needs a good battery to run, or you'll burn out every light on the bike, starting with the headlight. The starter motors rarely work, and nobody fixes them - because the bike kickstarts so easily. Replace the tires with Michelin Gazelles - and I have gone up a size on front and rear.

txsizzler · 01-20-2013, 04:10 PM

I will be ordering a new battery tonight. I tried charging the old one, and it had just enough juice to power the headlight (dimly), and the blinkers.

I will also be ordering a new petcock. Got the old one off (leaky) drained the fuel tank. The tank has some surface rust on the interior. So, I will be taking care of that, too. Brakes still need adjusting, and the front fender to be replaced. All in all, very exciting!

slowlane · 01-21-2013, 05:25 PM

Congratulations on the Passport acquisition. They are great little machines that can be incredibly addicting. I absolutely love my '82 C70 that I bought about seven years ago, also for $250, and have since ridden over 27,000 miles. With a little maintenance, that Passport will last a very long time. Make sure you check the oil level regularly. I cannot stress this enough. Mine was run low at some point before I owned it and many internal engine parts were in very poor shape. In a testament to the machine though, the Honda still ran really well even though internally, it was dying. It looks like someone went nuts on yours with some beige paint. Also it appears that they flipped the front turn signal mounts, as the brackets should point down instead of up. Your seat looks to be in amazing shape though, which is unusual. Good luck and enjoy your new Passport.

JerryH · 01-21-2013, 05:36 PM

Way to go. I used to own one of those, bought nearly new. I wound up selling it because of the clunky transmission and lack of power. In hindsight I realize I made a big mistake. The Passports were real Hondas, made in Japan in the Honda factory. While others disagree, to me the quality was a lot better than, say, the SYM Symba. I checked out the Symba, as a possible way to replace that Passport, and found it's build quality to be pretty chintzy and flimsy in comparison. Not putting down the Symba, just saying I thought the Honda was higher quality and more substantial. You should be able to get all the parts you need to restore that one.

fullmetalscooter · 01-21-2013, 08:37 PM

I do believe they are the highest production motorcycle ever made with 21 million plus made over the years. I m guessing 100 years from now you ll still be able to find the parts you need because of that. Did one couple take 2 of the clones of these for a 3 year trip around the world? SYM clones?

hexnut · 01-22-2013, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullmetalscooter

I do believe they are the highest production motorcycle ever made with 21 million plus made over the years. I m guessing 100 years from now you ll still be able to find the parts you need because of that. Did one couple take 2 of the clones of these for a 3 year trip around the world? SYM clones?

Once again there were 60 million made in 2008. They are still in production so who knows what the the production number is now.

http://world.honda.com/news/2008/c080521Cub-Series/

hugemoth · 01-22-2013, 05:58 AM

They are the highest production vehicle of any kind ever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hexnut

Once again there were 60 million made in 2008. They are still in production so who knows what the the production number is now.

http://world.honda.com/news/2008/c080521Cub-Series/

txsizzler · 01-22-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugemoth

They are the highest production vehicle of any kind ever.

So, are any of the newer Cub's parts interchangeable with the 1980/1981 models? I realize the 12v/6v difference, but what about other parts?

01-19-2013, 03:42 PM	#1
txsizzler ^OP n00b Joined: May 2011 Location: S. Texas next to Corpus Christi Oddometer: 6	1981 Honda C70 Passport bought today! Well, just happened to be browsing through the local Craigs ads, and happened upon this, just as it was posted moments before: So, I called him up, asked several questions (mileage: 5520. Condition: Very good, has minor cracks, front fender needs replaced, front tire low, battery needs replacing, but starts right up! Title: Clear, ready to go! Asking price: $250 ( ) Anyhow, he lives about a mile from me, so I went on over there, and brought over my tire inflator. Sure enough, it was exactly as described. He had been doing some spring cleaning in his garage, and saw the bike just sitting there (hadn't moved in over a year). So, he tries to start it, nothing with the electronics. Kick starts it, starts right up! Well, I inflate the front tire (put some air in the rear as well), take it for a spin. The brakes will need adjusting (barely stops when fully engaged). The three shift up deal was weird to me (I ride a Suzuki Savage 5 speed also), especially given its clutchless. Still though, the bike was an absolute hoot to ride! I did notice the petcock leaking just slightly when open... will probably have to replace it (looks like about 10 bucks on fleaBay). Anyhow, $250 dollars later, I have it in my garage now. Here are some pics I took of it at home:

01-19-2013, 07:25 PM	#2
fullmetalscooter Let me take this duck off Joined: Apr 2009 Location: BC Oddometer: 2,021	cool find __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body,but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting WHAT A RUSH, WHAT A RIDE. Got to go places to be, people to kill and far to many woman.

01-19-2013, 07:31 PM	#3
luckychucky Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2011 Location: SE Missouri Oddometer: 296	Island Cruiser I loved mine, got me all over an island in Greece. When others had no way to come and go, I always knew my scooter would get me around the island. Of, course I probably only weighed 140 or 150lb back then. Great ride.

01-19-2013, 10:24 PM	#6
YamaGeek Ancient trailbike padwan Joined: Jun 2007 Location: western oregon Oddometer: 4,112	Too bad the PO cut off the legshield. __________________ ____________________________________________ We're here because of a love most exestential. (toothy)

01-20-2013, 05:43 AM	#7
Starbuck21 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: NE Washington and Wickenburg, AZ Oddometer: 121	Great find! The seat and muffler are probably worth the price you paid for the whole thing!!! __________________ Glenn 2012 Honda Silver Wing 1974 CT90's (2) NE Washington and Wickenburg, AZ

01-19-2013, 07:32 PM	#4
GinoXB n00b Joined: Jan 2013 Oddometer: 9	Great bike at a great price! Congratulations! They are built like tanks. Probably the toughest bike ever built.

01-19-2013, 09:48 PM	#5
Nihon Newbie Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2012 Location: SLO Cal Oddometer: 130	Congrats on the sweet find!

01-20-2013, 10:48 AM	#8
PinkSteel Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Fairfield County, CT Oddometer: 205	I've owned two Passports, and currently have one with a Lifan 125. It's the scooter that started my whole family riding. Bulletproof, easy to maintain, plenty of parts and aftermarket parts. Dr.ATV.com has everything you need, and the Yahoo Passport Group is very large and lively, with answers and files for everything. The C70 needs a good battery to run, or you'll burn out every light on the bike, starting with the headlight. The starter motors rarely work, and nobody fixes them - because the bike kickstarts so easily. Replace the tires with Michelin Gazelles - and I have gone up a size on front and rear.

01-20-2013, 04:10 PM	#9
txsizzler ^OP n00b Joined: May 2011 Location: S. Texas next to Corpus Christi Oddometer: 6	I will be ordering a new battery tonight. I tried charging the old one, and it had just enough juice to power the headlight (dimly), and the blinkers. I will also be ordering a new petcock. Got the old one off (leaky) drained the fuel tank. The tank has some surface rust on the interior. So, I will be taking care of that, too. Brakes still need adjusting, and the front fender to be replaced. All in all, very exciting!

01-21-2013, 05:25 PM	#10
slowlane Adventurer Joined: Nov 2012 Location: Highland Village, TX Oddometer: 36	Congratulations on the Passport acquisition. They are great little machines that can be incredibly addicting. I absolutely love my '82 C70 that I bought about seven years ago, also for $250, and have since ridden over 27,000 miles. With a little maintenance, that Passport will last a very long time. Make sure you check the oil level regularly. I cannot stress this enough. Mine was run low at some point before I owned it and many internal engine parts were in very poor shape. In a testament to the machine though, the Honda still ran really well even though internally, it was dying. It looks like someone went nuts on yours with some beige paint. Also it appears that they flipped the front turn signal mounts, as the brackets should point down instead of up. Your seat looks to be in amazing shape though, which is unusual. Good luck and enjoy your new Passport.

01-21-2013, 05:36 PM	#11
JerryH Vintage Rider Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ Oddometer: 1,653	Way to go. I used to own one of those, bought nearly new. I wound up selling it because of the clunky transmission and lack of power. In hindsight I realize I made a big mistake. The Passports were real Hondas, made in Japan in the Honda factory. While others disagree, to me the quality was a lot better than, say, the SYM Symba. I checked out the Symba, as a possible way to replace that Passport, and found it's build quality to be pretty chintzy and flimsy in comparison. Not putting down the Symba, just saying I thought the Honda was higher quality and more substantial. You should be able to get all the parts you need to restore that one. __________________ "I refuse to give up the thrill of living for the relative safety of existing" Nick Ienatsch "Life is not a race. Don't treat it as such. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the finish line"

01-21-2013, 08:37 PM	#12
fullmetalscooter Let me take this duck off Joined: Apr 2009 Location: BC Oddometer: 2,021	I do believe they are the highest production motorcycle ever made with 21 million plus made over the years. I m guessing 100 years from now you ll still be able to find the parts you need because of that. Did one couple take 2 of the clones of these for a 3 year trip around the world? SYM clones? __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body,but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting WHAT A RUSH, WHAT A RIDE. Got to go places to be, people to kill and far to many woman.

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