If you need a battery I would look into something like this.
http://search.ebay.com/270535582829
They last at least 2 to 3 times longer than a regular acid battery. I have left them in little bikes and scooters over the winter and still have them start in the spring with no battery tender. You might even be able to find them local.
Smithers - I have a 79 Express and run it with no battery. That little scooter used the headlight as a regulator and with no battery it blew right away. It's always funny to see if someone can figure out how to start the Express.
1971 Honda CL70 please help me get it running
hahnda wrote:These bikes do not have a magneto. You need to have a charged battery in the circuit to get spark. All the other components just keep that battery charged.
it has a magneto, two magnetic coils under the flywheel one is for ignition the other is for lighting.
I have a sealed battery that looks like that from the previous owner, am going to buy a new one just in case
hahnda I wasn't inferring the Express wouldn't start without a battery although it might sound like I did sorry. Plus the monkey mechanic did all sorts of weird things to the Express so the battery wasn't the main problem. 
1980 isn't old in motorcycle years to us. On another note in relation to motorcycle vintage I asked the California DMV how old a motorcycle would have to be to get a "historic vehicle" license plate and they said 1945 or something in the 40's. I was shocked because cars don't have to be that old to have those plates! At least I have seen newer cars with historic plates on them > 
1980 isn't old in motorcycle years to us. On another note in relation to motorcycle vintage I asked the California DMV how old a motorcycle would have to be to get a "historic vehicle" license plate and they said 1945 or something in the 40's. I was shocked because cars don't have to be that old to have those plates! At least I have seen newer cars with historic plates on them > Hehe no problem. These Express bikes are hot rides indeed. They truly teach you to be afraid of traffic and small dogs that might bite. I'M EXTREMELY jealous of your ability to get a Collector plate and especially your vehicle fees!!! Don't rub it in! :`(
I think the Honda CL70 would have a slight advantage over the Honda Express scooter though. I need to get a video of the CL sometime.
I think the Honda CL70 would have a slight advantage over the Honda Express scooter though. I need to get a video of the CL sometime.
You'll be able to push the kick starter with your hand to fire it up. I'm sure you'll get it figured. I'm going to look for some heavier springs for my CL70 as well. It's a wheelie machine. 
I took the kickstand off of it when I was in high school because I used to ride it all in the hills and the mountains for days. Me and some friends had 70's and 50's we tricked out and rode all over the coast as we could just pick them up if we came to a fence, hehe. So suffice to say the kickstand is long gone... I need to fine another one so it you see one available let me know.
I took the kickstand off of it when I was in high school because I used to ride it all in the hills and the mountains for days. Me and some friends had 70's and 50's we tricked out and rode all over the coast as we could just pick them up if we came to a fence, hehe. So suffice to say the kickstand is long gone... I need to fine another one so it you see one available let me know.Smithers wrote:You'll be able to push the kick starter with your hand to fire it up. I'm sure you'll get it figured. I'm going to look for some heavier springs for my CL70 as well. It's a wheelie machine.
I know of a few cl70s for sale, one complete pretty solid project for $350. Unfortunately none of the ones I know of are close to you. When project ones pop up for sale here on craigslist they normally disappear in a matter of days. Besides the cl70 I also own a mostly restored 74 Honda ct70 in candy Riviera blue, and a 1970 Suzuki mt50 which my dad bought new and I partially restored.
for heavier springs I went with this rebuild kit on my ct70 which has the same forks as the cl70. I do mostly street riding with the ct70 and this setup is at least 30% stiffer and works out great. you can also adjust the firmness by the amount of fork oil you add. I am considering using another one of the kits for this bike but might just cheap out and get just seals and rubbers http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CT ... _500wt_956 pretty good deal considering the springs alone normally cost $30.
Last edited by jfp350 on Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:19 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Perfect. I've seen those kits on eBay before but I didn't know they would work for the CL as well. They must have dropped the price a little too from what I remember. I'll definitely have to get one of those kits and try it out. I've bought from that seller before with good results. I just wish the foot rubber that I bought from them would last longer. It's already started to crack in less than one year. Oh well the price was right but I would love to have some original Honda ones that last much longer.
Have you guys tried http://www.hondaminitrail.com? Gobbs of cool parts for the ct70. I don't know how many parts the ct70 fit the cl70, but they have some neat stuff. For batteries I go to Batteries Plus. These guys had the exact fit replacement 6 volt battery for my 1965 CA95...on the shelf... They have every battery for anything. When my battery sat too long, it would not take a charge...These guys revived the battery.
Smithers wrote:Perfect. I've seen those kits on eBay before but I didn't know they would work for the CL as well. They must have dropped the price a little too from what I remember. I'll definitely have to get one of those kits and try it out. I've bought from that seller before with good results. I just wish the foot rubber that I bought from them would last longer. It's already started to crack in less than one year. Oh well the price was right but I would love to have some original Honda ones that last much longer.
Perfect timing!! glad I checked this, I was just about to order the foot rubber since mine is missing both.save me the trouble, I guess I will shoot for the Honda OEM instead.
also FYI to save even more money on the kits they put them up for auction every so often for even cheaper than the BIN.
I have bought from the seller a few times and surprisingly they have bought from me lol. no problems.
Spokes wrote:Have you guys tried http://www.hondaminitrail.com? Gobbs of cool parts for the ct70. I don't know how many parts the ct70 fit the cl70, but they have some neat stuff. For batteries I go to Batteries Plus. These guys had the exact fit replacement 6 volt battery for my 1965 CA95...on the shelf... They have every battery for anything. When my battery sat too long, it would not take a charge...These guys revived the battery.
yeah, they do lots of nice reproduction parts. the bars for my 74 ct70 were produced by them. They are missing out though by not having an online checkout system I like using my paypal for a secure payment. this is my favorite store http://dratv.com/ even have a cl70 section.
main fuse is bypassed, no lights turn on
my next guess is the condensor/coil, which is convieniently located betweet the motor and frame so that I have to drop the motor to get it out
my next guess is the condensor/coil, which is convieniently located betweet the motor and frame so that I have to drop the motor to get it out
Last edited by jfp350 on Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.