... I'd been riding a Honda VT600 for two years and previous to that I'd been hammering around Southern England, (whilst working on racecourses), on a Suzi 450E that I had for seven years (and was my best buddy) and various other meaty machines for the ten odd years before that. The Suzi had been ... Read review
Advantages: Cheap to buy and run, reliable. Disadvantages: 50mph top speed. Acceleration 0-50 in 3 1/2 hours.
...up. I'd been riding a Honda VT600 for two years and previous to that I'd been hammering around Southern England, (whilst working on racecourses), on a Suzi 450E that I had for seven years (and was my best buddy) and various other meaty machines for the ten odd years before that. The Suzi had been bulletproof and so, so reliable and fast enough whilst being good looking without any plastic wraparound multicoloured mush so enamoured by the boy racers. ...A change of job, closer to home and it was Mr. Sensible time, so I paid 1599 quid for a C90, the butt of all two wheeled jokes, the Reliant Robin of bkes, the machine that supposedly handles like a supermarket trolley and has the acceleration of your average slug. Oh how they laughed....
13 years on, I can say hand on heart that my C90, Egbert, is the best damned motorcycle this side of the Mississip'. He has only let me down once, ... more
In 1995 I grew up. I'd been riding a Honda VT600 for two years and previous to that I'd been hammering around Southern England, (whilst working on racecourses), on a Suzi 450E that I had for seven years (and was my best buddy) and various other meaty machines for the ten odd years before that. The Suzi had been bulletproof and so, so reliable and fast enough whilst being good looking without any plastic wraparound multicoloured mush so enamoured by the boy racers.
But in '95, yes, I grew up. A change of job, closer to home and it was Mr. Sensible time, so I paid 1599 quid for a C90, the butt of all two wheeled jokes, the Reliant Robin of bkes, the machine that supposedly handles like a supermarket trolley and has the acceleration of your average slug. Oh how they laughed....
13 years on, I can say hand on heart that my C90, Egbert, is the best damned motorcycle this side of the Mississip'. He has only let me down once, (with a puncture, that was not his fault, some stupid with a bag of nails and a white van), and is so cheap to run it's almost embarrassing.
The total running cost of Egbert, who has been in daily service these past thirteen years is £300-£400 a year, petrol included.
That's £60 insurance, (without the additional £10 theft lawyery add-on bit); £15 road-tax; £100 parts and MOT (including tri-annual mandatory exhaust pipe blow out - hole as always just by the inlet - that turns a few heads as he emits the noise not unlike a continuous fart that is so popular with the cowled cowards on their scooters); and about a hundred or two on petrol, which at about 100 miles a gallon (what are these litre thingys?) does us fine for a few miles a day.
The Little Shrimp was at first a little embarrassing as I still wore leathers and stuff when I got him and drew a bizarre look from an hell's angel once, a cross between displeasure and 'look at the new starter!' , but now I tend to ride Egbert with waxed coat and corduroys now, as I am rising 48.
He handles just fine, I lean into corners with little fear and wind him up to his staggering 50mph with ease on a very long road with no head wind, and I'm not joking, a strong wind slows him up!
But the point is, why would anyone want anything else on two wheels at my age unless they've got something to prove, (or rather have something a-lacking). It's reliable, cheap and no bother, It's the best £1599 I've ever spent and even though you can't buy them anymore, when Egbert's carb finally stops and he's off to the great highway in the sky, I shall buy another, the future Egbert II, second hand.........
Advantages: 120+mpg Disadvantages: erm... there are none
...It is a 1982 Honda C90ZZ. Light blue in colour, with a genuine 4800 miles on the clock. It runs superbly, and is completely rust free.
Anyway...
The Honda C90, C70 and C50 range was introduced in 1967? I think, and was instantly a hit... so much so some band released a song about the bike... (The Hondells - Little Honda)
The colour available were 'elephant' grey, red and blue... although I think there were a few others available occasionally too.
... ...The basic price for a Honda 90, 70 or 50 is.. well... if its an old rusty heap with no MOT, absolutely nothing. With an MOT, starting at about £100ish. Tax is £15 a year, and Insurance is dirt cheap too (£51.45 a year TP with Zenith)
Fuel consumption is 120mpg. At least. That is fantastic. That is what makes these machines sooooo darned popular. The tank takes around £3-4 to fill up, and that will last you forever, like I said. An honest top speed ...
hughs 17.03.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Honda c90
Advantages: Cheap, user friendly, unkillable. Stands up to neglect well Disadvantages: You might want a tinted visor so your friends dont recognise you!
Stuff it down the back of your boot! The kickstart has a habit of kicking back!
As a courier of many years, I have always had one of these wee beasties in the back of the garage. When its wet and cold, and nothing else will start. You can depend on one of these little things to get the job done.
I was frequently embarrased by the piffling amounts of petrol needed to fuel it - garage attendants trying to remind me there was a minimum at most petrol ... ...you can get four Dachshunds on one? but that is not a story for either here or the faint hearted.
Firstly, they seem to run on fuel vapour. One sniff of the old four star, and you are well on your way to John o groats via Landsend. You can ignore them, abuse them, forget to clean them, be totally ignorant of the words "maintenance" and "oil". Howe do they repay you? By starting every time, first time (though not always with the starter - a good ...
granadan 14.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Honda c90
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