[marxbrew]

Thought y'all might enjoy this...



For several years, I carried an old Honda Trail 90 (actually a '64 CT-200 for those old enough to recognize it) on a custom carrier on the front of my class-C RV. The Honda was a great auxiliary vehicle, but those old 90s were not so hot in the dirt, due to very limited suspension, and pretty limited power. Plus, they just won't compete with cagers on the road... top speed of about 45.

In 2010, I started looking for a better answer, and my search for a trail capable street-legal small bike led me to the TW. It also led me to this forum, and the more I researched it, the more I wanted one. I was on an RV trip to the Carolinas last April, and found what looked like a wizard buy on Craigslist in South Carolina. An '04 TW in pristine condition, 3000 miles on the clock, for $1900. I had purposly left the Honda home, hoping to score a TW somewhere along my route, so I made a detour. The bike was a cherry, so I bought it. Didn't even haggle over the price.

I managed to bungee cord it onto the old front carrier somehow, and made it back to Texas in one piece.

The old carrier was inadequate for the larger bike, so I scratch built a new carrier. Couldn't figure out any way to mount the bike so that it wouldn't block the headlights, so I mounted a set of snowplow headlights on the carrier to hopefully keep the law off my case. Here's the bike up on the finished rack. Looks a little different, but works like a charm!

The bike is as tight to the front grill as I could get it, and is super easy to load/unload. The ramp slides in behind the bike carrier for transport.

If anyone would like more details on the carrier construction, I'll be glad to provide them. Other than the fact that the bike gets a lot of bug hits, it is a really great setup.

 

[joeband]

that's a sweet looking ct200, i have a '79 ct90. your fab job on the rack looks pretty good too. have you noticed your rig runs any hotter due to lower airflow over the radiator?

 

[cbamarun]

I've got an '04 as well,that looks like a great set up and a fun time to be had!

 

[zardoz]

Welcome to the forum

Nice work on the carrier! I'm envious of your CT200, I'd love to have that in my stable for puting around the neighborhood.



z

 

[marxbrew]

that's a sweet looking ct200, i have a '79 ct90. your fab job on the rack looks pretty good too. have you noticed your rig runs any hotter due to lower airflow over the radiator?

Hey Joe



Thanks, Man! I will post some other pix of the old bike in a bit. Haven't noticed any air flow/cooling issues. There is a lot of open space around the TW engine and tank, so a lot of air gets through. I ran in pretty hot temperatures last month with the A/C going, and no probs. The bike on the front does make a minor dent in my already really bad gas mileage. Without the bike, I can get about 8.5, with the bike on it drops to around 8. Wind resistance, I guess. Because of the design and existing weight distribution of the motorhome, the bike had to go up front. I didn't have enough spare capacity on the rear axle to mount it behind, and I actually needed some additional weight up front to help balance things out.

 

[marxbrew]

Welcome to the forum

Nice work on the carrier! I'm envious of your CT200, I'd love to have that in my stable for puting around the neighborhood.



z

Thanks, zardoz! I'm sad to say the old CT made it's way to a new home after the TW arrived... I always got a lot of attention when I'd ride it, mostly from folks who initiated the conversation with "you know, I had one of those when I was a kid..."

 

[Retrofit]

Growing up, dad had a bumper mounted rack on the front for a Kawasaki 100 and a Honda 90 on the rear of his dodge based rv. Made the trip cross country every summer for 5 years without a problem. brings back memories.thank you