DUAL PURPOSE HONDA

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 16

DUAL PURPOSE HONDA

ANYBODY looking for a " lightweight motor-cycle which is equally at home on the road or in the rough should make a point of investigating the virtues of the versatile Japanese Honda CT-90 Trail, a machine which has proved very popular with farmers since its introduction to New Zealand about 12 months ago.

A beautifully engineered gear-box, with four trail gears for off-the-road riding and four road gears for use on the highway, is undoubtedly the most important feature of this machine, a product of the world's largest motor-cycle manufacturing company. The rider can switch from one set of gears to the other merely by shifting a small lever underneath the gearbox.

This gives the machine, in effect, an eight-speed gearbox and eliminates the necessity to change the rear sprocket when the terrain alters. It is not surprising that the machine has found

considerable favour among hunters and fishermen. The overhead camshaft, single cylinder, four-stroke engine of 89.6 c.c. can drive the Honda Trail along at up to 56 m.p.h. using the road gears. It can cruise comfortably at 50 m.p.h. With the trail gearing, it can climb a slope of 25 deg, with the highway gears the maximum slope which should be attempted is 18 deg. The machine is very easy to ride. An automatic centrifugal clutch connects the gear-box to the driving wheel. The engine produces seven brake horsepower and can drive the machine for 212 miles on a gallon of fuel. One of its most pleasing features is its wide torque range. A high-mounted air cleaner and double filter pressurised lubrication system keep wear to a minimum and reduce the amount of servicing required. The machine is fitted with an upswept muffler, completely covered by a heat shield, and strong steel guards protect the engine from damage in the

rough. It is also fitted with a substantial carrier. Unfortunately, it is not proposed to free this type of model from import licensing, although it is. expected to be available in reasonable numbers. Farmers can claim back sales tax on the machine provided it is used only for farm work. The retail price is $485. It can be obtained on a third deposit with repayments over 15 monoths. STATISTICS: Engine, overhead camshaft, air cooled, aluminium alloy four-stroke inclined 75 deg; capacity, 89.6 c.c.; compression, 8.2 to 1; ignition, 8 volt battery; clutch, wet six plate automatic centrifugal; lubrication, wet sump, trochoid pump, double filters; horsepower, 7 b.h.p.' at 8500 r.p.m.; torque, 50ft-lbs at 5000 r.p.m.; fuel consump-i tion, 212 miles per gallon; fuel capacity, 1.4 gallons; I braking distance. 18ft at 19 m.p.h.; transmission, four-; speed highway four-speed trail, left foot pedal return change; frame, pressed steel backbone: wheelbase, 47. Sin; ground clearance, s.Bin; ' weight, ISOlbs; front suspen-l sion, oil damped bottom link: rear suspension, oil damped | swinging arm. The machine examined was provided by Whiting and! Waltho Ltd. I