It’s impossible to argue with Honda’s success with motorcycles over the last several decades. Whether some folks would call this 1982 Honda C70 Passport a motorcycle or not is debatable, but as far as I’m concerned, almost anything with two wheels and an engine is a motorcycle. This one is technically known as a scooter, but I still define anything with two wheels and an engine as a motorcycle. The seller has this C70 survivor listed here as a Barn Finds Auction and it’s located in Madison, Wisconsin. Please check out all of the photos and get your bids in!
Most of us like all motorcycles if they’re powered by gas-powered engines, or are even pedal power, or, gasp, battery-powered! I don’t look at a C70, known as the Passport here in the U.S., as a lesser motorcycle because you don’t have to swing your leg over the top of it. The seller has put a lot of new parts on this Honda since they got it in 2010, including new tires, new brakes, chain, OEM gas tank, carb, fuel petcock, new front fender, front basket, center stand, and new mirrors.
Honda had a bit of an issue with the name Super Cub due to Piper Aircraft already using the name, so the name Passport was used here. There were several small changes over the last 60+ years that Honda has made this model or similar models with different engines. You can see some nicks and chips on this one, and a few stickers that were applied. The current owner has had this Passport since 2010 and has done a lot of routine maintenance over the years to keep it working great, and they say that it does work great.
Honda offered the C70 Passport in two colors in 1982, Monza Red and this one called Angel Blue. The seat is a two-person black and white vinyl seat in 1982 and this one has the accessory basket on the front and a luggage rack on the back. I find them handy for hauling things, which these bikes are used for a lot in Japan, and they’re perfect for getting around on college campuses. The seller says that this one has a new battery and everything works, all the lights, turn signals, horn, headlight, tail light, gauge light, etc. The speedometer and odometer also work.
You can see some light surface rust on the kickstand but this Passport has always been stored inside during the seller’s ownership. The engine is mostly hidden but fairly easily accessible for maintenance. It’s Honda’s 72-cc SOHC four-stroke single-cylinder with 6hp and it sends that power through a three-speed transmission with an automatic clutch and they reportedly get over 100 mpg. Have any of you owned a Honda C70 Passport?
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
- Mileage: 6,215 Miles
- Engine: 72cc SOHC Four-Stroke Single
- Transmission: 3-Speed Semi-Automatic
- VIN: JH2DA0103CS203414
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
- Walt Day bid $1,105.00 2023-09-05 08:02:41
- mezurashii bid $1,002.00 2023-09-01 23:28:15
- wew1957 bid $900.00 2023-08-30 16:00:44
- jsickmr bid $800.00 2023-08-29 09:52:34
- Evan Hix bid $500.00 2023-08-29 09:25:31
I really like the looks of the fenders.
How would this look next to a yellow PA50II?
Could I handle all the extra speed this has over the Hobits?
Nice, I would consider bidding if it wasn’t so far away
Good looking cycle. When I was a kid Pat Acker had a Honda Cub 50 in a forest green/tan color. Where are you now, Pat?
I thought all these were still in Saigon!
I have two questions for the seller:
1. What does “a three-speed transmission with an automatic clutch” mean here? The driver shifts through the 3 hears but without the need for a clutch?
2. If I am the winning bidder, would you be able to hold the bike for up to 2 months? (I would, of course, being paying in full upon completion of the auction.)
There was a light on mine that told you when to shift, and just let up on the throttle and shift up/ down after awhile you don’t even need the light to tell you.
These have a centrifugal clutch but gears manually selected on the left. When you press on the gear pedal clutch is disengaged…a clever system. I owned a 1968 C50.
Late 60’s early 70’s this was the darling of bike renting shops in Greece. I rented one a few times, i think it was a 50cc engine at the time, essentially my 1st bike! I cannot recall a shift light. Very reliable.
Sorry D W, I’m unable to hold the bike after the sale.
I live in Madison, is it possible to see it in person? I’m on the far west side.
5% buyer premium at the minimum of $250!
Does this mean that they want $5,000 for it? Holy Guacamole!
To rich for me! Thank you, NOT!🤔😁🙄
It means you pay a minimum of $250 to barnfinds for the privilege of purchasing the bike in addition to the sales price. If it sells for $1000, you pay $1250. If it sells for $5000, you still pay $250 to barnfinds.
What you described, Richard, would be a maximum buyer’s premium.
Fransisco- copies this from the barnfinds auction page;
How much does it cost?
Buyers pay a 5% premium ($250 minimum / $5,000 maximum). This fee will be refunded if the seller backs out.
I assume it’s a minimum buyers premium of $250 even if it’s only $100 winning bid.
This is going to go for thousands.
Of course I assume if it goes for $10,000 you’d pay BF $500, although it would be a cold day in hell.
My sister had one she said didn’t run, I was 17 and she went away for the summer, lol I must have put 10k on that bike, made for a great summer!
The reserve is off!
In the late 60s and early 70s Connecticut interstate entrance ramps had signs forbidding pedestrians, bicycles, horses and motor scooters.
My Honda 90 was a registered as a motorcycle, not a step through frame and could do 60 mph.
We had a Honda 65, also not a step through, which we never took on the highway that I think was a motorcycle also.
So there was a distinction then probably based on sustainable cruising speed. There are some fast scooters now.
Perhaps step through frame type was a factor loosely associated with scooters.
Or wheel diameter?
Thoughts anyone?
Way back in the day, Mopeds were all pedal to start. No pedals not a moped.
Here in WI. 50cc was the cutoff for moped vs motorcycle regardless of type of starting/starter 25 years ago for registration and driver licensing. Then mopeds could be on road or where bicycles were allowed.
Honda PA50IIs are 50cc, sort of step through, 2 stroke and have 18 ? inch wheels.
Over 50 years ago I had a Bridgestone 65 or 85cc that was considered a regular motorcycle here in WI.
We haven’t had em out for a few years and have had collector plates on them since we got them. I don’t know the current laws even here in WI. Top speed is 32-35 mph….NOT uphill!
Had to have a minimum tire width so as to not get caught in the expansion joints
Owned a 50cc in college, just right for city streets, no helmets then, got me to a job across town except in the snow when I took a cab. Left it in a university parking lot, chained to a tree, next morning it was gone. Collected on the insurance, something like $150, bought a Harley, a real motorcycle, a one cylinder “sport” from 1951, for $150, eventually sold it when I got a car and could afford the insurance and repairs, for $150. (Car was inherited, so free.) I look once in a while but never see that model Harley for sale other than WWII military versions. It went 45mph with ease, leaked oil, magneto, but was never stolen.
Why is it that every time I look at this, I find the song “Born To Be Wild” running through my head?
The legshields look unusually bent-in/back; presumably because of the fork-mounted basket? All the ones I had (70s/90s) had flatter legshields.
There used to be a scrappy here that had a huge stack of legshields in one of their sheds (apropos of nothing; just something that I remember).