Logic suggests that smaller classics should pose less of a challenge for those writing about them than more sophisticated machinery, which is often the case. However, one will occasionally appear on our desks at Barn Finds which isn’t as straightforward as it first seems. Such is the case with this 1971 Honda CT-70. The frame number is consistent with the seller’s information, but a question remains over its mechanical specifications. It is a tidy classic where its new owner could choose between restoration and preservation. This pint-size Honda is listed here on eBay in Marshall, Michigan. Bidding sits below the reserve at $2,851.

This little Honda is a striking classic that wears what the seller claims is its original Candy Gold paint. That is conceivable because Honda offered this shade exclusively on the CT-70 from 1969 until 1971. It retains a healthy shine, although a close inspection reveals chips, marks, and a dent on the frame just above the frame number. However, considering the lives that many of these pocket rockets led at the hands of novices, the overall condition is quite impressive. The seller recently fitted a new seat and handlebars, but the rest of the motorcycle is said to be as it left the factory. The front and rear fenders are in excellent condition, the headlight has avoided the cracks and damage that can afflict these classics, and the wheels are spotless. Everything looks pretty straightforward, but we are about to delve into what could be a mystery with this little Honda.

The seat and handlebars aren’t the only areas of this classic that received recent attention, with the seller rebuilding the engine, replacing the wiring, fitting a new rear tire, and changing the oil and air filter. They say the sweet little 72cc single-cylinder four-stroke jumps into life on the first or second kick, ready to deliver the 6hp that it produced from the factory. However, they refer to its four-speed transmission, and that’s the rub. Honda offered the CT-70H with a four-speed transmission and a manual clutch, but the CT-70 was a less complicated proposition for novices courtesy of its three-speed transmission and automatic clutch. The supplied photos show the presence of a clutch lever, but the frame number confirms it is a genuine CT-70. Therefore, it would be safe to assume it has received an engine and/or transmission swap at some point. Another fact worth noting is that this machine’s paint shade was not offered on the CT-70H. Therefore, if the paint is original, it seems the transmission can’t be. The lack of originality will impact its potential value, but it won’t worry those who view it as a rider-grade motorcycle that they would purchase purely for enjoyment. It has no apparent mechanical needs, with everything said to work as it should.

On a dollar-per-pound basis, motorcycles like this 1971 Honda CT-70 are some of the most valuable vehicles in the classic market. They tip the scales at under 140 lbs, but pristine examples can sell for around $10,000. That’s not a bad return on an investment that would have lightened the original owner’s wallet by $395! This one hasn’t reached the reserve at $2,851, and I won’t be surprised if it doesn’t until the figure tops $4,500. That might sound eye-watering, but a grain of logic is contained within current valuations. The CT-70 was never rare when new because hundreds of thousands of these pocket rockets rolled out of the Honda factory. However, the type of life most led meant they became battered, bruised, used, and abused until they waved the white flag. Justifying the expense to undertake significant repairs on what was a cheap investment was impossible for many owners, meaning vast numbers of CT-70s ended their days in a junkyard. The high mortality rate, coupled with a desire by people of a certain age to recapture childhood memories, has driven values to their current level. It all makes sense when you analyze those factors, but are they enough for you to justify dropping a bid or two?