I bought a Postie Bike

[The Cone of Silence]

I'm moving out of Sydney this weekend - up to the Central Coast and I can't wait.

I'll still be working in the city which means getting the train from Woy Woy everyday and I figured out that the best way to get from my house to the train station in the morning and home in the evening would be to get a beaten up old Corolla and park it in the commuter car park. The more rust, the better as I don't want it getting half-inched by some local urchins with no imagination and nothing better to do with their time.

Then I decided that having three cars would be ridiculous and the cost-benefit ratio of registration and insurance isn't tenable. So, get a scooter!

So I was looking at scooters. Only found one that I liked and then it dawned on me that I'm doing it all wrong. I have two iconic and completely uncompromising vehicles at home - Monty (2008 Defender 110 Wagon) and Ruby (1967 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII) and they do their jobs brilliantly.....so why not stick with that theme and get something iconic?

So I did

2011 Honda CT110 aka a 'Postie bike' with 40,000 kms on the clock.

I love it. Needs a bit of work as it's not starting easily time so I shall get stuck into the fuel line and carb once I've moved and set up the garage but then it'll be the new project for weekend tinkering.
Also needs a milk crate on the back.

Anyone else here got one (a postie bike not a milk crate) or had one in the past?
Any sensible mods to increase reliability or performance? By 'sensible' here, I mean retaining the incumbent engine.

[Ranga]

I had a mis-spent youth on a Postie bike! Fantastic pieces of machinery.

A mate at work is keen to start riding, and I've explained that the only scooter I have any time for is a postie.

Some fantastic mods here pmmc.com.au, and plenty of cool examples on Gumtree. The adventure riders sometimes give them a whirl for fun, such as this Postie Bike Challenge - challenge (http://www.postiebikechallenge.org/the_challenge.htm) .

I have heard to be wary of anything over 30,000 km but it's hard to find anything lower for decent money. I'm sure with a bit of TLC yours will be fine.

Wish I had more info for you, but the least I could do is show my enthusiasm.

Last but not least, I often still chuckle out loud, or at least grin, when I watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAKyiWhPGA

[123rover50]

I have one also but its developed gearbox problems that I havnt had time to sort out yet.
One day:)

Keith

[Dinty]

So, will I be looking out for you at this venue later in the year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y65hvi-9sHc
held in Cessnock (my home town) in November, cheers mate Dennis

[B.S.F.]

They must be very popular. Last year when we were camping in the Flinders Ranges 83
Postie bikes went past our camp, later on we met another 40+ between St. George and Nindigully in QLD. .W.

[Mick_Marsh]

Serious question. Do you have a motorbike license?
I was told you can ride these on a car license. I was wondering if that was true.
I'd love to have one too. I must start looking before they become extinct.

[gromit]

Serious question. Do you have a motorbike license?
I was told you can ride these on a car license. I was wondering if that was true.
I'd love to have one too. I must start looking before they become extinct.
Mick,

Plenty on Gumtree

HONDA CT 110 CT110 POSTIE 09-12MDLS LAST 6 AVL KMS VARY NEGOTIABL | Motorcycles | Gumtree Australia Hume Area - Campbellfield | 1078980594 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/campbellfield/motorcycles/honda-ct-110-ct110-postie-09-12mdls-last-6-avl-kms-vary-negotiabl/1078980594)


Colin

[The Cone of Silence]

Serious question. Do you have a motorbike license?
I was told you can ride these on a car license. I was wondering if that was true.
I'd love to have one too. I must start looking before they become extinct.

I do, Mick. I'm not sure if these can be ridden on a car licence. There might be a rule about bikes under 125cc but I'm not sure. Best look into it.

[4x4 MORE]

Dad was thinking of getting one of these for short trips to save wear and tear on the Patrol..

Can they do 100kph? or is 80kph flatout?

How much fuel do they use in a week? Fuel economy?:confused:

[The Cone of Silence]

80kph top speed. You can get a different sized sprocket for a bit more top end though.

Fuel economy is completely off the charts.

60 km/l (1.6 litres per 100 km) @ 50 km/h (140 mpg @ 31.1 mph)

[V8Ian]

I'm pretty sure you need a bike licence Mick, state dependant, 50 or 90cc is the cut off. Speed capabilities also may apply.

[Tombie]

They must be very popular. Last year when we were camping in the Flinders Ranges 83
Postie bikes went past our camp, later on we met another 40+ between St. George and Nindigully in QLD. .W.


My work mate was on that ride...

[Tombie]

Bunch of local lads purchased a heap at auction.
It's like a 110cc version of Wild Hogs...

They're everywhere, all summer!

[LandyAndy]

There is an auction coming up in Albany.Most seem to be listed at around 25-30K km.No chance of them being glazed up,big hills in Albany.
Note they list them as mopeds;););););)
Quick Search (http://www.pickles.com.au/quick-search/-/solr/searchResults'searchTerm=albany&sortBy=makemodel&_includeDamaged=on&_damagedOnly=on)
Andrew

[B92 8NW]

My mate left one stored on our farm. I took it out the other only to discover it was the version with a two speed transfer case.

He won't be getting it back:angel:

[joel0407]

80kph top speed. You can get a different sized sprocket for a bit more top end though.

Fuel economy is completely off the charts.

60 km/l (1.6 litres per 100 km) @ 50 km/h (140 mpg @ 31.1 mph)


This isn't quite right. There was a rumour that Honda introduced a rev limiter to counter problems with cracking frames. If there is one, I've never hit it. Mine will do over 100km/h but I did rebuild it very soon after I bought it and it now has a pit bike pipe. It did about 95km/h prior to the exhaust.

These speeds are just reving out speeds. There is no way the motor is comfortable doing it.

I go through a couple of sets of peg stops per year but you'll want to ditch the old tyres if you are going to ride like this. I run Michelin M45 tyres.

Make sure you adjust the valve clearances every service as they do walk excessivly. Maybe this is why you have starting troubles. Mine starts first kick, every time, even after it's not riden for 6 months during the wet season.

I do a service every 1000km. I always use good synthetic oil but considering it only takes less than 2 cups of oil. It's still cheap to service.

Happy Days.

[joel0407]

They are great for going and getting parts while the LR is out of action too.

This is the whole ACE anti-sway bar on the back:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/05/377.jpg (http://s560.photobucket.com/user/joel0407/media/Disco/photo_9_zpscf252074.jpg.html)

The most I've had was a 9Kg gas bottle, 20Kg bag of dog food and 20kg bag of salt. All stacked up on the back and I weight 80kg.

Happy Days.

[4x4 MORE]

Would be great as cheap Transport..save the Land rover for LONG distances..

What's the Furthest anyone had ridden on A postie bike? 200 kays a week?

[joel0407]

200km? and the rest. I do 200 easy and often.

Happy Days

[mudmouse]

I read an article (i think in AMCN) of a group of fellas riding a couple of CT-110's to Cape York - can't remember where they set off from, but it would have been 'interesting'...

They're pretty comfy but a bit slow - perfect for what they're designed to do.

As for a licence, if it's a motorcycle, you must have a motorcycle (class R) licence. I think QLD has an exemption for bikes under 50cc - you see bunches of looneys riding 49cc scooters around the Gold Coast with a clear lack of ability....

Enjoy the riding, that's a great way to get around!

[The Cone of Silence]

I go through a couple of sets of peg stops per year but you'll want to ditch the old tyres if you are going to ride like this. I run Michelin M45 tyres.

Make sure you adjust the valve clearances every service as they do walk excessivly. Maybe this is why you have starting troubles. Mine starts first kick, every time, even after it's not riden for 6 months during the wet season.

I do a service every 1000km. I always use good synthetic oil but considering it only takes less than 2 cups of oil. It's still cheap to service.

Happy Days.

Righto Joel, talk me through what 'peg stops' are and, if you have a moment, what's the process for checking and adjusting the valve clearance? I'm happy taking a motor apart; I just want to know what I'm doing before I do it and put it all back together again!

Re oil, I'm happy to get synthetic, but what type/ range?

Rode Bernard (that's his name) to the train station this morning at sunrise. Beautiful. Fresh, but beautiful....and puts a ripper smile on one's dial having a razz about first thing!