So I’ve been itching to get my hands on a Honda Trail 90 for ages, right? But man, those prices at dealerships and even used shops… crazy high! Decided my next project was finding one cheap online without getting scammed.
Started With the Obvious Stuff (and Got Nowhere)
First stop? Big name websites everyone uses. Typed in “Honda Trail 90 for sale.” Yeah, huge mistake. Prices were nuts – like people thought their beat-up bike was made of gold. Felt totally discouraged after scrolling through pages of overpriced junk or bikes that looked way too nice (and pricey) for my budget. Needed to dig deeper.
Time to Get Sneaky With Search Terms
Changed tactics. Got real specific:“Honda ct90 non-running”, “Trail 90 project bike”, even tried stuff like “old small Honda motorcycle barn find.” This helped! Suddenly, hidden gems popped up amongst the overpriced stuff – bikes folks just wanted gone, maybe missing parts or not running. My kinda deal.
Forgot About Fancy Sites, Hit the Classics & Local Gems
Ditched the big auction sites mostly. Focused hard on:
- Craigslist: Yeah, it’s old school. Searched nearby areas AND smaller towns folks forget about. Found a guy 2 hours away with one covered in dust in his shed! Had to haggle, but the price was right.
- FB Marketplace Groups: Joined super specific ones like “Vintage Honda Trail Bikes” and “Project Motorcycle Swap.” People there actually know what a Trail 90 is worth realistically. Less dreamers, more sellers wanting them gone.
Learned Some Weird Tricks
- Checking late Sunday nights / early Mondays seemed best. Folks clear out garages on weekends and just wanna post fast by Sunday.
- “Cash today” is magic. Told sellers I could come right now with cash. Made several back off asking stupid high prices when they realized I was serious.
- NEVER skipped looking in person. Pictures lie! Rust hides! That “ran when parked” CT90? Engine was seized solid. Glad I checked before paying.
Finally Snagged One!
Took weeks of checking daily, driving to see duds, and annoying lowballs. Ended up scoring a ’78 CT90 from a FB group dude. Bike wouldn’t start, tank was rusty, seat torn… perfect project! Paid way less than half what most “running” ones cost online. Messy as hell, but we got it loaded into the truck.
Was it easy? Heck no. But finding a legit cheap Trail 90? Gotta be stubborn, search weird terms, hit local spots hard, and move fast with cash. Worth every damn minute of the hunt now that it’s mine.
