Honda Trail 90 Grows Up To Become The CT125

The iconic Honda Trail 90, also called the CT90, grows up to become the CT125. What’s old is new again.

If you haven’t noticed yet, this podcast is about nostalgia. You know, reliving the events, sights, smells and emotions of special memories connect to our first rides.

Said another way…it’s about allowing our memories to travel back in time and experiencing special moments all over again.

As I was thinking about today’s episode, one of my personal first ride nostalgia moments was when I was around 14 years old.

In other episodes, I’ve talked about my 1964 VW convertible being my first ride. Great memories.

But technically, my first ride was a beautiful red 1967 Honda S90. The first time I saw one it was parked on the street where I went to elementary school. I was hooked. It was the coolest thing and I decided I wanted one.

Eventually, I did get one and was so excited. My first taste of freedom! I rode it every chance I could. Even riding it on my paper route to throw newspapers from. 

During those years, my parents would go camping at Lake Texoma at least once a month. Of course, I got to take the S90 and ride around the campgrounds. Even though it was designed for the street, I sometimes rode it as if it were a dirt bike. So much fun.

Another family went camping at the same time as mine and I became good friends with their son. His name was Mike. Since he also had a motorcycle, we wound up riding together and going all over the place.

His motorcycle….a Honda Trail 90. Actually, the correct name was a CT200, which later, Honda called it a CT90 or trail 90.

It’s amazing how much punishment these bikes took and kept on running. We rode them on dirt roads, beaches, pine needle covered logging roads and more. Just like the old Timex commercial says: “it takes a lickin and keeps on tickin”

After I became an adult and moved out on my own, my parents continued to go camping around different parts of Texas.

Eventually, my dad bought a Trail 90 which he would ride around the campgrounds.

Over the years, my parents got to the point where they were physically unable to go camping. My dad passed away and my mom eventually sold the RV. But, she kept the Trail 90.

Guess what’s in my garage now? You guessed it, the Honda Trail 90 my dad used to take camping.

When researching information about my old motorcycle and the Trail 90, I discovered something old is new again. Honda introduced an updated version of the CT90. Except, it’s a CT125.

I’m going to talk about the history of the Honda trail bikes and Honda’s new model. What I found out, though, really surprised me.

So, let’s get right into it now…