Why go 4 a T80?

Hi, I've been looking to buy a H**da 90 for some time but it's hard to find a good un. Most seem to be either rotten on the back end or commanding silly prices!
So I turned my attention to the T80. The problem is they are few and far between, much less choice than a C90.
So my question is, "why should I buy a T80 over a C90?"
I appreciate there maybe some biased opinion toward the T80 on this site but what are the facts about the bike?
I would be using it mainly for commuting on A roads and around town. Whats the expected top speed of a T80? (C90 good for 45-50mph, JUST enough for A roads me thinks ) MPG? Everyday reliability any good? Read about a few losing their spark, coils dodgy?
Any advice appreciated,
Samz

Same applies to T80 as C90, both are getting old in the tooth now, & suffer from rust, The advantage for me of the T80 is the shaft drive & 4 speed gear box (although the later C90's are 4 speed). The price of the T80 seems to be going up, when I bought my current one (a J reg) in 2004 it cost me £300, today the same bike would be nearer £500 & its 8 years older. You could pick up a scrapper for spares for nothing, I got 2 off a guy & payed £10 for an ex field bike with good engine & & rear drive unit. Today even scrappers are going for several hundred quid on eBay, stupid prices. I think most of those people buying them now are restoring them as show bikes, I use mine everyday for what it was intended for. Frankly if you want a good reliable commutor bike you would be best buying a good used Honda Innova for around £800 & spares are readily available. New Townmate spares are now difficult to obtain although A J Sutton of Milton Keynes appear to have new old stock OEM parts but they are at stupidly high prices. example exhaust £200 pattern one £40. So you are basically looking at second hand parts if you break something.

samz wrote:Hi, I've been looking to buy a H**da 90 for some time but it's hard to find a good un. Most seem to be either rotten on the back end or commanding silly prices!
So I turned my attention to the T80. The problem is they are few and far between, much less choice than a C90.
So my question is, "why should I buy a T80 over a C90?"
I appreciate there maybe some biased opinion toward the T80 on this site but what are the facts about the bike?
I would be using it mainly for commuting on A roads and around town. Whats the expected top speed of a T80? (C90 good for 45-50mph, JUST enough for A roads me thinks ) MPG? Everyday reliability any good? Read about a few losing their spark, coils dodgy?
Any advice appreciated,
Samz

Hi, like you was looking for a C90, When I researched the T80 I decided I wanted the T80. I paid £550 for a 1993 k T80 with 9k on the clock and two owners from new. The paint is rusty and the wheels are corroded but it has a new mot with no advisories, a new battery, oil change and two new tyres. I am really pleased with the bike, 90mpg hard riding, because of keeping up with traffic. I get 30mph up hill, 40-45 on the flat and 50-55mph downhill. Knock 5mph off for a strong headwind. Other advantages over the C90 is the lack of a chain. The gear ratio means you have to slow down before changing down but that's fine. I love the T80 and I am really glad I bought it. I wish I could afford to have it totally rebuilt, however, I am sure with regular oil changes it will be reliable. You say you want to use A roads! I also use a roads, just be aware at times 40-45mph will be your top speed. I try to use b roads on my 9 mile trip to work. Good luck in your search

Thanks for the replys folks. I have my eye on a 1986 T80, 13k, excellent cond, (not seen it yet tho) £550. I'm concerned that 45mph top speed may make my commute alittle scary! I travel on the A59 between York and the A1. Plenty of heavy wagons on there doing 50+ can be intimidating ,especially in the wet with the spray and draft.
Perhaps a rethink, me thinks.

As much as I love my T80, I would not have bought it if I had to use a lot of A roads. Up hill with a strong headwind 40 mph is all I would get and 55mph down hill with a tail wind. I have only had mine a week and I am sure some other T80's could be a bit quicker.

You need a bike that will sit at at least 55-60 to be safe.

stevepb wrote:As much as I love my T80, I would not have bought it if I had to use a lot of A roads. Up hill with a strong headwind 40 mph is all I would get and 55mph down hill with a tail wind. I have only had mine a week and I am sure some other T80's could be a bit quicker.

You need a bike that will sit at at least 55-60 to be safe.

Got pulled over by the plod Thursday night on the M11 near Cambridge whilst on the way home from a bike club meeting on my 79cc Yamaha T80 Townmate, was only 'hopping one junction down, about 2 miles)
Plod: You should not be on the motorway with that sir.
Me: Why is that
Plod: Its under 50cc
Me: No its 79cc a Yamaha T80
Plod then asked for my driving licence whilst his collegue checked my bike out on the police computor.
After a couple of mins he came back & said everything was in order, bike was 'just in' by 29cc & I could continue on my way. 'Just a bit of advice sir, I would not ride ride it on a motorway again far too hazardous'

You should have tried to out run them John

Good to see the intelligence levels of the average plod hasn't risen since I was young. I had a great roadside discussion/argument with one when I was riding a DT50 without L plates. Him " You need to display L plates" Me "No I don't" him, "Have you passed your motorcycle test?" me, "No, but I have a full car licence"etc etc. This pantomime went back and forth for a few minutes until I managed to persuade him to radio in and check, he came back and dismissed me sharpish

what is thre law on a moped if you have passed your car test

At the time it meant that you automatically had a full moped licence. Probably not the case since the CBT came in I imagine but maybe it is the same.