Hello everyone! Just like the subject states, I found the exact year and color of the same bike I had from the age of 14 through 18. I always tinkered on my old bike, but I can't remember it ever needing anything because it was so dependable. I rode around the 60 acres we had almost every single day. Reminiscing, I got on marketplace and found one with 1600 original miles that starts on the first kick. My dad and I(he's now 70 and I just turned 47), picked it up Sunday night.

Let me tell ya! the sounds, the smells, everything about it takes me back. I've considered going through the whole restoration process including rechroming, but leaving the tank patina intact. Any opinions on that? I'm tossing around the idea of building a carrier for it on my Scout. I added some other pics so you get the context of why I needed this bike again.

Great story!

My opinion is replace brake shoes (even if they look okay) and do any obvious maintenance... Done.

They're only original once...

I'm with MarkT, it's only original once and if you're going to ride it may as well have it in rider condition. I would consider doing the Clearmax 2k (rattle can two stage clear coat) over the painted bits to keep them preserved from moisture and more scratch resistant.

Renew brake shoes and leave the rest as is - (maybe a detail clean and check ) - and enjoy...…...

It looks great, don't restore it like Mark said only original once. Put a rack on it like it came with and service it and ride it like you stole it.
If you restore it you won't want to ride it , I did that once.

Thanks for the advice, Guys! I will keep it original and just clean up what I can. I appreciate it!

Great story and great bike.
I have a CT1-C like yours which I'm restoring because it was in pretty bad shape and I have a CT1-B which will just get a clean-up and enjoy as it is in reasonable original condition.
Given how tidy yours looks I'd do exactly as the other guys have said and enjoy it as it is

Have to agree with the majority here. Brakes, wheel bearings and anything that leaks. I have a DT3 and a RT1b that were both wrecks when I bought them. Both are now over restored and kind of hard to enjoy without worrying about damaging them. Would love to find one like yours. Great story to go with it as well.
Cheers

I recently picked up the same bike and I made the same decision. Clean it up, fix what's broken, and ride it.

Thanks, Guys. Oh what a beauty, Schu! What I wouldn't give for that pillion set up!