Motorcycle Repair: Restoring Honda step-thru frame 90, pushrod engine, wiring harnesses

Question
I've just started breaking the bike down and was wondering about finding the correct year. Although I don't have engine or frame numbers with me, the bike is regestered as a 1968. When I pulled the wiring harness out of the frame opening it says 1965. Any idea if the harness from a '65 was used in the '68's?
Thanks
Roy

Answer
Roy, is the bike a pushrod engine or OHC engine configuration? The early wiring harnesses are dated for the year of their manufacture, which generally relates to the production year.

http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0090/trail200/trail200.htm  OR
http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0090/trail90/trail90.htm

Often, bikes are unregistered for years or not registered right away when used privately or who knows what else happens. There would not be any reason to find a 1965 harness in a 1968 machine, however, unless someone transplanted it from one to the other. There would be differences between the OHC and OHV harnesses, though, I believe.

Bill Silver