HONDA 90 HP BF90D5LRTA OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

Most 90 horsepower buyers I talk to own one of three boats: an aluminium fishing boat, a small fibreglass runabout, or a skiff that needs a lighter motor than the old two stroke that came with it. If that sounds like you, the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale on this page is worth a close look. It is the 20 inch shaft version of Honda’s 90, it is new in the crate, and we ship it anywhere in the world.

I will keep this practical. Below you will find what the model code means, the full spec sheet, how the motor runs, which boats it fits, what it costs to own, and exactly how ordering from us works. If you already know you want it, the price and the add to cart button are at the top of the page. If you are still weighing things up, keep reading.

The Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale in One Paragraph

The Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale here is a 90 HP, four cylinder, four stroke outboard built on Honda’s 1.5 litre powerhead with VTEC. It has a 20 inch (L) shaft, remote steering and power trim and tilt. It weighs 359 pounds dry, charges your batteries at 35 amps, and runs on regular 86 octane fuel. It suits boats roughly 16 to 20 feet long with a standard 20 inch transom.

Reading the Model Code on the Honda BF90D5LRTA

Honda packs a lot into its model names. When you are shopping online, those letters are the difference between a motor that bolts straight on and one that sits in your garage while you try to return it.

• BF: Honda four stroke outboard.
• 90: 90 horsepower.
• D5: the design series and type.
• L: long shaft, 20 inches (508 mm). This is the letter that matters most.
• R: remote control, so it is steered and throttled from the helm, not a tiller.
• T: power trim and tilt.
• A: variant or market code.

If your boat needs the taller 25 inch shaft, you want the Honda BF90D5XRTA instead. Same engine, longer leg. People mix these two up all the time, so measure the transom from the top edge down to the bottom of the hull, in the middle. About 20 inches means the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale here is the right one.

Specifications of the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale

You can compare every line against Honda’s own BF75 / BF90 / BF100 specification page. Please do. Anyone selling a motor this size should be happy for you to check.

What It Is Like to Run

Smooth and quiet down low

The first thing owners mention is the noise, or the lack of it. At idle the BF90 is quiet enough that you notice the water slapping the hull more than the engine. Trolling along a weed edge or drifting a flat, that is a real advantage. Fish don’t like racket and neither do the people you are fishing with.

VTEC when you push it

Honda gives the 90 a smaller engine than some rivals, 1.5 litres, and then uses VTEC to get more out of it. Two cam profiles work the intake valves. The mild one runs at low RPM for smooth, economical running. At higher RPM the engine switches to the bigger cam and pulls strongly to the top. On the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale here you feel it as a second wind in the upper rev range.

Out of the hole

BLAST, Honda’s Boosted Low Speed Torque system, briefly advances the ignition and richens the mixture when you slam the throttle forward. The boat gets up on plane faster. On a light aluminium hull with a 90 on the back, the hole shot is strong enough that you learn to hold on the first time.

Economy at cruise

Lean Burn Control uses an oxygen sensor to lean the mixture when you are holding a steady cruise. Honda says that can mean up to 20% less fuel than similar motors at cruising speed. I would not treat that as a promise for your boat, but in general the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale is one of the thriftier 90s you can buy.

Boats That Fit the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale

A 20 inch shaft 90 is the classic match for:

• Aluminium V-hull fishing boats from about 16 to 18 feet, the kind used for walleye, bass and general lake fishing.
• Mod-V and flat bottom jon boats rated for 90 HP.
• Fibreglass bass boats and small runabouts with a 20 inch transom.
• Skiffs and flats boats where light weight matters.
• Small aluminium or fibreglass centre consoles rated at 90 HP.

Always check the capacity plate on your boat before buying. It tells you the maximum horsepower and the maximum weight of engine the hull can safely carry. If your boat is rated below 90, look at the Honda BF75D4LRTA, which shares the same 1.5 litre block without VTEC. If you want a bit more power on the same size of hull, the Honda BF100A1LRT is the 100 HP version with the 20 inch shaft.

Honda has run the BF90 on dozens of real boats and posted the results, including speed, fuel burn and the prop used. The Honda Marine performance tests are the best free resource I know of for working out what a motor will do on a hull like yours.

Weight and Why It Matters on a 20 Inch Transom

At 359 pounds dry, the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale is on the light side for a four stroke 90. That matters more than people think on smaller boats. Extra weight at the transom makes the stern squat, slows the hole shot, and can make a small boat feel tippy at rest. When you repower an older aluminium boat that was built around a light two stroke, every pound counts.

If you are replacing an old two stroke 90, you may find the Honda is a bit heavier. Most boats handle it fine, but it is worth checking the transom for soft spots or corrosion before you hang a new motor on it. A new outboard on a tired transom is not a good combination.

Electrical Power for Fishing Setups

This is where the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale really earns its keep on a fishing boat. The alternator is rated at 44 amps and sends up to 35 amps to the battery. Lots of motors in this class put out far less. With a big graph, a second screen, a livewell pump, a bilge pump, navigation lights and maybe a stereo all running, you will be glad of the extra charging.

The motor is also NMEA 2000 compatible. That means engine data such as RPM, temperature, fuel flow and alarms can show up on a compatible chartplotter or fish finder. One screen instead of a row of gauges, which is handy on a small console.

Owning the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale: Running Costs

When people compare outboards, they often look only at the purchase price. That is a mistake. Over five or ten years, what you spend on fuel, servicing and repairs usually matters as much.

Fuel. The Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale runs on regular 86 octane. No premium needed. Combined with Lean Burn Control, you save money every time you fill up.

Servicing. Plan on an oil and filter change, plug check, gearcase oil change and general inspection every 100 hours or once a year. Honda designed the BF75, BF90 and BF100 so those jobs are quick to reach, so a dealer’s labour bill stays reasonable, and if you do it yourself it is a straightforward afternoon.

Timing belt. Like many Honda engines, this one uses a timing belt. It should be inspected at service intervals and replaced at the interval listed in the owner’s manual. It is not a big job, but don’t ignore it.

Anodes and water pump. In salt water, check the anodes every season. The water pump impeller should be replaced as the manual recommends, and sooner if you run in sandy or muddy water.

Honda publishes a full maintenance and operation guide for its outboards. Bookmark it.

Warranty and Reliability

Honda’s recreational warranty in the United States is five years, and Honda describes it as non-declining and transferable. Coverage in other countries depends on your local Honda Marine distributor, so check what applies where you live. Either way, the long warranty tells you something about how confident Honda is in these engines.

On reliability, I will just say this. A lot of what is inside the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale comes from Honda’s car engines: fuel injection, VTEC, engine management. Those systems have been refined over millions of vehicles. They are not experimental.

Picking a Propeller

The prop is sold separately, and that is on purpose. The right prop depends on your hull, weight and how you use the boat. As a rule of thumb, at wide open throttle with your normal load, the motor should run between 5,300 and 6,300 RPM. Under that, drop the pitch. Over it, go up.

Most BF90 setups on 16 to 18 foot aluminium boats end up somewhere in the 13 to 14 inch diameter range with pitch in the mid to high teens, but your boat decides. Honda’s prop selector gives you a sensible starting point, and we are happy to help too.

Buying the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale From Us

We sell outboard motors online to buyers worldwide. Here is what happens when you order the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale.

1. You place the order through the cart, or message us first if you have questions.
2. We confirm stock and your shipping details, and agree the delivery method with you.
3. The motor leaves in its original Honda crate, with extra protection added where it makes sense.
4. You get tracking information so you can follow the shipment.
5. You receive the crate. It is heavy, so arrange a forklift, pallet jack or some helpers.

If you are outside our home country, your local customs office may charge import duty or tax. We supply the paperwork, but those charges are paid by the buyer. A quick call to a local customs broker before you order will tell you what to expect.

Want to see more before deciding? Browse all Honda outboard motors in our store, or go straight to the 90 HP Honda outboards section. You can also look through our full shop.

Rigging Tips for the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale

I recommend a marine technician rig the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale. Remote motors need steering, controls, a wiring harness, gauges or a display, battery cables, and a fuel line with a water separating filter. All of that has to be done right.

Mounting height is the detail that gets missed most often. Start with the anti ventilation plate roughly level with the bottom of the hull, then adjust after a water test. If the prop blows out in turns, it is too high. If there is lots of spray and the boat feels slow, it may be too low.

If you are coming from a different brand, you will almost certainly need new Honda controls and a harness. If your boat already had a Honda of this generation, some parts may carry over. Send us a photo of what you have and we will tell you.

Other Honda Motors to Compare

Before you commit to the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale, it is worth a glance at the neighbours:

• Honda BF75D4LRTA: same block, 75 HP, a bit less money.
• Honda BF100A1LRT: 100 HP, 20 inch shaft.
• Honda BF90D5XRTA: the 25 inch shaft 90.
• Honda BFP60A1LRT: the 60 HP Power Thrust for heavier, slower boats.
• Honda BF50D4LRTA: for smaller hulls rated at 50 HP.
• Honda BF115D1LA: if your boat can take 115 HP.

Or browse by power: 75 HP, 50 HP, 60 HP and 115 HP Honda outboards.

Repowering an Older Boat With the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale

A lot of the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale orders we handle are repowers. Somebody has a good hull with a tired motor, and they would rather spend money on a new engine than on a whole new boat. That is usually a smart call. A decent aluminium or fibreglass hull can outlast two or three motors.

Here is the order I would do things in if it were my boat.

1. Check the transom. Push hard on it, look for cracks around the old mounting bolts, and on a fibreglass boat tap it with a small hammer. A dull thud instead of a sharp knock can mean wet wood inside. Fix that first.
2. Read the capacity plate. Make sure the hull is rated for 90 HP and for the weight of a modern four stroke.
3. Measure the transom height. 20 inches means this motor. 25 inches means the X shaft version.
4. Look at the steering. Old mechanical cable steering can be stiff or worn. It is often worth replacing when you repower, especially if the boat will see a lot of use.
5. Plan the controls and wiring. Coming from another brand, budget for new Honda controls, harness and a gauge or display.
6. Replace the fuel line and add a filter. Old hoses and primer bulbs break down. A fresh line and a water separating filter protect the fuel injection system on the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale.
7. Batteries. A new motor deserves a good battery. With 35 amps of charging, you can also run a second house battery without worrying.

Do those things and the repowered boat will feel like a new one. Skip them and you end up chasing problems that have nothing to do with the engine.

Moving From a Two Stroke to the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale

If your last motor was a carbureted two stroke, a few things will feel different straight away.

No mixing oil into the fuel. The Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale has its own oil in a wet sump, like a car. You check it with a dipstick and change it at service time.

No smoke and far less smell. Your clothes and your passengers will thank you.

Starting is simple. Turn the key and it runs, hot or cold. No choke, no fiddling.

It is quieter, often dramatically so, especially at idle and trolling speed.

Fuel use drops, sometimes by a lot, especially at cruise. Two strokes of the older type were thirsty at part throttle.

The one thing to get used to is that the four stroke may feel a little softer right off idle than an old two stroke. BLAST helps close that gap, and once the motor is on plane the VTEC 90 is strong.

Storage and Off Season Care

If you live somewhere with a real winter, or you simply won’t use the boat for a few months, lay the motor up properly. Change the oil before storage so acidic old oil does not sit in the engine. Treat the fuel with a stabiliser, or run the fuel system low if you prefer. Flush the cooling system with fresh water. Fog the engine if the manual says to for your conditions. Grease the fittings, check the gearcase oil for water, and store the motor trimmed down so water drains from the lower unit.

In hot, humid places, the risk is different. Fuel goes stale faster and corrosion works quicker. Keep the cowling on, keep the boat covered, and run the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale every few weeks if you can.

A Quick Checklist Before You Order

• Transom height measured at about 20 inches.
• Capacity plate allows 90 HP.
• You know whether you need new controls, harness and gauges.
• You have a plan for the propeller.
• You know how the crate will be unloaded when it arrives.
• If you are ordering from abroad, you know roughly what customs will charge.

Tick those off and ordering the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale is the easy part.

Questions People Ask About the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale

Is it new?

Yes. The Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale is brand new in the factory crate and has never been mounted.

Is it a tiller motor?

No. The R in the model code means remote. You steer and control it from a helm.

What transom does it need?

A 20 inch transom. For 25 inch, choose the BF90D5XRTA.

Does it come with a prop?

No, the propeller is optional. Tell us about your boat and we can suggest a size.

Can I run it in salt water?

Yes. Flush it with fresh water after each trip, check the anodes, and keep up with servicing. The Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale has a flush port that makes this easy.

How much does it weigh?

359 pounds (163 kg) dry. Add a bit for oil, the prop and rigging.

Do you ship to my country?

We ship worldwide. Tell us where you are and we will quote delivery and give you an estimated time.

Ready for the Honda BF90D5LRTA for Sale?

If your boat has a 20 inch transom, is rated for 90 HP and you want a motor that is quiet, easy on fuel and built to last, the Honda BF90D5LRTA for sale is a very safe choice. Add it to your cart, or get in touch with us first if you want to double check fit, controls or shipping. I would rather answer your questions now than have you guess.

And if it turns out a different motor suits you better, the rest of our Honda outboards are just a click away.