Hodaka trials bikes

norton73 · 04-29-2005, 05:08 AM

While researching some info about a possible future purchase of yet another Bultaco trials bike, I stumbled across this page about some Hodaka trials bikes. I never knew Hodaka made trials models, might have to look for one.

the rest of the page;http://www.homestead.com/mavt/Gallery.html

greatnortoni · 07-19-2009, 10:19 AM

These are most likely "one - offs" by the famous Harry Taylor, probably produced as a prototype/fun for the engineer bike.
I doubt seriously that you will find anything, unless it was something that somebody made, I don't think there was anything official from Hodaka.
greatnortoni

. I never knew Hodaka made trials models, might have to look for one.

the rest of the page;http://www.homestead.com/mavt/Gallery.html[/quote]

roadholder · 07-19-2009, 08:09 PM

My local dealer had a couple of these on the floor way back when. A couple made it out to local trials events.

I think it was marketed as the "Challenger" model if I recall correctly.

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Putts · 07-19-2009, 09:25 PM

Really, just ...

busybone · 07-20-2009, 03:15 AM

In 1967 Hodaka made some of those Trial 250 SE which have been very similar to the Kawasaki KT 250

darmst6829 · 07-20-2009, 09:01 AM

[quote=norton73]While researching some info about a possible future purchase of yet another Bultaco trials bike, I stumbled across this page about some Hodaka trials bikes. I never knew Hodaka made trials models, might have to look.

Hodaka never made trials bikes as far as I know. The solid green bike is Ed Chestnuts. One of the factory guys made a few prototype frames. Ed worked for Hodaka and this is one of the frames.
This is a link to the 2008 AHRMA event at the "Farm" in Chehalis WA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5wIX...eature=related

That litlle uphill bit at the end was slippy!

4runner · 01-30-2012, 11:42 AM

Here is the Harry Taylor Trials bike with Harry back in the day

4runner · 01-30-2012, 11:56 AM

And here is how she sits today

Twin-shocker · 01-30-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busybone

In 1967 Hodaka made some of those Trial 250 SE which have been very similar to the Kawasaki KT 250

Thats so close to a KT250 that it uses frame, fork, and wheels which are exactly the same as the KT...................lol

Sting32 · 01-30-2012, 08:03 PM

ya sure that isnt a KT engine? looks like custom paint to me, to look like hodaka? I mean the head has the fins shaved for where the normal pipe went over the right front of the head, like that engine does... Im scanning google, for rt side KT's engine shots. Ok my bad looks for like an RL250 engine, lol (suzuki) but I wont know...

Miguel Sanchez · 01-31-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sting32

ya sure that isnt a KT engine? looks like custom paint to me, to look like hodaka? I mean the head has the fins shaved for where the normal pipe went over the right front of the head, like that engine does... Im scanning google, for rt side KT's engine shots. Ok my bad looks for like an RL250 engine, lol (suzuki) but I wont know...

It's a Hodaka 250 (either ED or SL) in a KT Kawasaki. Trust me - I know the guy who built it and won best trials bike at Hodaka Days 2 years ago.

Hodaka never officially built a trials bike - period. Yes, Harry and others experimented with a few using modified stock frames or one-off frames built by Leon Wilbanks back in the day, but none were produced/sold/anything. Ed still has his, Paul Stannard has one of them, Harry has one, and there may be one or two more around somewhere.

Beyond that, there are quite a few modern Hodaka trials bikes around, having been built over the last 5 or 8 years. I have one that I built in '06 and I know a dozen or so other folks with them across the US.

Thumpermeister · 01-31-2012, 10:23 PM

We discussed this in the A-Z thread way back. I remember these bikes, just not very well! Had to do a search!
Very little out there except for a photo gallery blurb at strictlyhodaka.com with a project bike stating...
"Dave's bike is a rare Hodaka Challenger Trials bike made by Gemini Industries in VanCouver B.C. - very cool"

I don't know Hodakas, however it was (yikes!) 35 years ago I saw one...not a recent trials conversion.
Perhaps a Canadian (or other) market kit frame job along the Cotton/Wassell/Penton lines?
I remember the longer more slender alloy tank on it as pictured above in the thread however.

LC4Dakar · 02-02-2012, 08:00 AM

There was a paper floating around about 1968-1969 on how to convert a Hodaka into a trials bike. It had instructions on a bunch of mods to the bike, some minor, some fairly major. I think it might have been based on a magazine article. I used to have a copy, but it was lost in a fire in 1972.

roadholder · 02-18-2012, 10:08 AM

Funny, just after viewing this thread again a flyer came out for this region's annual Ormstown (Quebec) Vintage Off-Road festival, with featured brand no less then Hodaka!
If there are any more Challenger model trials bikes around hopefully one will surface!

04-29-2005, 05:08 AM	#1
norton73 ^OP drinkin' Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Beautiful Downtown Springville, Alabama Oddometer: 8,075	Hodaka trials bikes While researching some info about a possible future purchase of yet another Bultaco trials bike, I stumbled across this page about some Hodaka trials bikes. I never knew Hodaka made trials models, might have to look for one. the rest of the page;http://www.homestead.com/mavt/Gallery.html __________________ Loose nut holding the handlebars He’s one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath, always trust your cape. Guy Clark "The Cape"

07-19-2009, 08:09 PM	#3
roadholder Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Oddometer: 1,989	My local dealer had a couple of these on the floor way back when. A couple made it out to local trials events. I think it was marketed as the "Challenger" model if I recall correctly. __________________ Doug 2006 KTM 525 EXC 2002 Yamaha FZ1 1973 Norton Commando & other old stuff

07-19-2009, 09:25 PM	#4
Putts Gettin' there. Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Bozoman, Montana Oddometer: 10,955	Really, just ... __________________ . "Origin is right here, right now," said Klay. GTomic replied, "Many myth the point."

01-30-2012, 11:42 AM	#7
4runner Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Tri-cities E. WA. State U.S.A. Oddometer: 196	Here is the Harry Taylor Trials bike with Harry back in the day Attached Images __________________ '00 LC4E The rarest Hodaka in the WORLD

01-30-2012, 11:56 AM	#8
4runner Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Tri-cities E. WA. State U.S.A. Oddometer: 196	And here is how she sits today Attached Images __________________ '00 LC4E The rarest Hodaka in the WORLD

07-19-2009, 10:19 AM	#2
greatnortoni Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. WA. State Oddometer: 431	These are most likely "one - offs" by the famous Harry Taylor, probably produced as a prototype/fun for the engineer bike. I doubt seriously that you will find anything, unless it was something that somebody made, I don't think there was anything official from Hodaka. greatnortoni . I never knew Hodaka made trials models, might have to look for one. the rest of the page;http://www.homestead.com/mavt/Gallery.html[/quote]

07-20-2009, 03:15 AM	#5
busybone Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Aschaffenburg, Germany or Pemba, Mozambique Oddometer: 181	In 1967 Hodaka made some of those Trial 250 SE which have been very similar to the Kawasaki KT 250

07-20-2009, 09:01 AM	#6
darmst6829 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Redmond WA Oddometer: 290	[quote=norton73]While researching some info about a possible future purchase of yet another Bultaco trials bike, I stumbled across this page about some Hodaka trials bikes. I never knew Hodaka made trials models, might have to look. Hodaka never made trials bikes as far as I know. The solid green bike is Ed Chestnuts. One of the factory guys made a few prototype frames. Ed worked for Hodaka and this is one of the frames. This is a link to the 2008 AHRMA event at the "Farm" in Chehalis WA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5wIX...eature=related That litlle uphill bit at the end was slippy!

01-30-2012, 08:03 PM	#10
Sting32 Trails Evangelist Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis, Ks Oddometer: 963	ya sure that isnt a KT engine? looks like custom paint to me, to look like hodaka? I mean the head has the fins shaved for where the normal pipe went over the right front of the head, like that engine does... Im scanning google, for rt side KT's engine shots. Ok my bad looks for like an RL250 engine, lol (suzuki) but I wont know... Attached Images Sting32 screwed with this post 01-30-2012 at 08:10 PM

01-31-2012, 10:23 PM	#12
Thumpermeister roost maker Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Frosbite Falls Oddometer: 1,145	Hodaka Challenger We discussed this in the A-Z thread way back. I remember these bikes, just not very well! Had to do a search! Very little out there except for a photo gallery blurb at strictlyhodaka.com with a project bike stating... "Dave's bike is a rare Hodaka Challenger Trials bike made by Gemini Industries in VanCouver B.C. - very cool" I don't know Hodakas, however it was (yikes!) 35 years ago I saw one...not a recent trials conversion. Perhaps a Canadian (or other) market kit frame job along the Cotton/Wassell/Penton lines? I remember the longer more slender alloy tank on it as pictured above in the thread however.

02-02-2012, 08:00 AM	#13
LC4Dakar Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2006 Location: SF Bay Area and Las Cruces, NM Oddometer: 360	There was a paper floating around about 1968-1969 on how to convert a Hodaka into a trials bike. It had instructions on a bunch of mods to the bike, some minor, some fairly major. I think it might have been based on a magazine article. I used to have a copy, but it was lost in a fire in 1972. __________________ Art 1994 BMW R100GS 2005 KTM 525 MXC (plated) 1960 Lotus 7 (hey, it's a 4 wheel motorcycle!)

02-18-2012, 10:08 AM	#14
roadholder Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Oddometer: 1,989	Funny, just after viewing this thread again a flyer came out for this region's annual Ormstown (Quebec) Vintage Off-Road festival, with featured brand no less then Hodaka! If there are any more Challenger model trials bikes around hopefully one will surface!

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