Save or Restore?

[byarwin]

I received a phone call from a stranger Friday night asking if I would be interested in a Hodaka motorcycle. I agreed to meet up with him on Saturday to take a look. He knew nothing of the bikes history. Purchased it on a whim to try make a few bucks. I believed its a 76 Wombat, and it is frame# M31689, engine# Q15024. After I purchased it and he asked me if I planned on restoring it? Good question!

Since we'll be working on fully restoring the STEEN I think I'll slowly do a save on this one. Purchasing replacement/missing parts as I find them.

How do you guys make your decision on a save or restore?

[socalhodaka]

lets see a picture

[thrownchain]

For the most part restoring it is saving it, just at a higher level. If you're gonna do a restore on the Steen, and gather parts as you find them for the Wombat, when you get to the point you're ready to restore the Wombat you should have most if not all the parts you need. That and the insight you gather doing the Steen will make the next rebuild a lot easier. (and quicker). As to personal choice on save or restore, to me it's the end use. Don't do a museum quality restore if you're gonna ride it hard, you'll end up redoing it again, or you may make it too nice to ride.

[matt glascock]

There are four basic categories to consider. Which you choose depends on your ultimate plans for the bike. 1) Parting out - in my opinion the worst option by far although I understand its necessity and have benefited from bike salvage operations and other folks who do this. Its particularly sad when this is done to a nearly complete bike (like yours) with great restoration potential. Certain hard to find parts sell immediately for big bucks but stripping them off and selling them makes the bike as a whole less desirable for someone who wants to restore the entire bike. That's why there are thousands of bare Hodaka frames laying around. 2) Preservation - basically halting the process of deterioration so that the bike can be salvaged one day. Getting the bike out of the elements, filling the engine cases with kerosene, de-rusting, blocking off openings, covering entire bike with a rust inhibitor will keep the bike in a restorable condition for future restoration effort. 3) Rider restoration (my personal favorite) - this refers to restoring the bike to a functional and dependable machine that can safely be put back into service while preserving the patina that has evolved over the past 40-50 years. All operating systems are brought up to mechanical and functional spec. In many instances, stripping the frame is required to inspect and repair welds and rustproof. I like to leave the frame as is if it can be determined that it is structurally sound. 4) "Sky's the limit" restoration - This can be the concourse restoration of a bike to showroom fresh condition or a highly customized, purpose built racing machine with many hand-crafted parts and custom designed operating systems (See "Day 1" project and "2 the Max" project on this forum and the Racerclam bikes which are truly "Works bike" builds for examples). Like Thrownchain says, determine your goal for the bike then build accordingly.

[socalhodaka]

Thats perfect, just a good cleaning and ride it. Patina is good

[Bruce Young]

I agree with Matt and Bill, that
bike is a good starting point for you., it lots of satisfaction to hear it start up for the first time and stick it in gear and ride it. Maybe not far at first but you will always remember that moment. Great find, Parts are out there and with a little digging you will be happy camper without spending a lot of money. Bruce Young Hodakapartsidaho.com

[viclioce]

Looks like a Model 03 Wombat to me! Seems you’re lacking the lighting package if you go full on restore. Does it have a main harness? It also appears to still have the dual cable throttle assembly which means the oil tank/pump may still be in use. Can’t tell from the picture ifvit has the correct perch for the brake.

[byarwin]

Wow thank you all for the wealth of knowledge you've shared. I'm a longtime wheelchair user so riding them when finished is only a dream. My business was designing and modifying handicapped equipment for years. Now I have the time to bring the toys of my youth back. Though I raced the other manufacturers bikes. I'll blame it on youth... My friends had Hodakas and many still store their Hodakas out in the barn. I think that's why I like the little bikes. And it's both physical and mental therapy working on them. I've tried to find my old YZ's and RM's. It appears they're lost to history.

I've purchased three bikes in the last year. I would hate to see any of them torn down into parts bikes. The idea of bringing them back to a complete, reliable rider rings a bell with me. I think that's where I'll focus the rebuilds.

The Wombat has no spark. Wiring is in kind of a cluster to say the least. The engine has great compression and seems to shift well. The oil tank is still intact and doesn't appear to be cracked. There are mismatched foot pegs and to me the roughest part may be the exhaust pipe. It's rusted completely through on lower bend. I was so excited the exhaust was all original and then.. it'll take some work.

It's great to follow along with all the projects posted. I believe I have a ton to learn but you guy's make it possible by sharing on this form. It may be one of my better bad habits... Thanks again!

[Bullfrog]

That is definitely a Model 03 Wombat. Nifty scooter. Very good suspension and primary kick start. Probably the best "all around" power for an every day street/trail bike that Hodaka ever made. Note that automotive exhaust "U bends" can be found at local muffler shops to do the head pipe replacement . . . a relatively straight-forward repair.
Ed

[matt glascock]

Way to go, man! Rider resto is a great call. You can't "build" patina - only time and use can do that. You can take a 1961 Fender Jazz bass with 50% of the Lake Placid blue paint chipped off and cigarette burns on the headstock and give it the best urethane paint job on the planet. You also have just taken a $18,000 bass and turned it into a $3,000 bass. Like Kelly says, "patina is good". And we'll all love watching the project evolve. There are people on this forum who could tear down and rebuild that sweet 03 Wombat blindfolded that will help every step of the way and when you are done, you will have an insanely cool bike. That, my friend, is sheer awesomeness.

[Bruce Young]

Hello inspiring story, please do not give up on riding, not racing again, I know for a fact that the Factory Honda racer David Bailey, after his accident was able to build a riding device for his Honda, he rides all the time, Also I have seen people after horrific accidents make devices that allow them to rider their Horses again, never give up, and always remember that the Hodaka World is the most giving group in Vintage Motorcycle History, if you need a question answered or parts help, please always ask, don,t ever give up. Bruce Young Hodakapartsidaho.com

[matt glascock]

So true, Bruce. I ride with a guy who lost his right hand in a farm accident. He rides with an extension fitted to the right bar that mates with the stump, a Reckluse clutch, and has the gasser and front brake mounted on the left bar. He also routinely destroys me on single track. I'm still finding his roost in my teeth from a hare scrambles we ran last fall. Dare to dream and anything is possible.

[Bruce Young]

Matt, one more little info of note I had a customer in Montana, Mr Patlock whom is legally blind, he completely restored his ACE 100+ to tip top condition, he hand polished everything he could on the bike, brought it to Hodaka Days several years ago and won a trophy in the Hodaka Show, he and his wife where amazing. IT was a complete and beautiful restoration. I have picture to prove it on my web site. Hodakapartsidaho.com Bruce Young If one believe,s in their selves anything can be achieved.

[matt glascock]

Word, Brother! I'll check out the pic.

[byarwin]

I believe Emerson was the one to coin "life is a journey, not a destination." It's the same with restoring the motorcycles. Or in my case building a hand controled Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000 X. Rest assured I'm still out there playing with the young ones. Now the toys just happen to have a cage. Over the years I've helped several others in my situation build their UTV's as well. It's very rewarding to open the doors to adventure for an individual that thought it was lost forever. Thus proving life is a journey if you keep living it. I'll attach a few picturs of the Wildcat sporting a portable personal lift. It was requested by a wife of a disabled Veteran.

[matt glascock]

Just amazing!!

[byarwin]

Just amazing!!

Thanks! Off to Wyoming to pick up the STEEN. I hope it quits snowing long enough for me to sneak in and out...

[viclioce]

Don’t do it!! You’ll end up like this!!! Victor

[thrownchain]

Victor, you just need a bigger garage.