The Hodaka Club Forum

The Hodaka I picked up recently has a frame # A-64xxx indicating that its an Ace 100. I was under the impression that it was an Ace 100b due to it having a high front fender and different handlebars (crossbar). The engine # P53xxx also indicates that its an Ace 100. I suppose the original owner swapped these items out, but are there any other major/minor differences? The bike was manufactured in Nov. '71. Thanks.

Your would be a B+ judging by frame and engine numbers, and date of manufacture.

The 100 B had a low front fender, the B+ was the first of the Ace road bikes with a high fender. The B+ I believe also had a cushioned rear hub.

According to model chart, B+ production started at A-67613 and B production started at A-51013, so your bike should be a B model. According to the workshop manual supplement the high front fender was introduced to the B model at A-51013. The Hodaka book states that your bike is a B+. Having said that, model identification seems to be a little confusing depending on the source of information, especially with the "non-existent" 100 A.

I would call your bike a B+.

Looks like it is the Ace 100B+, going by the Strictly Hodaka site. The Hodaka Parts ID site was what I was going by, and apparently they have faulty info. Thanks, JackM

Your Hodaka is what ever you would call it. To look at the data available. Hodaka parts usage book printed July 1971 lists the 100B Model 92B begining with Frame A51013. Letter from Pacific Basin Trading Company to Hodaka Dealers lists the 92B frame to begin with A51013. The same letter lists the 92B+ to begin with frame A67613. Model Production sums from PABATCO Document states 3,400 92B+'s were made, Two batches were made in 1972 the first batch started with frame A67613 and ended with frame A70212 or 2,600 , the second batch started with frame A72813 and ended with frame A73612 or 800. 800 + 2600 = 3,400. The complete Hodaka master parts list Volume II lists the 100/B (92B) starting frame number 51013. The Hap Jones Blue Book From January 1973 Lists the new Ace 100/B plus for $567 retail. So what is the difference between 92B and a 92B+ is their any? My first brochure lists a ACE 100-B as (92-A) printed 2-15-70 Japan. My next brochure lists the ACE 100-B as (92B) printed U.S.A. 4-01-71. My last brochure lists a 100 B+ (92B) printed in japan in 1972. Changes to B+from the 100B (1) Ignition system KokusaN Denki fa-4309. (2) Primary Drive ratio 2.82:1. (3) 423 chain. (4) Gear Ratio 14t/56t 4.00:1. (5) Gear Ratio Overall gear 1st- 39.48, 2- 24.14, 3- 16.92, 4- 13.42, 5- 11.28. ----------Clarence

Trip odometer too.

The most obvious outward signs that I know of between the Ace B and the Ace B+ are the following (there are probably more that I didn't think of). The forks (the B had non adjustable forks with a welded in damper rod, the B+ had a fork that could be adjusted up or down in the triple clamps and the damper rod could be removed via a bolt in the bottom of the fork). The B had a low front fender and the B+ had a high front fender. The B had a 4 bolt non-cushioned rear hub and the B+ had a 6 bolt cushioned hub. The B had a smaller speedo without a trip meter while the B+ had a slightly larger speedo with a trip meter.

Too add to my last post, because of the different rear wheel/hub, the B+ had a slightly different swingarm with larger gusseting and the axle cutout was larger to fit a 15mm axle as opposed to the B's 12 mm axle.

What data can you refer me to? My ACE 100B workshop manual supplement copyright 1971 does not align and list the items you mention for the Hodaka (92-B). -----Clarence

The Ace 100B was produced in1971 and first showed up in the blue book as a new model in 1971. The Ace 100B+ were produced in 1972 and first hit the blue books as a new model in 1973. --------------Clarence

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the forum, but I've appreciated all the great info and advice I've been able to glean from the posts. I have a similar question about the differences between the Ace models. I've been in the process of rebuilding an Ace 100. I had what I believed to be an Ace 100B+, frame #56XXX mfg '71 which was the original foundation for the project. I then acquired an older 100B frame #49xxx mfg '70. In the process of piecing a bike together from these two donors I've received an education on the various comparability issues (clutch springs, wheel bearings...etc). I just finished rebuilding the rear wheel. One hub was the older 4 hole non-cushioned version and the one I rebuilt was the 6 hold cushioned. When I tired to reinstall the wheel (from the B+) onto the 100B frame (only because it's in better shape than the B+) I noticed that the swingarm appears to be about 1/4 inch to narrow at the axle cutout, compared to the B+ swing arm. I initially thought that maybe the swingarm had gotten bent or something, but I've actually got another B+ that's running, which I've been using as a blueprint to put the other one together, and it matches the width of the other one. So does this swingarm width difference between B and B+ sound correct? Given the colorful history this bike appears to have had, I wouldn't be surprised if the swingarm is from another model entirely. It also wouldn't surprise me that the axle isn't fitting because I screwed up the re-assembly of the wheel and hub. Any help in identifying where the confusion is would be appreciated.
Thanks
Marlin

The model 92B+ began with frame number A67613
The model 92B began with frame number A51013
The first 100B started with frame number A38713 but the agreement on model number for it is uncertain.
They were all referred to as 100B's but that was not the model number. -------------Clarence

This clears some stuff up for me (kinda). To add to the confusion, I have a betweener- 1970 Ace 100B A44975. Came with the crossbar handlebars and no trip on the speedo, and a low front fender.

I like the orange seat, ride that one. Clean enuff for that.

I like the orange seat, ride that one. Clean enuff for that.

Those bars are "clubmans" mounted upside down. Flip em over, bikini fairing and a low pipe and you have a cafe' bike.

Thanks! I put those Clubman’s on a couple days ago, but in my excitement to slap em on, I had no clue they were upside down. I kinda like them this way, but now I HAVE to flip them and feel the difference. For the past couple weeks it’s been my daily driver for my 2.5 mile round trip commute to work here in Denver.

So was there a difference between the swingarm width in the B and B+ models or am I looking at the swingarm for a entirely different model, like a Super Rat or Dirt Squirt?

The old Ace 100 with the 3 bolt rear sprocket has a smaller diameter rear axle than the later Ace with the 6 bolt rear sprocket. This means the swingarms are different to accommodate the the different axle diameters.

Brian

Here`s a Huge problem. Paul Stannard did a You Tube Video where he CLEARLY states that the B+ was made in 1971 and 1972. Frame #A51013 SHOULD be a 1971. Is it a B or a B+ ? Clarence says the B+ is 1972. Paul says 1971 and 1972. SEE!!! You listen to one person and you feel like a Moron when you repeat the wrong information. Clarence has Dealer Documents. Let`s listen to him! Joe Ormonde.

In the book, there is a chart compiled by Ed Chestnut from Pabatco documents. Frame # 51013 is a 1971 B+. The last B frame number is 51012 and is a 1970. 1972 B+ starts with frame # 67613.

That same info is also reflected in the ID sheet that Bruce Young produced.

I trust both ED and Clarence. Still. In one Document it`s a B+ and another a B. I scratch my head! Joe.

And in one there was a 100A listed....

Nice to crack open THAT can of worms, Thrown!