The Hodaka Club Forum

I picked up my dad's 1976 Road Toad this weekend. I cannot wait to start tearing into this thing and trying to get it back to its glory days. This toad sat for close to 30 years. At about year 15, my young dumb self got it out of the shed and begged my dad to drive it. He said I could give it try knowing dang well it wouldn't run. We put gas and oil in and it started on the second kick. I managed to ride it for about 20 minutes until it 'died' and it has sat since.

Everything is still with the bike right down to the original tool kit in the tool box under the luggage rack (off in the picture). I was wondering what the norm is for restoring things like the seat that has the Hodaka branding on them? The seat is rough, and obviously I could just get it re-upholstered but didn't know if that was a big no no as you'd lose the Hodaka print on the back?

I'm sure I'll be bugging you all soon with more questions

I think the cover and foam is still available from hodaka-parts.com. You'll need to make sure the oil injection system is functional before trying to start it again. The clutch plates are probably stuck together by now. The tires may be still okay for going for a test ride but they're probably pretty hard by now and will start to crack once you ride on them.

I know how anxious you must be to go for a ride, but take some time to make sure everything goes round and round freely and isn't going to wreck any other expensive and scarce parts - including you - before you go for it.

Thanks for the reply! I'll look into the cover and foam on hodaka parts. Yeah the oil injection system is one of the first things on the check list. The clutch was a little goofy when it ran last time. I seem to recall one of the gears not working at all. The tires are definitely in rough shape and will have to be replaced before the riding moves from my yard to the road.

Despite how bad it looks in the picture, mechanically it seems to be fairly sound and the engine is still free. It'll be a while before I'm foolish enough to start it back up!

They are great bikes to restore! If you can get at least a parts manual, you’ll have information on assembly order and part numbers! I have one and the Wombat shop Nanual. Between the 2, it provides good info! I’m working on restoring an original fender now. Victor

By joining the Club, do you mean the fact you have a Hodaka or are you really joining the club? http://www.hodakaclub.org

viclioce wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:52 am They are great bikes to restore! If you can get at least a parts manual, you’ll have information on assembly order and part numbers! I have one and the Wombat shop Nanual. Between the 2, it provides good info! I’m working on restoring an original fender now. Victor

I saw hodaka parts carried the owners manual and the service booklet. Those are the only things that my dad didn't keep . I suppose that might be the first purchase.

Newbie question probably but from what I gather yours with the engine painted black would be an older model? Assuming it's factory. I was doing a bit of reading on the tires and understand that the 02 models have slightly bigger tires than the one you linked? Have you found any tires that work consistently well with yours? I'm definitely going to be in need as these have a lot of cracking. They hold air at the moment but I'd be hesitant going faster than a jog lol

Also one more newb question. Where in gods name can I find the paint code for the retina burning green? One of you Hodaka fanatics on here has to have it squirreled away somewhere...I hope!

socalhodaka wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:34 am By joining the Club, do you mean the fact you have a Hodaka or are you really joining the club? http://www.hodakaclub.org

I should have worded that better. I mean joining the club in that I finally own a Hodaka!

toadroad88 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:36 am

socalhodaka wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:34 am By joining the Club, do you mean the fact you have a Hodaka or are you really joining the club? http://www.hodakaclub.org

I should have worded that better. I mean joining the club in that I finally own a Hodaka!

You should consider spending the 24 bucks and really join the club. You wil then have access to all the newsletter back issues with ton of help info.

I screwed up my last reply from mobile so editing this comment so not a duplicate. Thanks for your help everyone.

socalhodaka wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:25 am

toadroad88 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:36 am

socalhodaka wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:34 am By joining the Club, do you mean the fact you have a Hodaka or are you really joining the club? http://www.hodakaclub.org

I should have worded that better. I mean joining the club in that I finally own a Hodaka!

You should consider spending the 24 bucks and really join the club. You wil then have access to all the newsletter back issues with ton of help info.

I’ll definitely look into that. Thanks for the heads up!

My Road Toad is a 1975 Model 99. In 1976 they changed the tank, some of the carb jetting and stopped painting the motor black. Other than that they are virtually the same bike!

Kelly is right! Actually JOIN The Hodaka Club! $24 is a very small price to pay for great support and even a few discounts available, plus the quarterly publication of Tge Resonator Revisited and access to All the previous issues and the technical articles in them. Victor

Your best bet for a color sample will be inside the air cleaner cover or in the tunnel of the gas tank. The green fades at different rates based on exposure. I start with a Mopar color from the the 1969 or 70 muscle car era called Sassy Grass Green. You can tint from there if you are trying to match original, but if your painting everything its a pretty good representation of the color. I have also heard it called Limerick Green or Lime green.

Regarding tires, I get mine from BikeBandit.com lately. I use the Shinko SR241 tires. Nice trials or enduro tire, what ever you call them. Here’s a photo of the tread pattern on an 18” rear tire! Victor

Awesome! Thanks for the reply on the tires. Good stuff.

Welp...starting off well. This is my wiring harness under the seat and I broke 4 bolts trying to remove the luggage rack . One a side note, this sticker from the original dealer is still on the bike which is kind of cool. Once it's running it looks like some wiring is in order.

Dealer info is cool. Recently purchased a sign that came from a dealer in Roanoke Virginia. Trying to find information, pictures, or advertisements related. I am really hoping to see a picture of the sign hanging at the dealership. The dealership name was Mark’s cycle sales Roanoke Virginia . Any info helpful. There’s a posted list of Hodaka dealers Mark cycle sales was not on it.

So, how are you coming along with it? Haven’t heard anything in a while! Victor

Hey Victor, it's going well. I haven't had as much time to work on it as I'd hoped and I don't have a great set-up or all the tools needed for something like this yet so I'm picking away at it to make it not so expensive. I've got the tank, battery cover and air cleaner all sanded and ready for paint. Swapped out the cables, cleaned the carb, deleted the oil pump, and replaced bunch of stripped out screws. I'm basically doing everything I can before I crack the cylinder open to check rings vs re-bore. Figured if I spend a few hundred now it's easier to convince my wife that sending it to Missouri for engine work is worth it .

I just didn't tell her till it came back. And it looks so good when I un boxed it that even my wife was impressed. Just a thought...albert

Here’s a suggestion about the wiring harness. Go to
http://www.cycleterminal.com/bullet-terminals.html

and buy a kit of bullet terminals. Redo each one so you know you have good connections. I did mine like that and all my wiring works! Victor