The Hodaka Club Forum

Wowiee! I just pulled the clutch. First thing - no kidding - darn near 3mm thick 6-shim stack. Good sign! Clutch basket had only a few very superficial grooves. Once I got the plates unstuck, they were all nearly brand new. Clutch screws had never been turned since the day they left the factory. Fellas, I think I just stumbled on to the closest thing to a fresh-from-the-crate 01 DS left on planet Earth. When I get my camera back, I'll try to put together a little photo essay.

Might be a nice Resonator piece, Matt...
Bob

For sure, Bob. I feel like a kid on Christmas Day with this bike. My camera is stuck in Moose Lake, MN - along with my truck, trailer, two race bikes, clothes, chain saw, etc. etc. The good news - 4th out of 14 in 50+ open hare scramble. The bad - steering column on my truck broke at highway speed. Scary. I will get to it once I get my camera back and come up with a nice piece for the RR. Thanks for the suggestion, Bob.

Can’t wait to see some pics of this bike. And the story behind it.
Broken steering column? That sounds very scary! What kind of truck?

Glad you’re OK Matt! Could have been a lot worse!!!

glad your ok never good to break down . my grandson and i live about 2 hours west of there and just to help you out if you need somebody to go start and ride your bikes i would like to volunteer. there is a place to ride half a mile out of moose lake, the " soo pits trails" Five miles of trails curve and twist through a landscape of northern hardwoods. The highlight is the pit, where piles of materials and steep rims are ideal for climbing and scrambling", from the DNR website ... just to help a brother hodaka..en out....albert

Thanks fellas. Yes, suddenly having no meaningful steering at highway speed is a sickening feeling. All's well that ends well. Albert, I've driven past that Soo Line Trail a million times. Is there some good riding to be had there? It would be fun to arrange a meet and some trail riding there. Our place is about 20 miles north of Grand Rapids.

Several years ago my grandson and I were leaving Athena as Hodaka Days ended on a hot, sunny afternoon. We fueled up at a McDonalds & hit the freeway for our 6 hour drive home. Full bellies, 90 degree day. About 30 minutes out of Pendleton, I (literally) woke up to discover our trailer-pulling Subaru was completely off the highway, on the shoulder at 75 mph. Despite my dissolute life, someone/something must’ve been looking after us. I managed to bring the rig down, although the 3-rail trailer was upside down, and the two Hodakas - still strapped together - were parked on the interstate.
A wonderful Hispanic family helped us right the trailer and reload the bikes.
Slow, anxious drive from there. Grandson stayed WIDE awake after that.

Yikes Bob. Looks like I got off relatively easy. I'm a firm believer in the notion "that which does not kill us makes us stronger". Then again, considering the way I've lived my life, I should be the second coming of Charles Atlas. Hmm...