The Hodaka Club Forum

What brand, were the original equipment tires used on Hodaka? Clarence

Nitto, at least on mine.

Ditto; Nitto.

Every Hodaka I’ve purchased, if they had tires on them, had Nittos. I haven’t found anything else, unless the bike was a recent rider with newer tires. My Ace B+ fell into that catagory and had all knobbies front & rear. But, the rear rubs the chain guard. Victor

I should have said on the first bikes hodaka produced, what was listed as original equipment. ?

Cheng Shin

not yet. Clarence

I have an Ace 90 roller that has Inoue Rubber Company (IRC) tires. I don't know if they are original equipment but there they are.

Matt we used and sold IRC tires in the day. I did not know the answer to the trivia question but it is listed among the first correspondence letters sent, from PABATCO to the dealers. Dealer bulletin 111 (3) addresses the MK11 hodaka 90, signed by Chuck L Swanson Parts and Service Manager. Any trivia questions answered in 4 days ??---- Clarence

Makes sense, most my yamagchi first had Yokohama's but went to check some other tires and are INDOU and with blank diamond logo. This was good test as IRC's are more available to if tread correct, can use them and technically OEM. The F1 has 1 Nitto back and Taisei Front. The latter being a new name not heard of previously. No idea if was OEM or replacement though.

No correct answer yet. The answer will be listed tomorrow. --- Clarence

round rubber tires- rrt

Wow Clarence. This is a tricky one. I'm going out to the shed and looking again.

Kenda?

Clarence

Something tells me to submit Metchabechi. If I am correct, please correct my spelling. I do remember it starting with the letter M.

you are correct Mitsuboshi. I did not remember this. I think it is in the first info sent from PABATCO A 55RB Hodaka racing engine net $92.50. Hodaka 5S engine $76.50 and a Hodaka ace 80 engine $84.95. 2.75X17 tire $7.15 net, list $11.45. Net NGK plugs $.58 each. List on piston $3.50 rings $2.30 -------- Clarence

I didn’t even know Mitsubishi made tires! I know they make pretty lousy electrical connectors, as demonstrated on Suzuki cruisers! But tires? Wow.

Interesting. I believe that Mitsubishi manufactured the Alumiferric cylinders for Hodaka.

Great question Clarence!
I figured Richard Schwarz would get it correct. My #9 Ace 90 still has the original Mitsubishi tires.

I think the spelling could be MitsubOshi, not Mitsubishi. Other than that they have or had a factory in Indonesia that made lots of bicycle tires, I don't know anything about them other than that the products were good quality. I've yet to see a Mitsubishi tire but maybe it's the same company. ??? Check that sidewall and see how they spelled it.

Jpark you are absolutely correct!!

The first correspondence letter from PABATCO spells it Mitsubishi my error I&o are close together??--Clarence

Great stuff guys. Nice to see you back in the mix, Paul!

In a 1972 document, Pacific Basin Trading Company gave credit of success to itself, Hodaka Industrial Company and Fuji Motors Corporation. Not referencing Dollars what credit was given to each? The answer does not Need to be exact. The answer will be shared on Saturday. --------------- Clarence

Hmm...here goes:
PABATCO - design, R&D, import, distribution
Hodaka - manufacturing
Fuji - manufactures motorcycles through which PABATCO established trail bike market and dealership network.