The Hodaka Club Forum

Hello Hodaka World, we all know that Hodaka Days 2021 has been postponed until 2022, due to concerns about Covic 19 and its ramifications. I see several posts, of small groups or members of the Hodaka Club working on their own trail/road fun rides over the summer, If you do go on such a run, please post pictures and details about the ride and area or state it was held in, lets keep in touch. Stay safe and see all in 2022. Hodakapartsidaho.com

I’m bummed about Hodaka Days being cancelled but I completely understand.
I really hoped to try my new bike on the Bad Rock.
I bought this bike from Ron Liddle this past winter. The only thing I did to it was make it pretty. New paint, (1970 Dodge Linelight Green), got it licensed for the road and rigged up a brake light.

This is the info Ron sent me when we were making the deal.
Ron called it his “Load Toad”

Load Toad:
1-Road toad frame
2-03 Wombat swing arm
3-Early Combat Wombat rims glass bead blasted
4-Spokes are Buchanan stainless steel, spoking was done by Buchanan themselves
5-Precision suspension rear shocks
6-Custom Bronze swing arm bushings and pivot pin drilled for greasing both sides.
7-32mm Cerioni front fork tubes, rebuilt with OEM components.
8-Recent seat pan cover
9-Road Toad fenders, Front and rear
10-Fuek tank is from the late Dirt Squirt, modified with crossover nipples to equalize the fuel level. Yamaha DT1 petcock, Super Combat gas cap W/Vent hose.
11-Brakes are very fresh, the rear brake lever at hub is from the Super Combat which is longer giving increased shoe contact pressure to brake drum.
12- Tires are very good, and the OEM chain guard has been modified so that a wider rear tire can be installed with no clearance issues.
13-The chain and sprockets are fairly new, the rear drive sprocket is Aluminum the chain is the gold type best quality.
14- The front fender bracket is a reproduction made to look OEM Aluminum, Reproduction cable guide at handlebar clamps to look like OEM dirt Squirt made also of Aluminum  with rubber protectors.
15-Vintage plastic almost unbreakable? Clutch and front brake levers.
16-The engine cases are 94 Wombat
17-The cylinder and cylinder head are from the reeded 03 Wombat, with a 94 wombat STD. piston which has had the reed ports milled into the intake skirt, The reed is a three stage custom.
18-Transmission, 97A  of the mod98/97 supers, the primary gears are also the straight cut versions from the 98/97 and the large primary gear is of the cushioned type “NEW”
19-the clutch is same as ‪03/98/97 5‬ plate with the latest Kevlar friction plates, just broke in.
20-The kick start has the new improved HD kick start roller cage
21-the control rod “shifting rod” is the later style no shifter spring collapse possible.
22-The carburetor is a 28MM mikuni, same as 93 Super Rat.
23-The ignition is CDI  MZB  with 12 Volt lighting.
24-The light bulbs themselves for the lighting are not the sealed type, they are replaceable themselves.
25-exhaust pipe: Combat Wombat with all the CW proper brackets and springs.
26-Air Box: Combat Wombat, with washable aftermarket cartridge.
27-there are no damaged screws/nuts/bolts anywhere.
28-The rear tail light assemble is from the Honda MR.
29- Title is from Idaho.
30-the shifter cover is in very good shape, I rebuilt it way back and have kept it greased regularly. “It works perfectly”
31-Kick Arm:  of the Combat Wombat.
32-Nothing on this bike is “Micky Mouse” or flakey after market, it’s all Hodaka and readily available from any of the Hodaka suppliers.
33- The chain guide: Is from “Jay Lael” design, spring loaded so a bit looser chain can be run, for increased power and longer chain life.
34-HEAD LIGHT BUCKET: Toad and toad mounting brackets.
35-Steering head and fork tree is from the Suzuki 125cc bored to accommodate the 32mm Cerioni tubes.
36-Front Brake stay: Aluminum fabricated is house.
37-All cables, new and custom throttle cable to work with aftermarket quick turn throttle handle.
38-This is a “turn key” ready to ride all day motorcycle.

Wow ! That is a really well sorted nice bike.

Tether,

A TOTALLY un-selfish concern for your future satisfaction with the "Load Toad" has me thinking you should send it to me for a complete "shake down" test. Shouldn't take much more than a year . . . three years tops. (well . . . maybe . . . five years - and you'll probably have to wash it when I get done, . . . and put on new tires possibly)

Ed
PS: I've seen that scooter in action. Y'all gots a "keeper".

I managed to get a ride in now that it has warmed up and most or the snow is gone.
I live in north central Washington state near the small town of Tonasket about 20 miles from the Canadian border.
From my house it is about 15 miles to my nephew’s 1,600 acre ranch. I took the Load Toad up there yesterday. The first 12 miles is on paved county roads then gravel county road to the ranch. The ranch property is mostly open hilly ground with grass and sage brush. There are farm roads throughout and genuine “cow trails” the photo is from the highest point on the property. It’s a bit of a challenge to get there because there is no road and a lot of big rocks that like to hide behind the sage and grass. The white peak in the background is Whitestone Mountain. The ranch property extends part way up that mountain. I rode every road on the property and some cow trails although I generally stay out of the cow trails because they tend to be deep and the cows don’t walk in a very straight line.
The weather was a perfect 60 degrees and the bike performed wonderfully. The only thing that could have made it better would have been to have someone to ride with and maybe a little more time. I’m guessing the ride was about 50 miles total.

So, um . . . yer not going to take me up on my offer to do some "shake-down" testing on your new machine uh? Dang! Another really great idea dashed in it's infancy!

Sounds like a really fun ride! (Both the route and the machine!)

Ed

Ed,
Thanks for the great offer. I gave it Long hard thought, several seconds, well maybe two. The separation anxiety would be just to much.
Bob

Tether, thank you for the gentlemanly response! We both know your "long hard thought" went on for about two milliseconds -- so you softened my "let down" by a factor of 1,000! Now THAT is polite!

Hope my pic is attached. Just a few miles down river from Tonasket where the Toad pics were taken. East Wenatchee Wa. The Columbia river is at the bottom of the hill. I am surrounded by hundreds of acres of orchard and that is where I ride for now. I really like the ride thread concept. It seems like there are way more pictures of bikes torn apart being worked on ( which are invaluable ) than there are of people riding. Where do you guys ride after you get your bikes all sorted ? Black diamond singletrack ? around the farm with grandkids ? trips to the grocery store ? All of the above ? Would love to see pics of any and all rides.

nice day today, got the wombat out on some dirt roads. lots of dirt/farm roads around . and just to let you know that im well rounded i do have a nother hodaka torn apart and putting back together, stay busy it helps....albert

Looks good Albert!!! Victor

A little time ripping through our woods today on a Combat Wombat. I am not very good about stopping to take pictures, but it felt like it was the day to do it.

Nice! Hare scrambles for me next weekend. I can't wait ( and probably can't ride either, but what the hell?).

Dale, that is a good looking Combat.

And fun looking trails!!

MichiganBrian wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:21 pm Dale, that is a good looking Combat.

Thank you. It has been my track bike but I am focusing on more trail riding with it now. It has given me 6 years worth of smiles and still counting...

A full weeks worth of fun on these two! North Idaho deer trails on 11 acre property.

Looks like a blast. I’m jealous

Looks like the nest of fun. ---------------- Clarence

Chippewa National Forest fire road, northern Minnesota + well-sorted 94 Wombat = more fun than I deserve, but I'll take it. In case there are any lingering questions on the subject, I will endorse the toaster tank wombat as an exceptionally capable off-road bike with no scrimping in the fun department. I'm not sure why the picture appears rotated 90 deg but if you click on it, that will correct the orientation.

Very nice Matt! Great bike and beautiful forest riding. Just perfect.

Right on, Dale. That is the best descriptor - perfect.

I wanted to exercise a Wombat today, but where should I go? I decided to ride up McKay Grade out of Walla Walla. I didn't remember it being quite this rocky! Quite the workout, but made it out and back.

You had the tools! You had the talent!

Gregg

Yes indeed. And what a beautiful site for a good Wombat (and rider) workout. Awesome!! Toaster tank Wombats are primo bikes for that kind of work AAAAAAND you can ride it home afterwards. Perfecto!