jaylael

That was you? Sorry Enlighten us about your project. Seein' as how I never could get the schwynn 26 incher to go with the Homelite engine, I had to redeem myself. My old man was pretty PO'd about the chainsaw when he found out.

You are correct there, I just recall being at some beerfest where I was cornered by a random mouth breathing numbskull who always said "they were going to" put a SL 350 engine in a Bultaco pursang chassis or some equally appalling idea. I just hate the thought of being lumped in with that ilk, plus I am actually DOING IT, not talking about it and no beer is involved. (yet)

The front downtubes can't go straght down even if you trim the fins because the Hodaka front engine mount is back too far. Without them, which I considered, there would not be enough support for the frame spars when landing from a large leap down. Trust me I plan on riding this bike, so it had better be tough enough to withstand some big hits without breaking in two. The frame in my photos is going to get a rear engine mount next. As you can see it isn't built yet, but is just located with a couple of straps. Even If I build a super strong rear engine mount, the top frame spars are not designed to go unsupported. It may be ugly in your eyes Dave, but it does also have to work, since it is definitely not intended for bike shows, but to test the limits of the mighty little Hodie engine. I just want to know how far it can go. If my vision comes together the way I hope it will, I should be able to ride it in the expert class at COTA events. Even a proper 125 Sherco is just underpowered enough to make allot of obstacles very hard to get up, but I reckon it will give me a new set of skills as far as rev and clutch type riding. That photoshop thing looks cool, but I still want it to be two tone green and say Hodaka on the side. The temptation to call it a Sherdaka should be resisted, since that implies the lowly hybrid that it is, but hybrids are generally distasteful so I don't really want to go there. I figure it is just a matter of time before one of the Sherco die hards chastise me for such an abomintion, but I just could not help myself, and it was a warranty discard frame anyway. .

That looks like the Sherco 80 allright, but I don't have a side view of the engine. Will take some pics saturday will be my first chance. The extra cool downtubes are needed because they are cool! Really I have been dreaming of building them for so long it's neat to see them fleshed out finally. OK back to work.

I hope to obtain an engineless Sherco 2003 80 cc, from my friend Ishy, which will have the smaller forks, four piston calipers and that sexy angle top swingarm. I just can't bring myself to take apart my good ole Y2K Sherco 250 for this. If I start glomming on some assorted old forks, shock swingarm etc I'll just have a junkyard special, so to do a nice job of it, seems like genuine Sherco parts are the best way to go. This will take time to get the money for the project as I am just getting by for now, being February there are more bills to pay and less income to pay them. Long term this should become a reality though and I am very excited to try it out. Will post as the machine develops.

Some purists might be outraged by such a project. Normally I too find engine swaps to be a distasteful subject, but... after several years trying to keep from doing this, I just came home from work one day and started in on it. I guess the winter weather has effected my judgement. The front subframe has been welded together out of alloy strap material from the hardware store, and short chunks of renthall handlebar. It's very satisfying to be able to make something like that, finally having a tig welder to play with. The project has a long way to go, but should prove to be a fun ride and a great conversation starter. Also perhaps a handy excuse for lackluster finishes in modern events.

Now then Charlie! Hang onto that Sherco and someday you can ride it in vintage class! Glad to hear the guitar gig is going good for you. Keep in touch.

Second part

The article speaks for itself. Maybe a little bit off on the facts but the spirit of the day was captured very nicely.

Check out the hodaka-parts.com web site for a brief comment and photos from my sponsor, Bill Cook. I recently finished building the frame and exhaust system for this bike. Tree-Frog pic

I agree with you! Thought I'd post a few shots of the rolling chassis I built for Bill Cook of www.hodaka-parts.com He has his own hand picked collection of Hodaka creators, and this bike will have the best of everything if I know Bill. I call this one the Classic Tree Frog. Rumours of a red plastic Bultaco tank are afoot. That should look purty. This frame and exhaust system are the product of about 60 hours work, then the front fender mount is another 6 hours to build, but they sure are cool. I build the fender mount to adapt a Combat Wombat front fender to the chrome Hodaka forks.

I'll try to fill in the blanks a bit. Where to start. This is based on early 125 Wombat (94) center cases and transmission. The cylinder and head are from the late 125 Wombat (03). The crankshaft is a hybrid made from the 94 left crank half w 94 rod kit, and a Ace 100/B type right hand crank half, which allows the use of the 100 cc primary gears and clutch, thus achieving much lower internal gearing. The Ace clutch is modified to exacting specs to withstand monster clutch burnouts needed for trials. The custom built flywheel weight is fitted to a model 94 flywheel magneto w points, which is set to stock specs of 2.4 mm btdc. After looking at the photos here, I think it may require a kehin flat slide trials carby like a the GG riders are fond of these days. That would be cool for sure. As far as the mystical chassis it will probably be parts to a sherco, and it's hard to say how ambitious I will get. The bike will probabbly be evolving for the rest of my useful lifetime. Yes I hope to ride the B class in modern trials on it. As long as the sections are reasonable I should do ok, but I dread trying giant steep climbs on this imagined bike. It is not exactly a powerhouse, but it does ok. Hard to imagine the Hodie motor in a modern chassis, but that's the plan. Before you panic that I am bent on destroying a good Sherco, think again. I intend to make the job sort of convertible, in that I intend to build the Hodaka using a scrap frame from a local Sherco dealer's warranty dept. then the rest of the parts can be transferred between the actual sherco and the Hodaka Sherco hybrid. The final product will probably get the two tone green scheme shown on the following concept bike drawn by Dan Dwyer, who is a genius. This photo is from the early ninties! He was a visionary at that time to concieve such a bike, but all I'm going to pinch is the paint scheme.

Haven't built the rest of the bike yet, but I thought somebody out there might like to see these ultra secret photos from the Hodaka trials test and development center here in beautiful Oregon, the birthplace of the Hodaka motorcycle. I am envisioning a bike that suits this gem.

Ishy, That has got to be the funniest dang thing EVER! You could be another Rodney Dangerfield or Bob Hope or the like. Too funny!

These aren't videos, but should be of some help. Click on the link below. Sounds like either the return spring is not connected, wound up properly, or the shaft is binding due to isufficient endplay. GasGas tech help

A handful of AHRMA events I have ridden in required AMA membership for insurance reasons. Also your bank will notarize stuff for no charge, at least mine did. It's supposed to be more convenient because you only need to show your AMA Competition card and the waiver is automatically handled, so I think it's just as easy to just do what AMA are asking and it was painless, plus I got a neat looking new card. The way I see it AMA does more good for motorcycling than harm overall.

Once you become a Trials Central Supporter, it is as easy as Yorkeshire pudding. If not then you must provide a link to a photobucket account or summat. Would love to see the photo of Laia. She is the queen of trials forever.

Here are a couple of shots from the race weekend at Chehalis. Unfortunately the Bultaco lost it's motoplat lower unit before moto 1. Once I get it fixed we will try again.

I spoke to Ron Pomeroy the other day and he told me Gary raced 250 sportsman expert (in his first race) at Mid Ohio and placed 12th on a Bultaco! This weekend's race at Chehalis will be Gary's second race. Can't hardly wait. I will post photos of Gary on the Bul as news develops.

Yes, if my plans come together I will be racing the Hodaka Combat Wombat 125. My 1975 250 Bultaco Pursang is going to be ridden by 16 year old Gary Pomeroy. (yes that Pomeroy family) This will be his first AHRMA race. He is Ron's boy, but he looks alot like a young Jim Pomeroy, without the mustache and sideburns. I look for great things from him once he gets used to the feel of a vintage MX-er. He has a 1998 YZ 250 or some such as his own dirt bike. Ron and myself will be babysitting him like he were a factory superstar. Once the press find out about this he may even get his picture put up somewhere, like say Bultaco's yahoo group. Sheer fame and fortune awaits I tell ya'.

Well I braved the crowds and carried my gas tank around for a couple of hours, only to find out the Roger never made the trip this year. The race was a dramatic upset in that James Stewart didn't win the second moto. Kevin Windham got the holeshot and led for awhile to overtaken by Grant Langston. Bubba worked his way up to 3rd and was apparently taken out by a lapped rider, to dnf the second moto. Due to the averages of the two heats the overall was given to Tim Ferry. And in the lites class it was Ben Townly who bested Ryan Villapoto and a field of intensely hungry riders. Very good race.

Tomorrow I will be making my pilgimage to Washougal national mx, and seek the autograph of "The Man". I intend to have him sign my gas tank, for the RM 400. (gulp)

I think my customer/friend was living in the past when he bought this bike. If he had known this bike would require so much money spent to make it even close to decent he would never have bought it. I am sure you couldn't sell this bike for $700.00 ever. I hope his son appreciates his refurbished vintage trials bike, but I bet he would have been better off with a Beta or Gas Gas mini trialer. One of my other pals has a TY 80 he has spent over $2000.00 on and now he won't let his kids ride it! In a way I don't blame him but it's so ridiculous given that it was his original intent to let the kids ride the thing. It's a cautionary tale to the guy who thinks he's gonna' get a "real good deal" on some worn out junker and "fix it up". PS, thanks for the info!

Better have a fat wallet. This thing is a real piece of doo doo, and I had to go through the engine, carb and ignition to get it to run properly. The guy has spent around $700.00 with me just to make this dog poop bike run right.

The title says it all. I got talked into working on a TY 80 for a friend. If anyone could help me out with this information I'd be much obliged. It's the trials model with 25 mm forks. Jay