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Heavily Customized – 2014 Honda Grom

In Custom, Japan, Small Displacement by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

It’s not often that you see small displacement bikes like the Honda Grom undergo such extreme and extensive customization but that’s exactly what this seller has done. The vast majority of the mods on this custom Grom are cosmetic but a handful of components have been thrown into the mix to improve the little guy’s performance as well. While I …

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1947 Saginaw Powerbike

In America, Less than 5k, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Built by the Saginaw Products Corporation, the Powerbike was a conversion kit that you could slap onto any pedal-driven bicycle. All you had to do was remove the bicycle’s rear wheel, bolt on the Powerbike, and then hook up a fuel tank, fuel lines, and the throttle cable. They were successful enough that Sears started to offer pre-converted Powerbikes. The …

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1974 Hodaka Road Toad

In America, Japan, Off-Road, Small Displacement by Tom WackerLeave a Comment

When it comes to naming motorcycle models, Hodaka might win. Rat. Super Rat. Dirt Squirt. Combat. Wombat. Wombat Combat. Ace. Road Toad. Hodaka was a Japanese motor builder for Yamaguchi motorcycles in 1963 when Yamaguchi went bankrupt. PABTCO, based in Athena, Oregon went looking for a replacement to fill the void left in their sales niche. The fact that PABTCO’s …

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1965 Honda CB160 Racer

In Japan, Race, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

A couple of years ago I attended my first Vintage GP. I went there specifically to check out some sidecars, but there were a lot of great classes. One of my favorites was the CB160 race, because it begins with a Le Mans start. I hope the next owner of this bike will participate in similar events.

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1971 Suzuki T125 Stinger

In Japan, Small Displacement by Tom WackerLeave a Comment

The Suzuki T series bikes were all two stroke parallel twins that had some serious impact on the way Americans looked at motorcycles. Two stroke twins were not unknown in the motorcycle universe in the late ‘60s, but Suzuki brought power, speed and flair to the market with their Ts. Most famous is probably the T20 (known in America as …

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1980 Italjet Pack 2

In Italy, Scooter, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Sale Update: After 4 bids on eBay, this Italjet sold for $1,125. In the 60s, Italjet produced a folding scooter called the Kit Kat. It was designed for pilots and sailors who found themselves at a destination without wheels. A couple of decades later, the Italian company modernized the idea with a scooter they called the Pack 2. It’s …

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Building the Gromster

In Guest Writers, Japan, Small Displacement by AbhiLeave a Comment

Editor’s Note: About a year ago, David N (you’ll remember him from experiences like going to a Mecum auction or his recent visit to the AMCA Sunshine Chapter National Meet) told me that he was looking for a Grom to customize. When he explained what his plan was, I asked if he’d be willing to share the bike and his …