Thank You everyone for the wonderful comments. There’s nothing like the memory of your first bike and how you discovered the joy of riding. I paid $550.00 for the bike in 1967. I bought it in Berkeley, California. The mileage is 19k miles and counting all put on by me. It is kept in a garage and all the maintenance is done by myself. No engine work and it still has the original clutch. I’m running points ignition with no problems and have upgraded to newer tires to ride safely on the street. I do have the original pipes with the welded on muffler and found these pipes and the snuffers online. I’ve adjusted the carbs to run a bit rich, better than too lean so I don’t burn a valve. I checked this morning and the front tire is running in the correct rotation direction. The snuffs are “open” both on the approach and take off scenes in the cul-de-sac. With them closed, it’s just more muted and socially acceptable . The tank badge wings if you notice, one has a silver inlay and one is gold. One was cracked when I went down on the street so I replaced it. Some badges say Honda 300 and some just have the wing insignia. No story there, Honda just made running changes during the manufacturing process. The Scrambler is kick start only and once it’s warmed up and you hear the open pipes with the 180 degree crank, it’s pure music! One click down for first gear and you take off and it puts the biggest grin on your face! ~Russ
Great story. All my friends had 305 scramblers, I opted for a 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler 250 cc 29 horsepower. But I have to ask, did you own any other motorcycles over the years? Thanks John in Boston
I was born the same year! Used Honda 50 first bike. Honda 65 second bike. Honda CB77 Super Hawk third bike (100 mph on that one!), then THE CL77 Scrambler. Yeah !!!! Motorcycles are so fun ! Many years, many bikes. I went 156 mph (speedometer) on my Suzuki SV1000---crazy and stupid. Now I ride a minibike, Tomos moped, and small dirt bikes. Two wheels as long as I can. Going riding tomorrow! God Bless and keep having fun.
Love that you still have your first bike so many of us only have fond memories and regrets of selling ours. I still have the the skeleton of my second bike but with the price of what people want for parts now it will most likely remain a memory the takes up space. I do have a Yamaha 1974 125 Enduro that needs a facelift I’m hoping I’ll get to before age slows me down to much.
I was Bonkers over this Bike and I still want one today, I ended up buying a new 1970 Suzuki scrambler but I still wanted one of these, I loved the exhaust sound and I thought it was the coolest, it was so much cooler than the Super Hawk and it required you to kick start it. I started to see custom colors on the tank and fenders Candy Apple Red and then Metal flake were used . I can’t tell you how popular these bikes were ! I wish Honda would make these bikes again, perhaps a 605 Scrambler !
Russ is telling my story same age, same location, same bike - one thing Honda deserves credit for is that their motors didn’t leak oil and the British bikes always leaked oil. Even today I’ll bet that 305 doesn’t leak any oil ? Also on many of the bikes the exhaust pipes would turn blue at the motor if they had been driven hard - Russ’ bike has pipes that look new and tells me that he does love that bike … great story and thanks
305 Scrambler has always been one of my very favorite motorcycles. It looked great, sounded batter, and has withstood the test of time. Hearing a 305 Scrambler without the muffler wind up through the gears is a great sound.
That was the bad thing! In 1967 the muffler was welded on. Guy’s with earlier one could take the muffler off! My dad wasn’t going for cutting the muffler off!
Also grew up in California. Newport Beach to be exact. Four of us had the 305 but for some reason we all decided to take the front fender off and put on a fork brace. Of course we all had the snuffer nuts on the pipes.. Great days..
I owned a '68 305 scrambler in 1973 and then I got a 68' 305 Super Hawk in 1974. The Super Hawk actually would out run my friends BSA 650. I really loved losing the choppers of the mid 70s on the back roads of West Virginia.
I had the identical motorcycle! I was also 17 in 1967. The CL77 was actually my 4th motorcycle. I began riding in 1964 at 14. In 1972 I saw "On Any Sunday" and decided to go racing. At 22, I didn't have much expendable income (0). I scrounged enough to buy the used 1977 CL77 and entered my first enduro. I remember that day well!!! I finished 2nd in open class. A Yamaha 360 beat me and a Kawasaki Big Horn 350 come in 3rd place! I was hooked for life. Raced off road for 36 years and won 5 class championships!! What a wonderful life!! That CL77 will be cherished as long as I'm on this Earth!!
My story is a lot like yours. I started on a 80cc Suzuki that I rented. I loved riding so I bought a very used 125cc Ducati. I eventually got my 305 scrambler that I rode on the trails and on the street. I had snuffers on mine too and mostly rode with them open. I loved that bike but ended up selling it when I got drafted in 1970. I have owned many bikes since but would have to say that 305 was my favorite of all time.
Russ is great! He speaks of being "bitten by the bug" so early in his life...and here he is all these years later still riding. When he's talking about his bike, his eyes light up...probably much like they did the first time he saw it in that garage so many years ago. Thanks for inviting him over to the cul-de-sac to share his story!
@@jefferyhurley151 my 1st bike was a 150 dream I had a r 305 super hswk later. Turned it into a 3 wheeler. Terror of the sand dunes in Weynoka Oklahoma in about 1978.
My 2nd bike was a 65 305 Scrambler which I had chromed on several of the parts and the tank was painted Ember red the same as my 64 Corvair Monza and Tommy the Greek, in Oakland, striped the tank for me. I bought the bike from Nelson Bros. at 45th ave and E 14th st.. I traded it back in to them in for a BSA Lightning which was stolen out of my car port while I was at work. I then got a 67 Triumph Bonneville which modified to my to my tast wwith chrome and paint and a Sunny Rout 750 kit and Sifton cams. It was a rocket. I am now 84 and currently have a Kawasaki 650 Ninja which I love to ride and it will blow away the old 650 Bonnies and BSA's. Progress but the old bikes taught me how to ride and I even raced Moto X for a period of 12 years.
Great Video, brings back a lot of memories. A 1966 305 Scrambler was my second bike, which I got in 1971 after my 120 Suzuki was stolen. I used it to travel to High School and College, and when on the freeway I would twist the snuff-of not's open and feel the surge of power, and roar of the engine to the harsh expression on faces of the motorists along the side of me lol. I've had many bikes since, but my 305 although long gone, was the bike that gave me the confidence to travel far and wide. Thanks for making this video ! 🙂👍
Great story and great storyteller! Wouldn’t we all love to still have our first proper bike in the garage? Mine was a Honda CJ 250 twin in bright yellow, followed by a brand new CB400F.
Mine was a 1963 Suzuki 50 M15 4 speed. I was 16 in 1969. I used it for 2 years before this on the fields. I put it on the road when i got to 16. Passed my test on it and bought a 1959 BSA A7.
I’m 71 now and owned my sweet 67 Honda 305 scrambler from 1968 to 1971. Rode all over the Bay Area from Castro Valley. When I went in the Army in 71, my mom sold my 305. Hopefully someone else enjoyed the heck out of it too. It looked exactly like yours.
My buddy in high in the the late 60's had a 1965 305 Honda Dream. It would out run my 1941 45ci Harley Davidson sport solo. However girls like my Harley much more and 53 yrs later I'm still riding a Harley. Great story thanks for posting.
LOL I got my first ticket back in 1969 on my 305 Scrambler with the Snuff-or Nots OPEN and yes it was for excessive Noise! I still have the ticket by the way and it cost me $8.00 !
Loved the video! I too grew up in the '60's and got bit early on. My first bike was a '49 Cushman when I was 12. Two years later my understanding Dad headed to Tulsa one bright Sunny day to take care of some business he said. When we got to the Yamaha shop he pulled right in and we got out and saw a new 80cc street bike running on the stand. I looked at the paper tag and it had my name on it! Dad said I could have it if I could ride home which was about eight miles. I had only ridden a bike with a clutch once in a parking lot but I became a fast learner with no license that day in 1965. Great memory, Thanks Dad! Now at 73 years old I am working on a '65 Honda 305 Dream.
Great story! In 1967 I was in the Army stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. I didn't have a car, nor could I afford one on PFC pay. A guy in my unit was getting sent overseas and decided to sell his Honda 305 Dream and offered it to me, so I sold everything I owned and came up with the $200 he wanted for it. Another guy in my unit had a 305 Scrambler and we went everywhere on those bikes.......they were the only transportation we had at that time. I have been riding Harley Davidson motorcycles since 1979 and still ride almost every day at 78 years young. That old Honda Dream is what started my love for to wheel vehicles and have wished a thousand times that I still had it.
I really enjoy the stories of "pfc's" and bikes, I had much the same, we enlisted to move forward, and those "junk bikes" were often all we could scrape together. I moved on through a Ducati 250, 650 triumph, 441 BSA, flathead 45, and a 74 sportster, still riding a couple Harley's and a Triumph to this day. Just 65, but perhaps I'll get there in time.
That's such a nice story. I'm 78 and I recall those early Honda days hanging around the hole in the wall dealerships on Saturday mornings dreaming about such bikes as yours. My first bike was a used 250 cc YDS-2 Yamaha 2 stroke that you had to mix oil in the gas. After about a year of smoking up the environment I sold the Yamaha and purchased my first new bike - a S-90 Honda that I used for transportation to and from work. After a couple of years I purchased a used 1965 Triumph TR-6 single carb bike in the early 70's. Having 3 older brothers catching the bug when they saw my bike all bought CB-750 Hondas. We made several day trips and my Triumph was a beautiful bike but I was always so envious of their trouble free - electric start Hondas. The youngest of my older brothers still had his 750 right up to the time of his passing at the age of 84. More than just an adventure on 2 wheels, this provided the impetus for my second oldest brother and I to form a partnership with building 2 motorcycle dealerships - one Yamaha, our first and a year later, one Honda dealership. Each located in two separate rural communities in Northern Indiana. Thank you for recalling for me all of those great memories! In the spirit of Robert Crumb - "Keep on Trucking"!
I recall my first ever motorcycle ride or any combustion engine vehicle was also on a honda 50 in the early 70's. My Dad wanted to collect his car from the garage and so I rode with him to the garage on the back of the Honda 50 and was to drive behind him on the Honda 50 on the way back. I was only 15 so no licence / insurance etc He got stopped on the way back by the police for not yielding properly at a junction with me riding behind. I just rode on pretending I did not know the guy. The exhilarating feeling of being able to keep up with traffic for the first time was wonderful.
I was 13 when my older brother bought a 1968 orange scrambler. I rode on the back, then 2 years later I bought a 1973 CB 175 twin (dual carb). Wish I kept it. Great story, Thanks.
I had a 1968 Honda CB350, I was 21 years old, it was my 3rd bike and my first new bike. I had a 58 Cushman Eagle, then a Honda C-90, it was maybe a 65 or 66 model. rode over 300,000 miles, rode Gold Wings starting in 78, had to quit riding 3 years ago due to severe arthritis. Had to sell the Wing a couple of years ago, first time I didn't have a bike since I was 20 years old. I had hoped to ride another 5 years or so, but it wasn't to be. I still have a 1978 Yamaha DT 175 I traded for about 1980, can't ride it but I'll find it a good home one of these days.
I got mine in '73. It wasn't running and I don't think my Mom thought it ever would. I fixed it and rode it for 5 years. First thing I did was take the "snuffers" out of the end of the pipes and did it ever sound great! I sold it to my best friend and he rode it for 4 years. Loved it!
I too, am 71 years old, and this gent is telling it like it ... was! First bike I ever rode (I was 15 then) was a buddy's 1967 305 Scrambler. In Tucson Arizona, 1967. My family moved to Oakland in Fall of 1968. I know all the places you've visited! Thanks for the great memory you've shared with us!
It's true - you really do meet the nicest people on a Honda! Great video Mike & Thanks Russ for telling your story. When I was an engineering apprentice back in '71, two of my mates had similar models to this. Steve had a 250 CB72 bought for £25 and Paul had a 305 with Dunstall pipes that made it sound a bit like Russ's scrambler. Happy days...
My first bike was a Harley 250 Sprint and the second was the Honda 305 Scrambler. Sold them both but still have the memories. Thanks for sharing yours!
Thanks for the wonderful vid. Very nostalgic for me. My Dad had a 250 Scrambler. I really admired it, but I was too small to ride. He sold to a kid across the street that was starting collage. He rode it about a month, then it suffered a catastrophic failure. The mom was really mad, so my Dad refunded her the money back. Tearing the bike down, he discovered that the culprit was the spark plug! The carbide anode had fallen out and into the cylinder, causing the damage. My Dad notified NGK, but they never got back to him. I still have our 160 (not running) Honda Dream, to dream about restoring...
Back in '67, I picked up a 65' [I think] Scrambler with seized engine, and had a wrecked SuperHawk with a great engine. With the Honda Shop Manual, tools and a bunch of time, I learned to mechanic, stripped many an aluminum thread, but had a great Scrambler later bored to 350cc, that gave me 32,000 miles or so. Still miss her .
I owned one of these in the sixties and loved it. Then went off to Europe and asked my father to sell it (a regretted decision, of course). Now I own a Honda 400f, bought new by me in 1976 and still ridden every week in Northern California.
My first bike was also a Scrambler. A 250. I was 17yrs old as well. Heartwarming that he held on to his scrambler, and that he did not modify it I am sure he has many great memories with go with that bike. His 305 very well maintained and it certainly looks stock, other than he removed the can that was on the exhaust pipes ...that came with the stock Scramblers. The exhaust note of a Scrambler, with the straight pipes is indeed unmistakable.....
I too bought a new 305 just like you show while in the Army stationed at Fort Huachua, AZ. My young enlisted bought them, they were all over the base and Sierra Vista. I loved the bike but sold it when another GI sold me a newly new Trimuph 650 Bonniville that he had bought just 3 months before. He had immediate orders for Korea and could not taket the bike with him so I got a great deal on the Triumph. I would love to have another 305 to play with again today! They were great little bikes.
I bought. the scrambler right after high school. Took it on an epic road trip down Highway One in California. Then during the first draft lottery, my birthday came up number 6. Enlisted in the Air Force. One of the first things I did coming home was to fire up the scrambler and ride it to all my favorite hang outs. Thanks for sharing your comments as well. You can find a 305 these days. Just be patient in your search and you'll find one.
I had a similar looking Honda CL160 also gray and also bought when i was 17. I rode it from Wisconsin to California to the Eastern Seaboard and back to Wisconsin. Today it lies rusting on the junkpile in the woods behind my barn. The chrome on the muffler heat shield is still perfect.
A honda 160 was my first bike, it looked just like the little brother of this. Haven't seen one in years, decades! I never saw a "scrambler model" only the street model. I'd forgotten all about those "snuff or nots". Thanks for all these memories, Mike!
My first street bike was a ‘66 CL160 Scrambler, so I can confirm that the “scrambler model” did exist in the 160 cc size. Fun little bike, good memories….🙂
Hi, had a CB - 160 with single side upswept pipes from Webco Inc. I can't remember if they were the Honshu model or not. Had a CB - 77 road racing seat. So basically, a CL - 160 at least two years prior to the CL - 160. Tried twice the Cl 72 carb conversion. Never could get it jetted correctly. Had a large rear sprocket equal to the rear hub size, I forget the tooth quantity. The bike was flat out at 55 m.p.h. Eventually ended up with 3.25x18 front and 4.00 x18 rear tire, both were Pirelli Universals. That 4.00 would really haul it down to a quick stop.
Second that John! CB 160 street when I was 16.....couldn't keep my Dad off the thing! 🤣 71 yo now...still riding mc's...and grinning remembering Dad going down the road.
My first bike was a used CB-160 but as I gravitated toward off road riding, I installed some scrambler pipes. The next year I purchased a new 305 Scrambler. I soon learned it wasn’t a woods or MX bike so I didn’t have it long. That feels like another lifetime ago but there were great memories from that time in my life.
Just the sound of the Scrambler sends chills up my arms and makes the hears stand on end. I had a 305cc that was red and gray. It sends me back in time to 1965 in San Francisco. The Excelsior District. Upper mission. and Ocean Avenue. I am now 78 years and still ride two wheels. Be safe out there.
I took my brother’s red 1967 305 Scrambler in 1968 from Rome Georgia thru Atlanta to Washington, DC, 754 miles in ~13 hours, from 5:30 to 7 pm with stops only for refueling and the restroom. 6000 rpm allday long, 60-70mph, my teeth and jaw hurt for the next two days!
Hi Russ, what a great video! I have owned my 67 for 46 years and spent most of this winter bringing it back to its glory. My first pass is to make sure its in good working/riding order and I may or may not do a frame off restoration next year. Your video brought back many memories as I was the last age group in my state that could have a motorcycle license at 14 years old. Enjoy the ride!
I rode the scrambler just the other day and still marvel at the design of this motor that propels me down the road. I do have the original exhausts with the guppy muffler. When I ride this Honda, my mind is flooded with memories of where this bike has taken me and that I'm still riding it today. Like you learner's permit at 14 and a half, license a year later. Maintain your scrambler and do take it out for a ride. Thanks again!
I had a 1963 (or ‘64) 305 Superhawk in 1966 on the Canadian prairies. At the time I was flying jets as a 21 year old trainee in the RCAF. It was a great bike with a good suspension geometry so handling felt secure. The manual said to obey the 9000 rpm redline in all but the top gear, 4th. In 4th you got exactly 10 mph/1000 rpm and the tach and speedo went to 120 mph and 12,000 rpm. One summer day I was on a very long, very straight road going south near Saskatoon with a wind of about 30 mph coming from the northwest. I could see how little throttle it was taking to maintain speed so I thought I’d see what the bike might be capable of. I adopted my most streamlined position (judged by my shadow on the road), which was feet on the passenger pegs, throttle friction set tight so I didn’t have to hold it open, enabling me to steer with each hand gripping top of a fork tube directly, keeping my arms tucked in. Streamlining, if not safety, was helped by the fact I was in a t-shirt and was not wearing a helmet but was wearing wrap-around sunglasses. My speed fairly quickly increased to 117 mph indicated, corroborated by the tach reading 11,700 rpm, and stabilized there! I was aware that this was only a 305cc motor with a claimed 28.5 hp and was a little concerned about damaging it but I decided to find out what these Hondas were made of so decided to stay at that speed until I reached the next city limits (Moose Jaw) and had to slow down. That was about 15 more miles. I half expected the motor to seize when I backed off on the throttle in town but at the first street light I was amazed that after about 15-20 minutes at 11,700 rpm it settled into a completely normal sounding idle. I have respected Honda’s skills in engine design ever since, which is one reason I currently drive a Ridgeline. To my ears the nicest sounding motorcycle exhaust was the 250 scrambler at high revs. Music! I could hear a hint of it as Russell rode away near the end. Russell’s right - I should still have that bike but, as the Germans say “You get too soon old and too late smart”.
Awesome. I had a 160 and then a 450, but loved.....and still love.....the CL-77. My younger brother bought one and put a WEBCO 350 kit in it. Wish I could find that bike now.
Funny but sad story…about 1969 , I bought a 305 super hawk with a Yetman road racing frame and a 250 scrambler from the same person. I put the 305 engine in the 250 frame and raced it as a flat track bike. I sold the 250 engine for 25 bucks and threw away the racing frame…gosh , I was so stupid.
Since you don't know what you have I'll educate you.youngster.. I also had a 305 in 68' it's Honda's rare muscle bike called the BIG BEAR SCRAMBLER and it'll take hills like a goat I used to ride in the Sierra's then I lived in lake Tahoe and took it up the skislopes in summer and they the lower Sierra Nevada range across toiyobe Nat forest this bike was the pitbull for Honda most never realized very few sold so you have the top muscle hill scooter that Honda ever built bar none..get it running take it to the hills and you'll not find another cycle ever made that can climb like the 305 BIG BEAR SCRAMBLER..vintage power unmatched ..lucky boy..and I'm 73..
Yes, I never knew the scrambler in the UK but I bought, with a "soft" loan from the Bank of Dad, a CB77 in 1963 when I was 17. We did not know it as the Superhawk in Britain though, that term was never heard back then! Great bike and I can verify that around 9000 was the redline, but mine could get to 11000 rpm when required to race against the likes of Norton, Triumph and BSA 650s! I also removed the baffles for a better sound. The motor lasted 7000 miles of very fast road use and then seized. I sold the bike back to the dealer I bought it from who told me that removing the baffles caused the seizure as a result of lack of back-pressure. I reckon it was the 11000 rpm that did the trick though, finally being just too much to ask from the motor!
OMG! Looks exactly like the one I had, including the "Snuff-or-Not" exhaust "silencers.". Sold mine in '72 or '73 and have regretted that almost every day since!
I'm about the same age as Russ. Back in the early 60's, Honda had a great advertising slogan that said "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". After watching this vid I'm thinking they had Russ in mind when they wrote it. What a unique story. Few guys hang onto their first bike.
Thank you for showing us your (what we called " Big Bear Scrambler"). In 1972, at the age of 16, by working sacking groceries, I bought a red 1970 Honda CL Scrambler. I replaced the high pipes with TT pipes. The sound brought back many great memories.
My first real bike was also a '67 305 Scrambler in 1972, when I was 18. My big trip on the scrambler was Cleveland, O. to Sudbury Ontario! Today my collection includes a '68 Superhawk and a '64 Dream. I got the bug early in life and still have it!
Our neighbor had a 305 Scrambler with a fairing when I was a kid in the late 60’s Huntington Beach, CA. We went for a ride and I remember looking over his shoulder and we were going 105MPH on a straight stretch of road by the Santa Ana River. 50 years later and I still remember how thrilling it was.
The CL77 alongside the Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons and 250 Ducatis set my teenage heart aflame in 1966-7 and set me on a two wheeled passion that still exists (I was 16 in "66). I loved that sound and recently started looking for an example to call my own. I envy you and your Honda..
What a great story & bike. My first was a CB450 DOHC. I drove that bike EVERYWHERE! Sold it to a family member cousin then got into Harleys. Was a Motor Officer for 11 years. Still riding these days. Mom never wanted me to have a motorcycle. Took her for a ride a few years bak on my Electraglide and she instantly understood why we ride!
In 62 my best friend got the 250 Scrambler. We went everywhere on that bike. Before that most of us had the CB-50cc, not the step through. Back then I was 15 and we all started out with Mini Bikes. The Scrambler really wasn't a very good off-road bike but we often tried. My kingdom to go through those times again!! Today most people can't even drive a car with a standard trans. Bikes are a complete mystery to them.
In the 70's at the age of 17-18 had a bolt on hard tail chopper built from a 68 305 scrambler. Remember passing on coming Harley's and getting the a sign. It felt pretty cool.
What a 'Cracker', I had the pleasure of riding a 1962 Honda CB72 Dream 250 Super Sport for a weekend so can just imagine Russ & his friend taking off on Route 1, what a thrill. Thanks for sharing your story Russ, long may the union last .. 👍 atvb t ..
Wow, Russ filled in a good narrative about the Honda Scramblers, great to see. I raced our first 250 version in 1962, box-stock, for our dealer in Wichita named Nichols Honda. I won 2nd place on it at the Winfield Fairgrounds behind a fella named Barney Gentry who had a H-D Sprint "R" set up for oval racing. Looking at this video, I can see that the scramblers did have good weight distribution and though heavy, didn't show any sudden tendencies to pitch a rider off. I went to work for Nichols and eventually helped set up a dealer in White Plains, N.Y. - we sold quite a few scramblers during their production life.
My Dad had the exact same bike, year, color and everything. My best memory of it is the sole time it broke down...we had to get it home. My Mom pulled up in her station wagon with my 2 little brothers and sister. I ended up in the back of the car, feet braced against the tailgate holding on to a belt, with my overweight Dad holding on to the other end, sitting on the bike. I was 13 and tasked with holding that belt and pulling he and the motorcycle home while we drove up and down hills in N. GA to get to the house. It only slipped out of my hands once. Obviously, those were different times.
WOW! A flood of memories for me. My first bike was a used 66 305 Scrambler. Put some miles on it. I tried the Snuff or Nots and got a ticket for illegal exhaust! lol In 68 I upgraded to a 350 Scrambler and in 70 I bought one of those "some day" bikes. A brand new 1970 Triumph Bonneville! Ah the good old days.
A really great story. I grew up in the same era and recall the 305's well. The Scrambler and the Superhawks were really affordable and reliable rides. I had the BSA/Triumph bug myself and scratched together enough $ to get a Triumph T100R Daytona 500. Bought it new for $1,100.00 and I still own it today 25,000 miles on the speedo later. The dealer gave me a Bell open faced helmet with the bike. Awesome times and awsome music era. Every Sunday morning early I take it out for a 20 mile ride and the sound of that old Triumph twin makes me feel 19 again.
True dat! I've owned my '70 Daytona for about 40 years. Bought it for cheap 'cause the owner warped one of the carb bodies by over-tightening it. Great bike! Makes me feel like Steve McQueen in 'The Great Escape'.
Man I can relate to your story my first street bike was a 1960 honda 300 dream with a busted clutch cable and a flat tire for $10.00 from a hippie that was 1969 what a blast that was been riding since still riding riding is life👍😎
I started at age 16 buying a used Triumph 200cc cub. It sucked - unreliable and oil-leaky. Tried a newer one, same problem. So, my first new bike was the 305 Super-Hawk. The tires that worked best for cornering were Avon Speedmasters. I loved that bike!
Great story. I am 71 so we have many similar motorcycle experiences. I started on Vespa and Allstate scooters, had a couple of cheap Italian 90's, and then got my first real motorcycle. It was a red Honda CA95 with 150cc. Some called it the Baby Dream. A sailor sold it to me for $250 with something like 300 or 400 miles on the clock. It started every time, shifted smoothly, had great electrics, and would cruise all day at 60 miles per hour. In 1969, at 17, I bought a new Honda CL350 Scrambler. I took that bike my junior summer to Fairbanks, Alaska and back, from Long Beach, California. 46 days on the road without a single problem. I also owned several 305's back in the day and in my opion the 305 Scrambler is one of the top ten best looking bikes of the modern era. Interestingly, the last CL77 I bought was at a Southern California auction over 40 years ago and sitting two rows behind me was Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins. I paid $205 for the Honda, Steve McQueen paid $8,600 for an old, but restored, nline four cylinder. I can't remember if it was an Ace, Henderson, or Indian. I paid the least for a motorcycle that day, McQueen paid the most, with Ekins doing the actual bidding for him. And yes, I am still riding, with more than 30 bikes in my collection.
my dad told me stories about his 305 , he bought his in Cali as well .. he was born San Diego and grew up there.. when he was a teen he rode up and down the coast with his cousin .. i grew up on bikes as well and still have the Honda sl100 i bought from my dad for 35.00 .. i just turned 51 last month ..
Loved this bike. Had one from 1968 to 71'. Rode it all over California. Also, took a trip along the west coast from Los Angles to Seattle and back in 1970. Had so much fun.
I had a Honda CB 72 Hawk of 250cc scrambler that was on the Australian race circuits in 60s .I bought it for $120 in 1971 included spare engine and frame. Used to ride it to school, and have burn scars on my leg from the raised exhausts.Sounded great with baffles out. Still have fond memories,and my brother had a 305 Dream with box frame.
My dad had a 305 SuperHawk when I was a kid. I rode on the back of that everywhere. I still remember going down the Pasadena freeway hauling butt. We had lots of fun on it.
Wonderful bike! This reminds me my Honda cl 350 which I bought on my 18 year while being a student. I really appreciate it. I paid $1000.00 brand new in Quebec Canada.
Thank You everyone for the wonderful comments. There’s nothing like the memory of your first bike and how you discovered the joy of riding.
I paid $550.00 for the bike in 1967. I bought it in Berkeley, California.
The mileage is 19k miles and counting all put on by me. It is kept in a garage and all the maintenance is done by myself. No engine work and it still has the original clutch. I’m running points ignition with no problems and have upgraded to newer tires to ride safely on the street. I do have the original pipes with the welded on muffler and found these pipes and the snuffers online. I’ve adjusted the carbs to run a bit rich, better than too lean so I don’t burn a valve. I checked this morning and the front tire is running in the correct rotation direction.
The snuffs are “open” both on the approach and take off scenes in the cul-de-sac. With them closed, it’s just more muted and socially acceptable .
The tank badge wings if you notice, one has a silver inlay and one is gold. One was cracked when I went down on the street so I replaced it. Some badges say Honda 300 and some just have the wing insignia. No story there, Honda just made running changes during the manufacturing process.
The Scrambler is kick start only and once it’s warmed up and you hear the open pipes with the 180 degree crank, it’s pure music! One click down for first gear and you take off and it puts the biggest grin on your face! ~Russ
It is so cool that you still have your 305 after all these years…thank you for the trip back in time.
Great story. All my friends had 305 scramblers, I opted for a 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler 250 cc 29 horsepower. But I have to ask, did you own any other motorcycles over the years? Thanks John in Boston
I was born the same year! Used Honda 50 first bike. Honda 65 second bike. Honda CB77 Super Hawk third bike (100 mph on that one!), then THE CL77 Scrambler. Yeah !!!! Motorcycles are so fun ! Many years, many bikes. I went 156 mph (speedometer) on my Suzuki SV1000---crazy and stupid. Now I ride a minibike, Tomos moped, and small dirt bikes. Two wheels as long as I can. Going riding tomorrow! God Bless and keep having fun.
Love that you still have your first bike so many of us only have fond memories and regrets of selling ours. I still have the the skeleton of my second bike but with the price of what people want for parts now it will most likely remain a memory the takes up space. I do have a Yamaha 1974 125 Enduro that needs a facelift I’m hoping I’ll get to before age slows me down to much.
So let me understand - since 1967 you have upgraded the tyres once? 😳
I'm 71 years old. Everything Russ said about motorcycles in the 60's is true!!! Great video today, Mike.
Many thanks! Hope you are doing well. Best wishes
I was Bonkers over this Bike and I still want one today, I ended up buying a new 1970 Suzuki scrambler but I still wanted one of these, I loved the exhaust sound and I thought it was the coolest, it was so much cooler than the Super Hawk and it required you to kick start it. I started to see custom colors on the tank and fenders Candy Apple Red and then Metal flake were used . I can’t tell you how popular these bikes were !
I wish Honda would make these bikes again, perhaps a 605 Scrambler !
same here (age) but all the rest was just a dream still living behind the iron curtain......
Russ is telling my story same age, same location, same bike - one thing Honda deserves credit for is that their motors didn’t leak oil and the British bikes always leaked oil. Even today I’ll bet that 305 doesn’t leak any oil ? Also on many of the bikes the exhaust pipes would turn blue at the motor if they had been driven hard - Russ’ bike has pipes that look new and tells me that he does love that bike … great story and thanks
@@wardmontgomery9259 Out of tune, blue pipes. I think running rich causes that
My first bike. Great memories.
The story brings back so many memories, thanks so much! I now have a 67 Dream 305 and also a Hayabusa!
305 Scrambler has always been one of my very favorite motorcycles. It looked great, sounded batter, and has withstood the test of time. Hearing a 305 Scrambler without the muffler wind up through the gears is a great sound.
Yeah, but the idle is cool too, ba-doom, ba-doom, ba-doom.
That was the bad thing! In 1967 the muffler was welded on. Guy’s with earlier one could take the muffler off! My dad wasn’t going for cutting the muffler off!
Also grew up in California. Newport Beach to be exact. Four of us had the 305 but for some reason we all decided to take the front fender off and put on a fork brace. Of course we all had the snuffer nuts on the pipes.. Great days..
I brought one of those when I returned from Vietnam for transport and travelled many places on it.
A man in love...
Great story....presently building my 305
I owned a '68 305 scrambler in 1973 and then I got a 68' 305 Super Hawk in 1974. The Super Hawk actually would out run my friends BSA 650. I really loved losing the choppers of the mid 70s on the back roads of West Virginia.
I had the identical motorcycle! I was also 17 in 1967. The CL77 was actually my 4th motorcycle. I began riding in 1964 at 14. In 1972 I saw "On Any Sunday" and decided to go racing. At 22, I didn't have much expendable income (0). I scrounged enough to buy the used 1977 CL77 and entered my first enduro. I remember that day well!!! I finished 2nd in open class. A Yamaha 360 beat me and a Kawasaki Big Horn 350 come in 3rd place! I was hooked for life. Raced off road for 36 years and won 5 class championships!! What a wonderful life!! That CL77 will be cherished as long as I'm on this Earth!!
There's something special about an older dude riding up on a motorcycle and telling his story. I hope lots of younger men and boys see this.
Great story... OUTSTANDING survivor !
My story is a lot like yours. I started on a 80cc Suzuki that I rented. I loved riding so I bought a very used 125cc Ducati. I eventually got my 305 scrambler that I rode on the trails and on the street. I had snuffers on mine too and mostly rode with them open. I loved that bike but ended up selling it when I got drafted in 1970. I have owned many bikes since but would have to say that 305 was my favorite of all time.
Russ is great! He speaks of being "bitten by the bug" so early in his life...and here he is all these years later still riding. When he's talking about his bike, his eyes light up...probably much like they did the first time he saw it in that garage so many years ago. Thanks for inviting him over to the cul-de-sac to share his story!
My dad had a 305 super hawk he let me ride.And a 150 dream.
@@jefferyhurley151 my 1st bike was a 150 dream I had a r 305 super hswk later. Turned it into a 3 wheeler. Terror of the sand dunes in Weynoka Oklahoma in about 1978.
Hi, nice bike. It's good to hear a CL - 77 again.
Yes, it is. They were once upon a time so plentiful. From time to time, after 10 p.m., would here one of them zooming down the nearby freeway.
My high school ride was a 67 305,miss it to this day.
My 2nd bike was a 65 305 Scrambler which I had chromed on several of the parts and
the tank was painted Ember red the same as my 64 Corvair Monza and Tommy the Greek, in Oakland, striped the tank for me. I bought the bike from Nelson Bros. at 45th ave and E 14th st.. I traded it back in to them in for a BSA Lightning which was stolen out of my car port while I was at work. I then got a 67 Triumph Bonneville which modified to my to my tast wwith chrome and paint and a Sunny Rout 750 kit and Sifton cams. It was a rocket. I am now 84 and currently have a Kawasaki 650 Ninja which I love to ride and it will blow away the old 650 Bonnies and BSA's. Progress but the old bikes taught me how to ride and I even raced Moto X for a period of 12 years.
Many thanks for sharing Cedric! What a great time that must have been. Best wishes, Mike
The passion and the story are worth more than the bike ! Absolutely wonderful!
How cool was Russ 👍 brilliant story teller.
Great Video, brings back a lot of memories. A 1966 305 Scrambler was my second bike, which I got in 1971 after my 120 Suzuki was stolen. I used it to travel to High School and College, and when on the freeway I would twist the snuff-of not's open and feel the surge of power, and roar of the engine to the harsh expression on faces of the motorists along the side of me lol. I've had many bikes since, but my 305 although long gone, was the bike that gave me the confidence to travel far and wide. Thanks for making this video ! 🙂👍
Great story and great storyteller! Wouldn’t we all love to still have our first proper bike in the garage? Mine was a Honda CJ 250 twin in bright yellow, followed by a brand new CB400F.
Mine was a 1963 Suzuki 50 M15 4 speed. I was 16 in 1969. I used it for 2 years before this on the fields. I put it on the road when i got to 16. Passed my test on it and bought a 1959 BSA A7.
I believe the first bike I ever had was a 1981 Honda 400 - would love to still have it.
I’m 71 now and owned my sweet 67 Honda 305 scrambler from 1968 to 1971. Rode all over the Bay Area from Castro Valley. When I went in the Army in 71, my mom sold my 305. Hopefully someone else enjoyed the heck out of it too. It looked exactly like yours.
My buddy in high in the the late 60's had a 1965 305 Honda Dream. It would out run my 1941 45ci Harley Davidson sport solo. However girls like my Harley much more and 53 yrs later I'm still riding a Harley. Great story thanks for posting.
LOL I got my first ticket back in 1969 on my 305 Scrambler with the Snuff-or Nots OPEN and yes it was for excessive Noise! I still have the ticket by the way and it cost me $8.00 !
Loved the video! I too grew up in the '60's and got bit early on. My first bike was a '49 Cushman when I was 12. Two years later my understanding Dad headed to Tulsa one bright Sunny day to take care of some business he said. When we got to the Yamaha shop he pulled right in and we got out and saw a new 80cc street bike running on the stand. I looked at the paper tag and it had my name on it! Dad said I could have it if I could ride home which was about eight miles. I had only ridden a bike with a clutch once in a parking lot but I became a fast learner with no license that day in 1965. Great memory, Thanks Dad! Now at 73 years old I am working on a '65 Honda 305 Dream.
Great story!
In 1967 I was in the Army stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
I didn't have a car, nor could I afford one on PFC pay.
A guy in my unit was getting sent overseas and decided to sell his Honda 305 Dream and offered it to me, so I sold everything I owned and came up with the $200 he wanted for it.
Another guy in my unit had a 305 Scrambler and we went everywhere on those bikes.......they were the only transportation we had at that time.
I have been riding Harley Davidson motorcycles since 1979 and still ride almost every day at 78 years young.
That old Honda Dream is what started my love for to wheel vehicles and have wished a thousand times that I still had it.
I really enjoy the stories of "pfc's" and bikes, I had much the same, we enlisted to move forward, and those "junk bikes" were often all we could scrape together. I moved on through a Ducati 250, 650 triumph, 441 BSA, flathead 45, and a 74 sportster, still riding a couple Harley's and a Triumph to this day. Just 65, but perhaps I'll get there in time.
65 years old and I can remember spending the summers riding the 305 around the Irish hills of Michigan what a great time we had.
That's such a nice story. I'm 78 and I recall those early Honda days hanging around the hole in the wall dealerships on Saturday mornings dreaming about such bikes as yours. My first bike was a used 250 cc YDS-2 Yamaha 2 stroke that you had to mix oil in the gas. After about a year of smoking up the environment I sold the Yamaha and purchased my first new bike - a S-90 Honda that I used for transportation to and from work. After a couple of years I purchased a used 1965 Triumph TR-6 single carb bike in the early 70's. Having 3 older brothers catching the bug when they saw my bike all bought CB-750 Hondas. We made several day trips and my Triumph was a beautiful bike but I was always so envious of their trouble free - electric start Hondas. The youngest of my older brothers still had his 750 right up to the time of his passing at the age of 84. More than just an adventure on 2 wheels, this provided the impetus for my second oldest brother and I to form a partnership with building 2 motorcycle dealerships - one Yamaha, our first and a year later, one Honda dealership. Each located in two separate rural communities in Northern Indiana. Thank you for recalling for me all of those great memories! In the spirit of Robert Crumb - "Keep on Trucking"!
Yeah. That was my time. So admire men who held on to those great old bikes.
I recall my first ever motorcycle ride or any combustion engine vehicle was also on a honda 50 in the early 70's. My Dad wanted to collect his car from the garage and so I rode with him to the garage on the back of the Honda 50 and was to drive behind him on the Honda 50 on the way back. I was only 15 so no licence / insurance etc He got stopped on the way back by the police for not yielding properly at a junction with me riding behind. I just rode on pretending I did not know the guy. The exhilarating feeling of being able to keep up with traffic for the first time was wonderful.
I remember my friend,, I truly remember! Thanks for the memory.....
I was 13 when my older brother bought a 1968 orange scrambler. I rode on the back, then 2 years later I bought a 1973 CB 175 twin (dual carb). Wish I kept it. Great story, Thanks.
Imagine being a teenager with a motorcycle in California in the early 70s... I'd never sell it either. Great story and a neat bike.
I had a 1968 Honda CB350, I was 21 years old, it was my 3rd bike and my first new bike. I had a 58 Cushman Eagle, then a Honda C-90, it was maybe a 65 or 66 model. rode over 300,000 miles, rode Gold Wings starting in 78, had to quit riding 3 years ago due to severe arthritis. Had to sell the Wing a couple of years ago, first time I didn't have a bike since I was 20 years old. I had hoped to ride another 5 years or so, but it wasn't to be. I still have a 1978 Yamaha DT 175 I traded for about 1980, can't ride it but I'll find it a good home one of these days.
I got mine in '73. It wasn't running and I don't think my Mom thought it ever would. I fixed it and rode it for 5 years. First thing I did was take the "snuffers" out of the end of the pipes and did it ever sound great! I sold it to my best friend and he rode it for 4 years. Loved it!
Lovely guy, lovely story! Great looking (and sounding) bike showing 50 years of patina
Awesome video, bought me back in time. That's when I got the bug. And many Hondas later with the bigger bikes. Thank you. P.S. I'm now 77.
I too, am 71 years old, and this gent is telling it like it ... was! First bike I ever rode (I was 15 then) was a buddy's 1967 305 Scrambler. In Tucson Arizona, 1967.
My family moved to Oakland in Fall of 1968. I know all the places you've visited!
Thanks for the great memory you've shared with us!
It's true - you really do meet the nicest people on a Honda! Great video Mike & Thanks Russ for telling your story. When I was an engineering apprentice back in '71, two of my mates had similar models to this. Steve had a 250 CB72 bought for £25 and Paul had a 305 with Dunstall pipes that made it sound a bit like Russ's scrambler. Happy days...
Many thanks Nigel! Russ really is one of the nicest people on a Honda 😉
My first bike was a Harley 250 Sprint and the second was the Honda 305 Scrambler. Sold them both but still have the memories. Thanks for sharing yours!
Thanks for the wonderful vid. Very nostalgic for me. My Dad had a 250 Scrambler. I really admired it, but I was too small to ride. He sold to a kid across the street that was starting collage. He rode it about a month, then it suffered a catastrophic failure. The mom was really mad, so my Dad refunded her the money back. Tearing the bike down, he discovered that the culprit was the spark plug! The carbide anode had fallen out and into the cylinder, causing the damage. My Dad notified NGK, but they never got back to him. I still have our 160 (not running) Honda Dream, to dream about restoring...
Back in '67, I picked up a 65' [I think] Scrambler with seized engine,
and had a wrecked SuperHawk with a great engine.
With the Honda Shop Manual, tools and a bunch of time,
I learned to mechanic, stripped many an aluminum thread,
but
had a great Scrambler later bored to 350cc,
that gave me 32,000 miles or so.
Still miss her .
I owned one of these in the sixties and loved it. Then went off to Europe and asked my father to sell it (a regretted decision, of course). Now I own a Honda 400f, bought new by me in 1976 and still ridden every week in Northern California.
My first bike was also a Scrambler. A 250. I was 17yrs old as well. Heartwarming that he held on to his scrambler, and that he did not modify it I am sure he has many great memories with go with that bike. His 305 very well maintained and it certainly looks stock, other than he removed the can that was on the exhaust pipes ...that came with the stock Scramblers. The exhaust note of a Scrambler, with the straight pipes is indeed unmistakable.....
My dad had a black one when I was in the 1st grade.He put me between him and the tank and let me steer.Coolest thing on the planet.
I too bought a new 305 just like you show while in the Army stationed at Fort Huachua, AZ.
My young enlisted bought them, they were all over the base and Sierra Vista.
I loved the bike but sold it when another GI sold me a newly new Trimuph 650 Bonniville that he had bought just 3 months before. He had immediate orders for Korea and could not taket the bike with him so I got a great deal on the Triumph.
I would love to have another 305 to play with again today! They were great little bikes.
I bought. the scrambler right after high school. Took it on an epic road trip down Highway One in California. Then during the first draft lottery, my birthday came up number 6. Enlisted in the Air Force. One of the first things I did coming home was to fire up the scrambler and ride it to all my favorite hang outs. Thanks for sharing your comments as well. You can find a 305 these days. Just be patient in your search and you'll find one.
I had a similar looking Honda CL160 also gray and also bought when i was 17. I rode it from Wisconsin to California to the Eastern Seaboard and back to Wisconsin. Today it lies rusting on the junkpile in the woods behind my barn. The chrome on the muffler heat shield is still perfect.
A honda 160 was my first bike, it looked just like the little brother of this. Haven't seen one in years, decades! I never saw a "scrambler model" only the street model. I'd forgotten all about those "snuff or nots". Thanks for all these memories, Mike!
My first street bike was a ‘66 CL160 Scrambler, so I can confirm that the “scrambler model” did exist in the 160 cc size. Fun little bike, good memories….🙂
Hi, had a CB - 160 with single side upswept pipes from Webco Inc. I can't remember if they were the Honshu model or not. Had a CB - 77 road racing seat. So basically, a CL - 160 at least two years prior to the CL - 160. Tried twice the Cl 72 carb conversion. Never could get it jetted correctly. Had a large rear sprocket equal to the rear hub size, I forget the tooth quantity. The bike was flat out at 55 m.p.h. Eventually ended up with 3.25x18 front and 4.00 x18 rear tire, both were Pirelli Universals. That 4.00 would really haul it down to a quick stop.
Had one junior year.180 degree crankshaft. Ran like a raped ape for a 160.
Second that John! CB 160 street when I was 16.....couldn't keep my Dad off the thing! 🤣
71 yo now...still riding mc's...and grinning remembering Dad going down the road.
My first bike was a used CB-160 but as I gravitated toward off road riding, I installed some scrambler pipes.
The next year I purchased a new 305 Scrambler. I soon learned it wasn’t a woods or MX bike so I didn’t have it long. That feels like another lifetime ago but there were great memories from that time in my life.
Just the sound of the Scrambler sends chills up my arms and makes the hears stand on end. I had a 305cc that was red and gray. It sends me back in time to 1965 in San Francisco. The Excelsior District. Upper mission. and Ocean Avenue. I am now 78 years and still ride two wheels. Be safe out there.
I took my brother’s red 1967 305 Scrambler in 1968 from Rome Georgia thru Atlanta to Washington, DC, 754 miles in ~13 hours, from 5:30 to 7 pm with stops only for refueling and the restroom. 6000 rpm allday long, 60-70mph, my teeth and jaw hurt for the next two days!
At seventy, I find the narrative here spot on; the best part not being the bike, but rather, that the bike is still being ridden!
Hi Russ, what a great video! I have owned my 67 for 46 years and spent most of this winter bringing it back to its glory. My first pass is to make sure its in good working/riding order and I may or may not do a frame off restoration next year. Your video brought back many memories as I was the last age group in my state that could have a motorcycle license at 14 years old. Enjoy the ride!
I rode the scrambler just the other day and still marvel at the design of this motor that propels me down the road. I do have the original exhausts with the guppy muffler. When I ride this Honda, my mind is flooded with memories of where this bike has taken me and that I'm still riding it today. Like you learner's permit at 14 and a half, license a year later. Maintain your scrambler and do take it out for a ride. Thanks again!
Listening to this fellow talk about his motorcycle is so easy. I remember his charming way, telling the story about acquiring a 1974 CB 750
Thank you Phil. Yes, it was a great visit on his CB750. Best wishes
Great story...... loved the old pictures.
thanks for this! im considering buying one at present...
I had a 1963 (or ‘64) 305 Superhawk in 1966 on the Canadian prairies. At the time I was flying jets as a 21 year old trainee in the RCAF.
It was a great bike with a good suspension geometry so handling felt secure.
The manual said to obey the 9000 rpm redline in all but the top gear, 4th. In 4th you got exactly 10 mph/1000 rpm and the tach and speedo went to 120 mph and 12,000 rpm.
One summer day I was on a very long, very straight road going south near Saskatoon with a wind of about 30 mph coming from the northwest. I could see how little throttle it was taking to maintain speed so I thought I’d see what the bike might be capable of. I adopted my most streamlined position (judged by my shadow on the road), which was feet on the passenger pegs, throttle friction set tight so I didn’t have to hold it open, enabling me to steer with each hand gripping top of a fork tube directly, keeping my arms tucked in.
Streamlining, if not safety, was helped by the fact I was in a t-shirt and was not wearing a helmet but was wearing wrap-around sunglasses.
My speed fairly quickly increased to 117 mph indicated, corroborated by the tach reading 11,700 rpm, and stabilized there! I was aware that this was only a 305cc motor with a claimed 28.5 hp and was a little concerned about damaging it but I decided to find out what these Hondas were made of so decided to stay at that speed until I reached the next city limits (Moose Jaw) and had to slow down.
That was about 15 more miles. I half expected the motor to seize when I backed off on the throttle in town but at the first street light I was amazed that after about 15-20 minutes at 11,700 rpm it settled into a completely normal sounding idle.
I have respected Honda’s skills in engine design ever since, which is one reason I currently drive a Ridgeline.
To my ears the nicest sounding motorcycle exhaust was the 250 scrambler at high revs. Music! I could hear a hint of it as Russell rode away near the end. Russell’s right - I should still have that bike but, as the Germans say “You get too soon old and too late smart”.
Awesome. I had a 160 and then a 450, but loved.....and still love.....the CL-77. My younger brother bought one and put a WEBCO 350 kit in it. Wish I could find that bike now.
Many thanks! It's a great bike, isn't it?
WOW, great story, I had a 250 Scrambler and a 305 super hawk , you did what i could not, thank you
Funny but sad story…about 1969 , I bought a 305 super hawk with a Yetman road racing frame and a 250 scrambler from the same person. I put the 305 engine in the 250 frame and raced it as a flat track bike. I sold the 250 engine for 25 bucks and threw away the racing frame…gosh , I was so stupid.
Since you don't know what you have I'll educate you.youngster.. I also had a 305 in 68' it's Honda's rare muscle bike called the BIG BEAR SCRAMBLER and it'll take hills like a goat I used to ride in the Sierra's then I lived in lake Tahoe and took it up the skislopes in summer and they the lower Sierra Nevada range across toiyobe Nat forest this bike was the pitbull for Honda most never realized very few sold so you have the top muscle hill scooter that Honda ever built bar none..get it running take it to the hills and you'll not find another cycle ever made that can climb like the 305 BIG BEAR SCRAMBLER..vintage power unmatched ..lucky boy..and I'm 73..
What an awesome story. I'm not a bike guy, but this fellow's passion was really captivating.
Many thanks 🙏
You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
I graduated high school in 1967. These bikes sounded so cool. Congrats on keeping it nice for so long.
Yes, I never knew the scrambler in the UK but I bought, with a "soft" loan from the Bank of Dad, a CB77 in 1963 when I was 17. We did not know it as the Superhawk in Britain though, that term was never heard back then! Great bike and I can verify that around 9000 was the redline, but mine could get to 11000 rpm when required to race against the likes of Norton, Triumph and BSA 650s!
I also removed the baffles for a better sound. The motor lasted 7000 miles of very fast road use and then seized. I sold the bike back to the dealer I bought it from who told me that removing the baffles caused the seizure as a result of lack of back-pressure. I reckon it was the 11000 rpm that did the trick though, finally being just too much to ask from the motor!
OMG! Looks exactly like the one I had, including the "Snuff-or-Not" exhaust "silencers.". Sold mine in '72 or '73 and have regretted that almost every day since!
One of my earliest "big" bikes and an all time favorite.
I'm about the same age as Russ.
Back in the early 60's, Honda had a great advertising slogan that said "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". After watching this vid I'm thinking they had Russ in mind when they wrote it. What a unique story. Few guys hang onto their first bike.
Thanks a lot Eric. I agree. Russ is one of the nicest people out there 😉
Thank you for showing us your (what we called " Big Bear Scrambler"). In 1972, at the age of 16, by working sacking groceries, I bought a red 1970 Honda CL Scrambler. I replaced the high pipes with TT pipes. The sound brought back many great memories.
Back in the 70's I had a'67 160 and a 305. Both Scramblers. Great bikes.
Great story of Russ's early motorcycle life. Wonderful bike all the better for being original and unrestored. Thank you.
My first real bike was also a '67 305 Scrambler in 1972, when I was 18. My big trip on the scrambler was Cleveland, O. to Sudbury Ontario! Today my collection includes a '68 Superhawk and a '64 Dream. I got the bug early in life and still have it!
A rider full of passion after 50 decades ( fantastic Mike ). Ray 🇬🇧
5 decades Ray. He might be a little too stiff to ride after 50! 😉
@@hollowaysteve 😂🤣 no wonder I always get stopped for speeding on the bike Steve ! 🧮 😉
Our neighbor had a 305 Scrambler with a fairing when I was a kid in the late 60’s Huntington Beach, CA. We went for a ride and I remember looking over his shoulder and we were going 105MPH on a straight stretch of road by the Santa Ana River. 50 years later and I still remember how thrilling it was.
The CL77 alongside the Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons and 250 Ducatis set my teenage heart aflame in 1966-7 and set me on a two wheeled passion that still exists (I was 16 in "66). I loved that sound and recently started looking for an example to call my own. I envy you and your Honda..
At 17 in 1967 I owned one. What a great time! What a great motorcycle!
305 scrambler was one of the coolest bikes of all time. Always wanted one but never got one.
What a great story & bike. My first was a CB450 DOHC. I drove that bike EVERYWHERE! Sold it to a family member cousin then got into Harleys. Was a Motor Officer for 11 years. Still riding these days. Mom never wanted me to have a motorcycle. Took her for a ride a few years bak on my Electraglide and she instantly understood why we ride!
I graduated high school in 1967, I love these Hondas !!!
Best bike that I ever owned. Love the sound of that 180 degree crankshaft!
In 62 my best friend got the 250 Scrambler. We went everywhere on that bike. Before that most of us had the CB-50cc, not the step through. Back then I was 15 and we all started out with Mini Bikes. The Scrambler really wasn't a very good off-road bike but we often tried. My kingdom to go through those times again!! Today most people can't even drive a car with a standard trans. Bikes are a complete mystery to them.
In the 70's at the age of 17-18 had a bolt on hard tail chopper built from a 68 305 scrambler.
Remember passing on coming Harley's and getting the a sign. It felt pretty cool.
What a 'Cracker', I had the pleasure of riding a 1962 Honda CB72 Dream 250 Super Sport for a weekend so can just imagine Russ & his friend taking off on Route 1, what a thrill.
Thanks for sharing your story Russ, long may the union last .. 👍
atvb t ..
Wow, Russ filled in a good narrative about the Honda Scramblers, great to see. I raced our first 250 version in 1962, box-stock, for our dealer in Wichita named Nichols Honda. I won 2nd place on it at the Winfield Fairgrounds behind a fella named Barney Gentry who had a H-D Sprint "R" set up for oval racing. Looking at this video, I can see that the scramblers did have good weight distribution and though heavy, didn't show any sudden tendencies to pitch a rider off. I went to work for Nichols and eventually helped set up a dealer in White Plains, N.Y. - we sold quite a few scramblers during their production life.
Many thanks for your great note. I really really enjoyed reading it. Best wishes, Mike.
My Dad had the exact same bike, year, color and everything. My best memory of it is the sole time it broke down...we had to get it home. My Mom pulled up in her station wagon with my 2 little brothers and sister. I ended up in the back of the car, feet braced against the tailgate holding on to a belt, with my overweight Dad holding on to the other end, sitting on the bike. I was 13 and tasked with holding that belt and pulling he and the motorcycle home while we drove up and down hills in N. GA to get to the house. It only slipped out of my hands once. Obviously, those were different times.
WOW! A flood of memories for me. My first bike was a used 66 305 Scrambler. Put some miles on it. I tried the Snuff or Nots and got a ticket for illegal exhaust! lol In 68 I upgraded to a 350 Scrambler and in 70 I bought one of those "some day" bikes. A brand new 1970 Triumph Bonneville! Ah the good old days.
A really great story. I grew up in the same era and recall the 305's well. The Scrambler and the Superhawks were really affordable and reliable rides. I had the BSA/Triumph bug myself and scratched together enough $ to get a Triumph T100R Daytona 500. Bought it new for $1,100.00 and I still own it today 25,000 miles on the speedo later. The dealer gave me a Bell open faced helmet with the bike. Awesome times and awsome music era. Every Sunday morning early I take it out for a 20 mile ride and the sound of that old Triumph twin makes me feel 19 again.
True dat! I've owned my '70 Daytona for about 40 years. Bought it for cheap 'cause the owner warped one of the carb bodies by over-tightening it. Great bike! Makes me feel like Steve McQueen in 'The Great Escape'.
@@jiyushugi1085 But don't be jumping any bob wire fences running from a couple German girls.....!!😄
Man I can relate to your story my first street bike was a 1960 honda 300 dream with a busted clutch cable and a flat tire for $10.00 from a hippie that was 1969 what a blast that was been riding since still riding riding is life👍😎
I started at age 16 buying a used Triumph 200cc cub. It sucked - unreliable and oil-leaky. Tried a newer one, same problem. So, my first new bike was the 305 Super-Hawk. The tires that worked best for cornering were Avon Speedmasters. I loved that bike!
Great story. I am 71 so we have many similar motorcycle experiences. I started on Vespa and Allstate scooters, had a couple of cheap Italian 90's, and then got my first real motorcycle. It was a red Honda CA95 with 150cc. Some called it the Baby Dream. A sailor sold it to me for $250 with something like 300 or 400 miles on the clock. It started every time, shifted smoothly, had great electrics, and would cruise all day at 60 miles per hour. In 1969, at 17, I bought a new Honda CL350 Scrambler. I took that bike my junior summer to Fairbanks, Alaska and back, from Long Beach, California. 46 days on the road without a single problem. I also owned several 305's back in the day and in my opion the 305 Scrambler is one of the top ten best looking bikes of the modern era. Interestingly, the last CL77 I bought was at a Southern California auction over 40 years ago and sitting two rows behind me was Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins. I paid $205 for the Honda, Steve McQueen paid $8,600 for an old, but restored, nline four cylinder. I can't remember if it was an Ace, Henderson, or Indian. I paid the least for a motorcycle that day, McQueen paid the most, with Ekins doing the actual bidding for him. And yes, I am still riding, with more than 30 bikes in my collection.
my dad told me stories about his 305 , he bought his in Cali as well .. he was born San Diego and grew up there.. when he was a teen he rode up and down the coast with his cousin .. i grew up on bikes as well and still have the Honda sl100 i bought from my dad for 35.00 .. i just turned 51 last month ..
Russ what a cool story😊 absolutely awesome!
Loved this bike. Had one from 1968 to 71'. Rode it all over California. Also, took a trip along the west coast from Los Angles to Seattle and back in 1970. Had so much fun.
Yep, I had the CL72 250 scrambler with Snuff or Nots in Montana. It sounded amazing in the mountains to my young ears when they were open!
They had a unique sound, I could pick one out of a
Mob of bikes.
Nice shape - it is one of the iconic motorcycles of all times.
damn it I wish I still had mine from 1970,NOTHING else sounds like this bike.So glad you still have it.
I had a Honda CB 72 Hawk of 250cc scrambler that was on the Australian race circuits in 60s .I bought it for $120 in 1971 included spare engine and frame.
Used to ride it to school, and have burn scars on my leg from the raised exhausts.Sounded great with baffles out.
Still have fond memories,and my brother had a 305 Dream with box frame.
The 250 Scrambler used to be the most common desired bike in the late 60's when I was High School.
My dad had a 305 SuperHawk when I was a kid. I rode on the back of that everywhere. I still remember going down the Pasadena freeway hauling butt. We had lots of fun on it.
Wonderful bike! This reminds me my Honda cl 350 which I bought on my 18 year while being a student. I really appreciate it. I paid $1000.00 brand new in Quebec Canada.