Author Topic: Year ID for an S 65 (Read 3353 times)

jethroswit · « **on:** June 08, 2018, 10:13:44 AM »

I picked up a White S65 off a guy in fairly good shape last week (the bike, not the guy). He got it from a warehouse he had purchased so I didn't know the year or history. I've been having trouble finding much info on how to decipher the pre-1980 Frame Numbers as there's a less info on these models than some of the more popular and higher production Hondas of the 70's. I know the S65s were only made for a couple years from 1965-1969. The Frame No. Begins S65AA0.... I think that would make it a '65 manufactured at the Ohio plant, but wanted to reach out here to confirm.

I'll post some pictures eventually. Should be a fun, quick little project. The S65s were kinda the first bike I started to get interested in when I saw a couple when I was in Vietnam a number of years ago. Managed to score this one for a really low price cause the guy was just trying to clear the warehouse.

Cheers!

02z06dave · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2018, 02:22:53 PM »

The wiring harness should have a little tag on it with the year. Sometimes its faded away, but it might help

Johnie · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2018, 02:24:37 PM »

That was my first bike back in 1970 and in the white. Paid $50 for it, filled the tank for like 50 cents and road forever on that tank. Great little scoot. Got a pic?

jethroswit · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2018, 02:35:02 PM »

Just this grainy pic right now. Gonna take some more comprehensive shots this weekend with the proper camera.

You did better than me by $200 bucks. But the engine is free and the wiring is intact and the tank is beautifully, gloriously clean on the inside. Missing: front fender, left engine side cover, and front foot pegs. Everything else is accounted for.

I'll hunt around on the wiring harness - didn't spot anything of note on it last night, thanks!

Johnie · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2018, 03:44:17 PM »

Cool...memories!!!

vfourfreak · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2018, 04:26:36 AM »

Looks like an OHC motor, so '67 or later I'd guess.

Kev

vfourfreak · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2018, 04:42:48 AM »

Quote from: vfourfreak on June 09, 2018, 04:26:36 AM

Looks like an OHC motor, so '67 or later I'd guess.

Kev

I think I'm wrong there, they had OHC motors pre '67. The wiring harness clue may be the best to commence with.

Kev

Johnie · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2018, 07:24:21 AM »

I don't know how much they change the look of the bike in the 4 years of production, but mine was titled as a 65 and looked just like yours.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2018, 07:45:12 AM »

What makes you think it was made in Ohio? Honda started manufacturing in Marysville in September of 1979.
The first year SA65s frame numbers started with SA65 A10..

jethroswit · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2018, 04:02:13 PM »

Quote

What makes you think it was made in Ohio? Honda started manufacturing in Marysville in September of 1979.
The first year SA65s frame numbers started with SA65 A10..

I had read that the post-1980 HONDA VIN codes: second letter was the plant it was manufactured at. I was hazarding a guess that this may have applied pre-1980 for the frame numbers. 'A' - was the demarcation for the Ohio Plant (as far as my understanding). But certainly if they didn't start manufacturing there till '79, it clearly doesn't carry over. Thanks for the info!

*Source http://ww2.onvacations.co/1978-honda-motorcycle-vin-decoder/

MikeSimon · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2018, 07:28:23 AM »

You may confuse something. There was a country location code incorporated into the VIN, but it was in front of the model designation. It was JH2 for Japan, 1HF for the U.S. and VC1 for Belgium. The "A" - if part of the VIN - would have been further back after the "year" designation and the last letter before the actual numeric serial number. That was indeed A for Marysville, Ohio. But that all did not start until 1981, as far as I know.
Honda started making motorcycles in Ohio in September of 1979 with two models: the 1980 CBX and the Elsinore dirt bike. The CBX was dropped after May of 1980 and went back to Japan with he 1981 model starting in January of 81.
Marysville saw a plethora of different models produced there, with the Goldwing being the most known.

jethroswit · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2018, 06:22:25 AM »

Oh cool! I truly appreciate all the info. I love the history of these bikes.

vfourfreak · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2018, 07:24:58 AM »

Quote from: jethroswit on June 09, 2018, 04:02:13 PM

Quote
What makes you think it was made in Ohio? Honda started manufacturing in Marysville in September of 1979.
The first year SA65s frame numbers started with SA65 A10..

I had read that the post-1980 HONDA VIN codes: second letter was the plant it was manufactured at. I was hazarding a guess that this may have applied pre-1980 for the frame numbers. 'A' - was the demarcation for the Ohio Plant (as far as my understanding). But certainly if they didn't start manufacturing there till '79, it clearly doesn't carry over. Thanks for the info!

*Source http://ww2.onvacations.co/1978-honda-motorcycle-vin-decoder/

As far as I know, there were USA market specific model numbers back in the 60s, so there was for example a C72 there was also a CA72 specifically for the American market. Thta is not to say they were built in USA, that came much later.

Kev

drumstyx · « **Reply #13 on:** June 11, 2018, 10:04:23 AM »

Neat! I've got a C65 I'm working to get running and an S65 frame behind the house -- both 1965s. Is that the original 65 engine in there? They're near impossible to find now, so my S65 is unfortunately (or fortunately?) going to get a big ol' Lifan.

EDIT: See if you can get a vehicle history record wherever it was last registered (In Canada this is easy, we only have so many provinces...I'd hate to search 50 states!) to get the year. Many, many parts sites don't even bother with years on bikes this old, so the only reason you'd need a year is...well for yourself really.

jethroswit · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2018, 11:48:56 AM »

Yeah I'm mostly just curious for me so I can say, A '6x Honda S65. As I understand it, they didn't change a whole lot about them over their production run, but I WILL still need to find out if/what left side engine cases might be compatible since that's one of the few things missing on this bike. And can't say for certain if it's the original engine or not, but it looks to be correct. Everything else on the bike seems original.

drumstyx · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2018, 12:00:51 PM »

Quote from: jethroswit on June 11, 2018, 11:48:56 AM

Yeah I'm mostly just curious for me so I can say "A '6
Honda S65." As I understand it, they didn't change a whole lot about them over their production run, but I WILL still need to find out if/what left side engine cases might be compatible since that's one of the few things missing on this bike. And can't say for certain if it's the original engine or not, but it looks to be correct. Everything else on the bike seems original.

You'll definitely have a very hard time finding anything that happens to be year-specific, but part numbers for that piece are

11341-035-020
11341-035-030
11341-035-040
11341-035-050

(each superceding the last by Honda's book)

Fortunately at least some of those seem to be the same as some 70cc (actually 72 or 73, but whatever) models

EDIT: Oh, and even more fortunately, you don't even need that part to start the bike (just keep away from the rotor!!)

jethroswit · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2018, 12:21:00 PM »

lol yeah, keep my shoelaces short while riding it till I find that cover. Thanks for the parts numbers!

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2018, 05:46:20 AM »

I'm in the same boat as you. Have an S65 that didn't come with any paperwork and I wanted to know what year it was. The attached pic shows the tag on my wiring harness clearly stating "1965" so that's what I'm assuming is the year of my bike.

jethroswit · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2018, 08:26:53 AM »

Hmm interesting, thanks! Cool of them to put it on something so indestructible that will definitely never go anywhere /s. I've been busy all week so I still have to go take a look and see if I have on on my harness, but this bodes well.

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Author Topic: Year ID for an S 65 (Read 3353 times)