Topic: 1958 Honda 154cc bike - any info?

[Magpie]

I've stumbled across a 1958 Honda 154cc twin which may be from Japan before the mother company exported these bikes in bulk. Would anyone know anything about these? I've tried a Google search without success.
Thanks,
Cliff.

[Alan F.]

Maybe ask about it on the honda twins forums?

www.hondatwins.com

www.hondatwins.net

Either way I'd grab that bike if you can, there can't be many of those in existance.
-Alan

[Uncle Ernie]

Also see if you can get an answer from the VJMC and AMCA clubs without having to be a member.  The AMA Motorcycle Museum may also be a place to check in. 
A long shot would be the Barber Musem. 

[tbpmusic]

Photos ??

[Magpie]

More searching has turned up this pic. but not sure if it's correct. I've emailed the owner for pics but none yet.
Cliff.

[Industrial Cafe]

I want one of those for my wire to learn on.

edit: I meant wife... stupid fumble fingers!

[MickeyX]

I want one of those for my wire to learn on.

You're what? 

[HondanutRider]

More searching has turned up this pic. but not sure if it's correct. I've emailed the owner for pics but none yet.
Cliff.

That picture is definitely a C95 - the Honda 150 Touring model that was known as the Benley.  It was 154cc in capacity, a bored-out version of the 125 Benley (just like they bored-out the 250cc model to a 305cc version).  There was a similar style in the 250 and 305 range that was called the Dream, hence the 150 model is also known as a "baby Dream".  The model first came out in 1958, but importation to the USA started in 1959.  Early US versions had the turn signals (as on the pictured bike) but soon after were dropped and the model became the CA95, which was unique to the US.  The "early" models of the Benley had a rubber knee pad on the tank with a different shape than the picture shows, so it likely isn't a 1958 model.  Here in Canada, as elsewhere worldwide, they remained the C95 with turn signals.  The CA95 was also different with a hotter cam and higher-compression pistons.

[754]

Cliff, there was a 59 I think up in these parts.. guys initials are RM..
 IIRC it was white with a tan solo seat and had a dry sump.. not sure where it is now..

 I think 58 or 59 was the year Deeley, started bringing them in, he was the first dealer in an English speaking country.. so any earlier ones came over by private import... a lot by servicemen..

 get it if you can...

[Old Scrambler]

That bike model is somewhat common...........only the very earliest have premium collector value. In those years the serial numbers began with the last digit of the year......'58 = 8.......and were only five or 6 numbers...C95E-8xxxx.  The earliest models were indeed C series.  The frame number is buried near the swingarm on the left side. The CA was the designation for America with no turn-signals and elongated dual seats.  The domestic models used separate 'saddles' or a solo with a rear luggage rack until 1960-61.  The C95 was designed to run on low-octane fuel.       

Also check Yahoo! Groups........honda305

[Sam Green Racing]

More searching has turned up this pic. but not sure if it's correct. I've emailed the owner for pics but none yet.
Cliff.

Cliff, going off the registration number, the picture you posted is a UK bike registered in 1965.
The bike in the picture has early silencers (mufflers) fitted.
It also has a UK taxation disc fitted just below the rear turn signal.

Sam.

[754]

 Cliff got the  bike, and has restored it.
They always insisted it was pre 60, but it was more like a 63.
I went to look at it, Cliff made a deal on it, then it came to me, until Cliff  could pick it up.

[Magpie]

Yes Frank helped me out on that one. It was the lady's father so the history was a bit cloudy. She thought he brought in from Japan while moving back to Alberta. It eventually was a bike for the kids to play (destroy) with. It's still in pieces because I found a parts bike that had a better frame than that one so 2 bikes will become one. Both motors are ready to go and just waiting on my painter to do the larger pieces for me in Fire Red. And need a some chroming and some smaller bits.
Thanks again Frank.

[Sam Green Racing]

The reason I was interested guys, had it been a 1958 model, it would have had distributor ignition driven by the camshaft.
I've been trying to find out for a long time if the early 150s with distributor ignition had the small fin head like the 125s C92 and CB92s.

Sam.

[Terry in Australia]

I bought one when I was a kid for 5 bucks, it was black, I don't think I ever got it going, nor do I remember what happened to it. I bought a minty 305 Dream of the same vintage a couple of years later for $25, chopped the fenders and mufflers off with a hacksaw (early Cafe Racer?) and rode it around an abandoned horse racing track @ 70 MPH until the engine suddenly seized and it threw me down the road. (actually wet grass, so no pain) Those were the days!  

[754]

Lack of oil will do that..

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, I remember checking the oil (afterwards) and it had plenty. I never bothered to do an autopsy though, back then old Jap bikes were a dime a dozen, so I dragged it back home and bought me another one. I didn't develop any mechanical sympathy until I was 22, when I rebuilt my first CB750K1.  

[jas67]

That bike model is somewhat common...........only the very earliest have premium collector value. In those years the serial numbers began with the last digit of the year......'58 = 8.......and were only five or 6 numbers...C95E-8xxxx.  The earliest models were indeed C series.  The frame number is buried near the swingarm on the left side. The CA was the designation for America with no turn-signals and elongated dual seats.  The domestic models used separate 'saddles' or a solo with a rear luggage rack until 1960-61.  The C95 was designed to run on low-octane fuel.       

Also check Yahoo! Groups........honda305

And check:

http://www.honda305.com

There are guys there that will know.