The seller has this this bike listed as a 1973 Honda CB100 and they say that it’s a “true barn find.” And, it runs! More on that later. This little time capsule can be found here on craigslist, or here in the Craigslist archive. It’s located in Brooklyn, New York with an asking price of $1,500. I have a feeling that it may be a late-model 1972 CB100 K2 Super Sport model, but I could be mistaken.
This bike looks like it’s in very, very nice cosmetic condition, but you can see a few marks on the right side of the tank, and both sides of the engine cases are worn. Could that be from shoes/boots from back in 1994 when this bike was last registered? This one only has 938 miles on it, and those engine cases can be painted if a person wasn’t dead-set on keeping everything original. I believe that Honda only made this model of the CB100 in 1970, 1971, and 1972 for the North America market so I believe that this is actually a 1972 CB100 K2 Super Sport model? Anyone?
The CB100 was available in North America from 1970 until 1972 and in the last year, 1972, they were white other than two accent colors: Light Scarlet Red and black or Aquarius Blue and black, like on this example. The seller is including a few spare parts which is always nice. The research that I could find lists the last model here being in 1972, so if you’re a Honda historian and know differently, please let us know. It’s always good to have as many facts as possible on these vehicles. The seller says that “when we had it running earlier this year we determined it needed a new needle in the carb and the correct battery. It ran good, but would interminably back fire and cut out. And the bulb in the headlight kept blowing, we think this was because we were using a small 12V instead of a 6V battery.” I’m guessing that possibly all of the bulbs have blown from running a 12-volt battery, but I don’t know that for sure.
This bike was “last run January of this year. Last registered and on the road 94. It has spent most of its life stored inside and is in immaculate shape for a 45 year old bike. It even has the original complete tool kit!” There are a lot of photos if you click on the listing or the archived listing, and they show what looks like a very nice motorcycle. A 100, or 99cc, single-cylinder engine maybe isn’t the smoothest way to go, but I’m sure that it had/has enough pep to keep up with city traffic, despite having just 11.5 hp. If a person didn’t have a lot of shipping costs this could be a fun bike to bring back. They are pretty rare, I have never seen one in person. Any thoughts on this bike, in general, or the possible year being 1972?
There was a time, late 60’s, early 70’s, when small bikes like this were all the rage. Brave was the person to ride one of these in “Harleytown”, but they did, and Asian bike makers sold a bunch, in all configurations. I remember, in the early 70’s, before the 750’s became popular, a 350 was considered a big bike. This bike was clearly designed for city travel, and did it well. However, as people began to move to the suburbs, bikes like this lost their appeal, and finding these in the corner of a garage or barn is not rare ( the place most of these ended up, stored at grandpa’s farm) and big bikes became the norm. I ride a GoldWing today, and have no use for small bikes, except for dirt bikes, but this would make a great beginner bike. I doubt you could kill it.
My late brother had a 1973 Honda CB350-4. It was dark green. The bike still ran great a few years ago but the chrome was ruined do to sitting in a dirt floor shed on the Texas coast. He bought a CB500 (not sure of year, but almost visually identical to the 350 and dark green as well) for parts but ended up fixing it up instead. M uncle had a CB750 and my aunt had a CB350 back in the day. I believe they were both gold. All were great bikes.
In 1973 Honda called the dark green, ‘Candy Bacchus Olive’ . I had a 1974, in ‘Glory Blue Black Metallic’, a beautiful color in the sun. The 350 Four was the smallest of the inline 4 series made by Honda. They were wonderful engines. Smooth, high revving, and tough. They were actually lower on torque than a twin of the same size, but sounded sooooo sweet. The 350 Fours were made from 1972-1974 only and considered kinda rare and collectable. They came in only the Olive, “Flake Matador Red”, and Blue Black. They had a 4 into 4 exhaust that tended to rust out and are unavailable now. I think I got the last pieces left from 3 different Honda dealers back in about 2000. Fun stuff.
Nice nostalgic bike on the reasonable side too ! I like it!
Fyi: I am sure it would give a nice pedal bike a run for its money too!
I had one just like this one in 1972 , same color and I think the top speed was 72 mph .This was a go anywhere bike including dirt roads -never had a problem with it. I ride a Harley fatboy these days but had more fun and rode a lot more with my Honda 100 . Brings back plenty of fond memories.
I had one when I was 16 years old, bought brand new. Mine was red . Loved that bike, wish I still had it,
My sister had one similar to this & I rode the wheels off it! If it were closer to me, I’d buy it in a minute…if only to go Krogering! Funny note: my sister rode it to the DMV to take her drivers test, along with her friend. They both failed the test…then rode them back home. Those were the days…
I like it. It would look cool backed up to the curb in front of the old saloon in the Village. We get a lot of bikes stopping for a cold one in the summer, rarely do I stop to look at one. This is one I would look at. Maybe it’s just me, but I think most newer scooters are going in the same direction as new cars. Appliances. I know some old rice is bringing pretty good money today, but to me this is a couple hundred dollar rig. What does surprise me is that it is six volt. Thanks for the find Scotty, This is way more entertaining than most of what I have seen here today.
Thanks, Mike. It would be a fun little in-the-country bike for sure. I grew up on a gravel road in the country and our dad bought us a 1968 Yamaha YL-1 Twin Jet 100, a little 2-cylinder, 2-stroke twin. It was a fun thing to learn on and I still have it 45 years later!
This was a reader submission, but sometimes folks don’t include a name so we don’t call them out as such. Don’t forget to add your names when you send in tips!
I have a Honda identification manual that shows this as a 1972 model. It was common for some dealers to title them the year they sold, The 1972 was the last year for the CB100. I have a few old Hondas, they are all really good machines. This one is overpriced in my estimation, the larger displacement 60’s bikes are gaining value as the generation that bought them are now retired and collecting. They are all fun, ergonomic, and dependable. Never bought one yet that I couldn’t get running after a tank clean and a carb clean. Fun stuff.
Ah, that’s excellent info, On and On! Thanks much, I bet that you’re 100% right on the year.
I agree that this bike is overpriced….
Had one in my college days in So. Ill. Daily commute was almost
50 miles round trip. It had a luggage rack over the tail light with a
little trunk on top of it, big enough for my lunch and books. Tucking
my girth in behind the handlebars would net me an almost 65mph.
No tach. You probably couldn’t get the revs up close enough to
redline to worry about it. I doubt I’d attempt the ride these days.
I wonder what happened to that bike? Maybe it’s one of those
sitting in the corner of granpa’s barn you speak of.
I had an sl 70 Honda for awhile ended up giving it to my little sister. We took her back country riding and when we reach this long down hill I thought we were going to kill or maim her when she went down this hill. The bike screamed its guts out as she rocketed down in 2nd gear but she made. Funny thing is my little sister went on to be second place champion in Canadian women’s trials and is still involved today.
I think it was these little Honda’s and the ad campaign that said “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” that changed the almost universal public view of bikers as probable Hell’s Angel-type goons. At the time, just riding a street bike seemed to give cops probable cause to pull you over. That’s changed, even with the milquetoasts that leather up on the weekends to be wanna-be badasses running around.
Still have and ride my 1973 Honda 500 4 cyl with over 100 k on it have owner and operated since 1978 when i got it . One fine commuter ride while finishing my military service to retirement in 1990. Really smooth rider.
How bout that little Rambler American sitting there. I’m in the process of building a 64 with a 5.0 Ford engine and drivetrain.
I’m thinking it’s a ’66, based on the tailights..
I had an Australian-delivered 1975 CB250 twin 6 speed that was a joy and I wish I still had it. “Small” engined Japanese bikes were very reliable and could go the distance.
Trivia time: Robert Pirsig rode a 1964 Honda 305cc across Northwestern America in 1968 with his son Chris. That journey became the backbone for his book ” Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance “.
Do you know which model his 305 was? I’d be interested to know. I have an original 1965 model 305 scrambler.
According to this article it was a CB77 Superhawk 305. There’s a photo of Robert and his son on it all loaded up for the Minnesota- San Francisco trip.
http://www.honda305.com/frames/zen-hld1.htm
I’m working on a 1967 Honda C201, 90cc bike that I got from a friend of mine.
It hadn’t ran for 35 years, until Monday.
Motor was seized but got it unstuck and fired it up this week.
Blue was only available in Canada.
Hopefully, I will have more to add to this story.
My 1971 CB100 was hard to kill….finally sold it as they were multiplying around the shop ! I collected every single cylinder Honda for 1971 at one time….still have a few.
Over priced but I wouldn’t mind owning it. And would ride it like nobody’s business. If it was closer I’d be doing my homework to get it.
A very original looking bike but I doubt the reported mileage is correct. The excessive wear on those case covers don’t square with odometer. Those cases look like they’re from a bike with 10,000 miles not 1,000. Maybe the speedo unit was replaced after many miles? Still a nice old bike, will probably run forever, but be aware it may be closer to an internal refresh than the odometer indicates.
What is the modified AMC 10-series in primer?
Nice Motorcycle
I had the same model and color as my first motorcycle It was a 1972 Honda CB-100
Back then it seemed to run for days on s few gallons .Never had any problems or concerns ever loved that motorcycle .
I have one just like it. Great condition. Fantastic little bike.