If you were raised in the 1960s or 1970s, you may have had a small motorcycle with a pressed-steel frame such as this pair of 1968 Honda SS125A Super Sport motorcycles have. Or, maybe you have one now? These two rare project bikes can be found here on eBay in Bullhead City, Arizona. The current bid price is just over $130 but the reserve isn’t met, of course.
Small motorcycles aren’t everyone’s favorite but I think they’re great, most likely for the memories more than anything but any motorcycle is fun to ride if you aren’t out to impress anyone or to look cool or tough. The SS125 was made for a little over two years, from 1967 through 1969 and they’re hard to find today.
The seller has two of them for sale here, the red one appears to be mostly complete and the exhaust pipes are almost more valuable then gold for these bikes. Or, if you’ve ever tried to restore a vintage Japanese bike, almost any original parts are gold. There are two extra exhaust pipes that go with the sale plus other parts it sounds like. I don’t know what the seller’s reserve is but those extra parts could be worth the price of admission by themselves.
The blue bike is a bit more of a project but the seller said that they were thinking of combining the good parts into one bike and restoring that one. As with a lot of us and our projects, they just ran out of time so now they’re for sale.
The engines on both bikes are a 124cc twin-cylinder with 13-horsepower and the one shown above on the red motorcycle kicks over so at least that one should be able to be rebuilt. It’s a beauty in restored condition. The cylinder heads are missing on the blue bike’s engine so maybe that one is more parts than anything at this point. Have any of you owned a Honda SS125?
Well, interest is probably less than zero, but if you are going to do it, this is the best way. Parts, if available, are incredibly expensive. I don’t recall this particular model, it seemed the Benly and Dream stole all the show. With the 750 right around the corner,( 1969) nobody wanted these. Clearly, in a rural setting like which I live, I found, a small bike is downright dangerous, but in a city setting, be okay, if you dare. With all the distracted driving today, riding a small bike is kind of foolish, people just aren’t looking for you.
Hi Howard, and best of the season to you! Yeah, I remember the Benly and the Dream. Even the 90 that shared similar styling. It’s hard to believe that I actually LIKED the styling of those bikes back then. Then the Hawk and Super Hawk, and the scramblers came out and that’s where my attention went, and still is there today…
I had a 1967 S90 in white. First bike and had me hooked on riding.
You would be entirely wrong. If these were on the east coast, they would be in my garage by now. They are great small bore bikes, fun to ride, and a dream to work on. Parts availability is no worse than any other obsolete non Big 3 vehicles if you know where to look. Also, the market for them here isn’t huge, probably only a few hundred of us keeping the small bore flame alive, but I’ve a connection in the U.K. who would have these sold in a flash.
I had a red ‘68 Honda Scrambler 125. I think it was pretty much the same bike but with upswept pipes and semi-knobby tires. It was great until my sister’s boyfriend wrecked it by going down over a bank and hitting a mailbox. Luckily he survived but their relationship didn’t.
I remember a trio of these coming into our community back in the day. A black one, a blue one and a red one. The red one got ridden to death by a guy who lived bikes. He rode them all year round, even when the mercury shivered in the bottom of the thermometer. He also believed that Honda invented the motorcycle and Ford invented the truck. The black 125 was quite troublesome; no end of electrical problems. The wiring harness eventually burnt completely from one end to the other and I don’t think the bike ever ran again; it’s probably still out at the family farm. The blue one was ridden occasionally for a couple of years then disappeared when the rider turned 16 and got a ’62 Pontiac. 1968 and ’69 were the years when Honda really changed the styling. Well, the 175 Scrambler that came out in late ’67 was a nice change. I looked at one but ended up buying a ’59 BSA B33 500 single about then.
Cool that you had a 500 single BSA. I had a 650 Thunderbolt 1971. Too small for me so I sold it plus I was not allowed to drive a motorcycle under my father’s roof.
When my dad caught me restoring the BSA 650 he told me I was previously told I could not drive a motorcycle under his roof. I replied that I was not driving it but more aptly restoring it so that I could sell it. Dad walked away in a huff thinking I disobeyed orders from on high.
Bob
I sure miss that B33. It was a great time to be riding. The Thunderbolt was a righteous ride. I always liked the idea of a single carburetor. One of my friends rode a 650 Golden Flash. It was very similar to my 500, chassis wise. But that old thumper of mine had a sound that was unmistakable…
These are great! I grew up riding (mostly) Honda CD175s.
FYI, the ebay listing has the location as San Diego, CA.
You are correct, sir, but the last line of the seller’s description says that the bikes are located in Bullhead City, Arizona.
To many young men, these were the stuff dreams were made of.
I have a 68 305 Dream. It’s a great riding bike. I’ve wanted one since I first saw one in 1965. Funny thing is I haven’t ridden it in ten years
Auction update: no sale with a top bid of $579.99.
I found a 68 cl125a in a barn here in NM. Missing gas tank, seat, the usual. Haven’t had a hard time finding parts. Almost done with it. Centerstand broken, rear brake pedal bent up, but it started right up with no knocking…
i have a very nice SS125 ,new tires,carb,battery needs wire harness changed,( inlcuded) $1000 but im in norhtern Alberta Canada
https://i.imgur.com/BsaaqQW.jpg
Had one in 70-73 and ran the heck out it year round.
Loved/hated it
Too small but its tank like qualities kept it running forever. Oil changes, points, battery,tires and chains were only thing that wore out occasionally
Speedometer was broken when I bought it and never bothered to fix. Two position throttle was never enough. Always searching for a fifth gear 😂
A lot of miles and a lot of fun but wouldn’t do it again. It was great for learning but 30 days was needing something larger