RACING HONDA 305 CL77 SCRAMBLER BACK IN THE 60s (CL72, CB77, CA77)

The Honda CL72 (250) Scrambler, introduced in 1962, launched a new category of dual-purpose motorcycle. It had a sturdy cradle frame, increased ground clearance, upswept exhaust, and larger wheels.
The first real test for the Scrambler came in March 1962 when Dave Ekins, a pioneering off-road racer and Bill Robertson, a Honda dealer, set the 1000 mile Tijuana-to-La Paz, Mexico record riding Honda CL72 Scramblers.
It wasn't long before Scramblers were being modified for racing. Aftermarket race parts were soon available.
While maybe not the fastest of race bikes, the Honda Scrambler did make its mark, all while being one of the best looking and sounding bikes on the track.

[@forrestlindsey3947]

I remember sitting on a hill near Phu Bai Vietnam in early 1966 feeling homesick as hell and missing my Honda CL 72 Scrambler that was wrecked by my younger brother while I was in Boot Camp. Then I heard that distinctive peal of that Honda engine heading northbound towards Hue and I saw a young Vietnamese guy on his Scrambler, hunched low behind his handlebars, making that Honda sing! A piece of home went screaming by and it felt great.

[@mrken503]

That is very cool how the guy on his Honda Scrambler in Vietnam brought back such good memories for you. Seemed like it was meant to happen. Sorry about your Scrambler getting wrecked. Hopefully your brother was ok. Thanks for your service!

[@stevepeterson9759]

Don't forget the smaller CL160, which looked much like the 250 and 305. Great little bikes too, especially with their "snuff r nots".

[@mrken503]

Yes, they were definitely a popular bike too.

[@kendemers8821]

Great video, these bikes emanated from an entirely different time in America. Thanks for putting together this video.

[@michaellawrence5492]

Oh Shit! I got old! Still the memories are young!

[@mrken503]

Yep, I hear ya!

[@ccrider00]

Had a cl77 with a 337cc bore kit, raked f. forks and man did it fly !!! + sounded totially fantastic !

[@mrken503]

I'm sure it did with the big bore kit!

[@davidlerma8270]

Wow I just found this video so cool 👍 I'm glad to still have my Honda 305 Scrambler since 1976✌️

[@caseyhansen4567]

Dave Ekins wonderful person great dirt bike rider.i actually have one of Daves Hondas in my father's garage

[@mrken503]

That is very cool! What a collectors item.

[@ClassicRider]

Soo far I played each song in my band back when

[@mrken503]

Yeah, they were cool songs from back in the day!

[@breezelectricscootersandbi4956]

Love the tunes...👍...I had one of these....broke down in evansville ...greyhound home ..oh well....1971

[@mrken503]

Thanks. Sounds like quite a trip you had.

[@bferguson9277]

Great video and music. Thanks for the memories!

[@mrken503]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@tommitchell8425]

These BADASS Hondas will leave a HARDLY ABLESON IN THE DUST. I have a 350 stroked that screams😆😆😆😆

[@mrken503]

Glad you liked the video. I agree, the Jack Pine event was an interesting view of what an off-road endurance race was like back in the 60s. I also enjoyed seeing the early Hondas, as well as other Japanese motorcycles, since those are the bikes I grew up with.

[@mrken503]

Thanks, I appreciate the complement!

[@larrywhalen596]

Ah, now this was racing, a pair of Army boots, Levi's, a tee-shirt, goggles and gloves and off you went, oh yeah and your trusty Bell Helmet. Think I just gave my age away, ha ha, still have two of my CL series Scramblers, one of which still propells my old bunns across the desert to this day, just have to stand-up on the footpegs more to keep from pounding my spine into dust I have a YZ 250 with MUCH better, (meaning modern), suspension, but my '64 250cc CL72 is still my favorite even though it weighs about twice as much as the YZ or my Sherpa 'S'.

[@mrken503]

Cool. That's great you are still reliving those old memories on your trusty Scrambler!

[@YoraRiderYamaRider]

Loved it, especially the Jack Pine clip!

[@mrken503]

Thanks David! The aftermarket parts I used on my 65 Dirt CL77 (see video, '1965 Honda 305 Dirt Scrambler') were either on the bike already, came from other bikes, or were found eBay. These type of parts can be a challenge to find. You may be able to adapt parts from other bikes also. Good luck with your Scrambler build.

[@whalesong999]

8:45 in, Jim Barr was a friend of mine and he bought his CL-72 from the dealership worked where I ran the service and rider ed program out of White Plains, N.Y. The '63 date is questionable, would have been in the fall at the earliest and his bike would have been brand new. I raced the first CL-72 in Wichita,Ks for the dealer and took a 2nd place in a fairgrounds TT scrambles behind an H-D Sprint "R" set up for dirt racing. I could keep him in sight but with his 30hp compared to my stock 24hp, I was confined to second. The Honda was tractable and sturdy but was not up to the standards that would soon come with Bultacos, Husqvarnas, and CZs. It's weight would really take a person down in an enduro when it came time to push. The CBs and CLs would still be a fine machine to have for use in these times if parts were easily come by. Very road worthy and reliable. They became the kind of quality to reach for by other makers.

[@mrken503]

That's very cool that you knew Jim Barr. I really like that picture of him. What great memories you must have of dirt racing back in the 60s.I remember going to a TT race where all of the bikes were Honda 250 Scramblers plus 1 Yamaha 250. What an awesome sound it was to hear those Scramblers roar by. Of course the Yamaha had a completely different sound and seemed out of place in comparison.

[@whalesong999]

That's an excellent picture of Jim, he was putting on some major 'scoot' there, the only r.h. turn on that course. Yellow plate was amateur. He went more into enduro riding later on, had a Greeves then I sold him a Bultaco Matador.

[@mrken503]

I'm sure he really liked the lighter bikes after manhandling a heavy CL72.

[@superkorba]

best ! best ! really BEST!

[@frankderryberry1412]

I think...pretty sure..the 305 was revamped by Honda and became a 325...used in the CB 350? Bullet proof. Also became the SL350 with high pipes aka a scrambler. Used set in good shape is good as gold.

[@MyCoolVideos101]

Awesome.

[@sierrashere8197]

I have this on a 45 . . G l o r i a . . And the Letter

[@breezelectricscootersandbi4956]

ooops i had the 305....