Staff Bikes: Ross' Honda CL77 305cc Scrambler

[@bradmiller9993]

I haven't heard that sound since 1972. I bought a 305 in college, ran it all over Los Angeles after classes, then shipped it home to Seattle. It was my first taste of real freedom. Lovely video; thank you.

[@BiLatKnee]

Wow. Me too. 1971... burned it up and then bought another... great memories. West LA College.

[@shenmisheshou7002]

I always loved the Scrambler (which was pretty much the only thing it was called in my parts when I was a kid, and there were no other motorcycles marketed as "Scrambler" in my area before that.) The sound of the bike was glorious, and still is.

[@RisingSun0203]

Ole Blue. A great desert rider. My buddy’s Dad had one. Crazy fast, great sound.

[@eddylloyd7413]

Had a red 1966 Honda 305 Super Sport (as it was then known in SWA) in Windhoek, South West Africa - will never forget the fun I had with it.

[@robertwoodliff2536]

Brilliant piece of work...., not fussed....., real.

[@BobCummins]

I bought a new CL77 in the spring of 1967, my junior year of high school. I sure had fun that summer and my senior year on that bike. My hearing is bad on my left side because of it.

[@mebeasensei]

Just love this bike. Third time to visit.

[@jonnybegood4848]

That very well might be my bike. I bought it used in 1968 from a friend who was a year ahead of me in school. He was going into the navy. He financed me after a $100 down payment for a $200 balance and I made monthly payments to his aunt. I went away that fall to college and used to ride that bike everywhere. I had a friend with a 125 and we had bags of fun chasing each other around a corn field, part of which was muddy. I'd follow railroad right-of-ways and even taught a friend to ride for the first time going right down the middle of the tracks. Importantly, I had one girlfriend in Holland Michigan I would go to see on that bike. My hands would get a bit numb after a while from the vibration of a engine lacking a counter balancer. I'd leave Naperville, IL, my college town and ride around and up the east side of Lake Michigan. I took the girlfriend for a ride once in her college town and the bike suddenly quit. We pushed it back to a Honda shop near the downtown. The points had failed in some way. The next day on the way back to IL on a freeway, there was a "bang" and I popped along to the side of the road having blown a piston. I pushed that bike for a couple of miles to a gas station, parked it and left a note to the owner. I hitched a ride and got picked up by a biker and his father traveling in a car. On the way back, we stopped at the biker's hangout, an abandoned farmhouse with a toilet full and disgusting. They went to a store in long coats and stole cigarettes and snacks. I was dropped off in downtown Chicago at a train station and traveled back to my college town. The following week, I came back for it and my brother & I loaded it in the trunk of a Ford sedan. I replaced the pistons but sold it to a roommate, never riding it again. It had a slight dent in the tank but not that huge one I see in this video. Maybe it's not my bike but, it's darn close - certainly its neighbor. This is a real trip & treat to see this wonderful restoration. Well done! BTW: when I bought the bike it had straight pipes with that baffle set. Inside the pipe it looked like two, loose fitting washers. The knobs were spring loaded. When police were around one could quickly tone it down. These were an add-on: you could purchase them at motorcycle shops or from magazines. I remember seeing new ones in plastic bags with a paper closure above and hanging from accessory hooks.

[@Ianzandvoort]

What a nice story

[@WasabiJohn]

Appleton, where the CL77 was bought, is about 2 hours from me... Beautiful cycle and restomod! Thanks for the upload!

[@kimhorton6109]

I had a CL175 in Japan when I was at Iwakuni in 1971. Great bike. The whole run of Honda CL bikes were stellar

[@bake162]

Nice job, wish I could find one

[@yogindertickoo]

What an absolute beaut!!!

[@petershim5900]

The 305 is scary fast! I would love to have one now!

[@pernielsen3094]

Great to here that amazing bad ass sound again! I had a '62 CL72 back in high school. We rode them everywhere you could think of....endless fun. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@MJP3055]

Great video! You just took me back to my childhood with that sound. Love that throttle.

[@michaelfiller3452]

I bought a 1967 CB77 in 1974, when I was a freshman in college. The previous owner had "worked on" the engine, and tightened the main case bolts without aligning the feed to the main bearings, consequently cracking the case, leaking oil, starving the overhead cams. I found a used engine for $75, from a scrambler, CL77. The top was a little different, so I swapped the long studs to use the correct breather, which mated with the frame. My bike, the SuperHawk, had a forward swinging kick starter, and I was forever getting my right shin banged on the return. The tank was chrome sided with black rubber knee pads. I did my first long rided on that bike, from central Illinois, up through Wisconsin, into Minnesota, down through Iowa and home. It was loud, heavy 365# to my 118, and handled poorly, but I loved it. The third version Honda offered was the CA77, the Dream. It had a swing arm up front, like some BMWs of the time.

[@BiLatKnee]

Good job, dude. Great example of a bike that was my first, second and a solid memory for me from 50 years ago!!

[@TC-gn2by]

Awesome exhaust note, brings back memories here too . I had a CL72 as my first bike, hotrodded it to 337cc, domed piston, H&C roller cam, port polish, cb350 CV carbs , HP oil pump, and, of course, snuff-or-nots, turned 12k rpm all day. The needle bearing crank made this bike a candidate for performance mods with a plethora of aftermarket available Hotrod parts. btw, the snuff or nots are aftermarket , as stock it came with a simple set of baffles that inserted into the end of the pipe , 77 brought the combined 2 to 1 muffler . Disappointed to hear it's not worth much as I still have mine. :) Thanks for the ride!

[@seabulls69]

I was quoted $685.00 (American) in 1967 for a brand new CL77. I remember because I was shopping for the CL160 at the time and the dealer said for $100.00 more than the 160, I could have the much more powerful 305.

[@josephalmeida9794]

love that sound love that bike

[@powellmountainmike8853]

I owned a CL77 for years. Great bike. Easy to work on.

[@briantrend1812]

best bike ive ever seen

[@larsstougaard7097]

Love the sound, it´s perfect, Elvis has entered the building.

[@johnoehrlein8379]

I had two 64 cl72's and dad had the 66 cl77.

[@mebeasensei]

I fucking love this bike! Bravo!

[@NickelStee1]

13:00 so classy the tool roll message.

[@mrsmith4662]

Love the bike!

[@TheJacali]

That thing is awwwweeesome!!! And it sounds amazing!

[@billlittlejohn2331]

Man you bring back memories for me!! My first bike was a 305 Scrambler or as we called them , the 305 Super Hawk. I had 2 between 69 and 75 I think. I currently own a Harley Davidson and will keep it. Thanks for a great video of a classic Honda. The 305 really impressed me. Thanks again for the memories.

[@robfrye4664]

An honest review of an owner-built vintage Honda! Several friends bought new 250 scramblers when they first hit the US market in '62. I was 16, riding my '59 BSA 650 Super Rocket. 'Snuff-or-Not' baffles were the first modifications they did. These would fly apart all over the road when they wound the motors up, which was a bit of a problem. The sound of those little 250 twins was amazing, especially with 3 of them flying down the road together!

[@TC-gn2by]

You have to run them open most of the time or Not only would they explode they would wear out the hole in the exhaust pipe I got more loud exhaust tickets on that bike than any other bike ever owned

[@timmitzlaff8960]

Wow, back in 69-70 we were passing around a 66 305 scrambler with twisty knobs on the pipes. It WS yellow. There were 3 of us trying to be the one to own the bike. This brings back good memories. Fortunately I have a couple pictures of it.

[@jimkoney4200]

The older bikes are the most beautiful. Probably, why I cannot decide what bike I want today.

[@monman8183]

What a little gem. Not over the top like a lot of the modern builds these days.

[@d.riprock1546]

That's really sweet man. Always liked those and the blue tank w brown seat sets it off nicely.

[@damo7940]

Superb mate😎👍

[@ronquixote3767]

I just bought a 67 scrambler that looks almost exactly like yours did originally. My winter project, I really like the fenders on your bike, looks amazing! Really makes me want to go home and start wrenching! And my 67 doesn't have the huge muffler on it, straight pipe!

[@sebraaap]

the CL77 is so hot, original too, nice job on the mod

[@kombat6555]

My neighbour has one. I thought it was a full restoration but he told me it was a "barn find" sort of situation. It's red, totally original and immaculate to boot.

[@dwaynetempest3433]

Luv it ! Old Honda's are badass.

[@mark.e.p]

Love the old Honda Twins, l had a 175 then a '72 350 years back. Excellent build.

[@GordonjSmith1]

Love it. Even if you look forward 50 years to F1, Honda are very determined to produce competitive and durable machines. As a teenager I bought a Honda scooter ('Dominoes pizza delivery bike') it was a wreck, but somehow it still worked. Spent many happy hour riding around fields and lanes. Great that you found this one and gave it some care.

[@pennsyltuckyden9823]

That is one sweet bike

[@akwise13]

My dad had one when I was a wee little fellow. Beautiful then, even more so now. Appleton Wisconsin is right near where I live now Minnesota! Cold but beautiful area

[@robotman99lolface]

Shout MN! From there, living in vancouver now. You betcha!

[@davexjs5889]

You are a Fantastic Ambassador for all . I Would only wish. i personally could bring back life to old bikes. I Would have been happier with a full on Brit original bike but respect to Japan .Thank you

[@victorcaniunir70]

A lovely machine! Only a genius can see a jewel un a rock...fantastic transformation!

[@aresonance]

that thing is a labor of love.

[@toes1965]

Love the bike really love the tool roll

[@mrantone916]

My aunt lives in La Paz Schweet! 😎

[@stepheneldridge6998]

What a brilliant bike....super cool! And it has as much Baja heritage as my XR650R! Steve

[@tiltedflip4491]

I remember riding to the pool hall with my mom to tell Dad to come home for dinner. Well, She saw him on a 305 Scrambler without a helmet. That was the best ass chewing I ever saw anyone get. As a kid, I had a 160 Scrambler with 305 forks.

[@dancouger1540]

Love the bike , love the vid, especially the clowning around at the end . Quick lil bike !

[@jvsdibond1768]

love every thing about it.

[@sportster88]

Dad took me on my first streetbike ride as a kid on his 1965 CB77 with the low pipes. I'd love to have a scrambler version like yours!

[@bloodshoteye5594]

I had the same stuck left cylinder in mine, just got it unstuck just the other day

[@buckshot4428]

Back in 66 or 67 I had a paper route and one of the older guys had a 305 Super Hawk. He gave me a ride on it and it was a very nice bike.

[@jakemonster001]

Damn dude. I’d be so tempted to get a new engine. Great work!

[@mikeofmanymikes2630]

Bad ass Honda.

[@KARMAkazeMoto]

Got me excited to work on the stripped down CB360 sitting in my garage right now. Good motivation!

[@philsechzi8469]

How's yours coming along. I just started buying parts for mine

[@pauliebots]

Just did it and made it work! Nice job. First I hear of snuff nuts...cool.

[@jaywalker8309]

very nice build very impressive well worth the work looks like alot of fun to ride

[@michaeldooley654]

Very cool bike, as much as I am really impressed by the professional big money builds its well put together cleverly modified classics like this that I really like.

[@bobwhite5440]

it sounds amazingly like a scaled-down 2 cyl version of the mustang 5.0 coyote, thanks to the flat plane crank. awesome sound.

[@hemanthchowdarykilaru331]

Awesome bro 😍👌

[@user-br3ed9be1r]

Proper love these videos, I sit and watch for ages. Thank you!

[@user-vc5rp7nf8f]

like how vintage, simple it looks. plus it's honda so you know engine is respectable

[@nigelbrazier835]

im speechless that is so beautiful.

[@adamprawiranegara5800]

the best bike for me so far

[@conradclipper]

Hang on, not enough people commenting on the incredible history of this bike! Baja 1000 original? Piece of history. Beautiful.

[@Napalmdog]

My first bike was a CB77, the street version of this bike. So many things that were ground-breaking with that engine! The oil pump manages to provide *two* pounds of oil pressure. If you ever have the top-end off, check and see if the cylinder inserts haven't dropped as they sometimes do and thus will blow the headgasket.

[@jamesosborne4132]

Nice informative and interesting talk about your Bike - Thanks for Sharing 👍🏻

[@wb4h]

Flat tracked one of these in the early 1970’s, a barrel of fun.

[@pitozrevo]

that velcro plates are just brilliant. thumbs up!

[@awesomefearsome]

Sounds amazing!

[@lonedobie1]

Still got my 305 love it !!

[@drew657]

Gotta love a classic Honda twin.

[@paraglide01]

I used to have a cb 360 scrambler with open pipes, brings back sweet memories.

[@frankie5341]

Nice bike, need the cb72 gearbox sprocket, vw beetle tail pipes work well on these, and carb spacer extentsion will help with low down power. A nice fun classic.

[@shangurung9328]

Amazing, love this machine

[@pflewis]

Sweet bike. I have a stock ‘72 CL175. After looking at yours. I’m thinking I might slim down my seat. Width is fine, just too thick. Anyways, great bike. Oh yeah, I’ve been to Appleton WI , many times. I wonder where these big stocks of old Honda’s are coming from. Cool. I could use a few parts. Great vid.

[@laterdudesaint]

I remember these very well.

[@MartinBavin]

Absolutely beautiful

[@dnzrdm]

beautiful

[@seanfrank4158]

Gorgeous. Love it.

[@kennethm.pricejr.8921]

Awesome! I loved my 305! It wasn't as fast as the 350 on the street, but in the dirt the 305 was superior and could dice it out with 2 strokes of the time.

[@rola938]

Love it I had a CB77 which I rode and rode the only problem I had was the rear anchor plate on the twin leading shoe brake which broke above the stabaliser and allowed the brake plate to rotate and apply the brake harder and harder, yep I chucked down the road, turns out that the anchor bracket was a weakness so get it reinforced if you ride one of these.

[@vanveen8472]

not snuff nuts, but snuff or nots, wish I had bought one of those back in the day, instead I had a whole series of BSA's, Triumphs and Nortons, probably saved my life because at least half the time I was working on them instead of riding

[@CZ350tuner]

There was a time that 305cc bikes became a trend with manufacturers. Honda bored out the CB72 & CL72 250 to take CB350 pistons to create the CB77 305 & CL77 305. Suzuki bored out the T250 Hustler to take T350 Rebel pistons to create the T305 Raider. Yamaha bored out the YDS series 250 to make the TM series 305's. Motokov GB (UK importers of CZ motorcycles) issued a 307cc big bore kit for the CZ 250-471 Sport during the late 1970's to create the very rare CZ 305-471 Sport & Deluxe models. I have one of these in my collection. The last manufacturer to produce a 305cc motorcycle was Kawasaki in the 1980's with the GPz305. After that the capacity class died out. It appears that any 250cc twin motorcycle with a 350cc twin larger sibling can be converted to 305cc by boring out and installing 350 pistons. I wonder if a Honda CD250 could be made to take CB350 pistons??

[@deborahchesser7375]

Gorgeous, so clean. 👍🇺🇸

[@v4forlife]

I didn't even know about the Bike Shed Scramble, but its basically on my doorstep...

[@Nathan-dx7le]

I'm having that number plate velcro idea. Consider it done!

[@iridemanila]

look like a great build

[@mikeskidmore6754]

A friend of mine had one of these in the Mid 1970's stripped down to ride on his Farm... In his younger days he raced a BSA Gold Star B-50 in Flat Track and he owned a Vincent Black shadow.. While on the Farm he also bought a new Ossa 250 cc Flat Tracker also in the Mid 1970's

[@jacekmalejko1309]

What a sound!!!

[@STho205]

Had a CL as my first bike. Bought a 08 last year Nighthawk and modded it to the old seat stance. Closest two drum 20hp feel I could find on a newer bike.

[@MrChappo1963]

Awesome job!! Crackin little machine, we'll done!!

[@burtvhulberthyhbn7583]

I was 11 years old in 1966 when the 3 Chartrand brothers all got Honda 305's. I remember at least one of them had those twist "dampeners" at the end of those straight pipes. Helmets were not required yet in Massachusetts.

[@tj-kv6vr]

my first bike, a 62. what fun

[@jameswulzen590]

I take it back that's an Italian Monza cap.

[@estuardo1631]

Beautiful