smithenhiven

I figured I'd share this with everyone, as most people on here have probably never seen or heard of this bike. So here's the bike I'm picking up, it's a late 50's, probably 1957 or 1958 Honda Benly JC. Unsure on the exact year, as it's not clean cut as to model year cut offs by VIN number.

It's a Japanese market bike, as Honda did not start exporting to other markets until 1959. Engine is a 125 cc OHV single cylinder, making 8 hp.

Here's a quick pic, I plan to take some more when I get it home. It's not in the best condition cosmetically, but the good part is that it runs.


The plan is to fully restore it, keep it for a while, and maybe sell it. You'd be amazed at what these things sell for when they are offered for sale. I guestimate that there's less than a dozen of these bikes in the USA, the last on to sell was on ebay, and it went for $10K in non-running condition.

Here's an example of a fully restored bike:

leeminho86

Looks like fun, possibly something even I could fit on

Good luck with the build

Pauldo

WOW that restored one looks awesome!!

lenn

Wow, looks really good! Mind me asking how much you are picking up the project for? It reminds me of a Honda Dream

The bike seems to be complete and in relatively good condition! I'm pretty amazed that the owner has kept it running

smithenhiven

I'm actually trading something for it (early 1950's Honda auxillary bicycle engine, worth a few grand).

These engines are amazingly simple in design, so most of these bikes that are complete will still run.

CivicWagonRUS

Very cool. I love the old Hondas. Between my brother and his friend we have a 1965 Honda S90, a 196(4-5?) Benly Touring, and a 1974 CB360G (front disk brake). I'll take some pictures sooner or later.

Tornadom

Pardon my ignorance, but is it a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke? I must say, it is a very pretty bike when cleaned up. I still want to take on a restoration project.

Haleiwa-Brando

That thing is sick. Restore it. Good luck finding NOS parts for it though. Put it in a glass case and pass it down to your children.

I think my next bike may be an early 60's Honda Dream if I can find one.

smithenhiven

It's a 4 stroke.

Thanks for the compliments everyone,

ForcedAccord

That's pretty awesome man. I could only imagine how hard it is to find all of the restoration pieces.

Goodluck.

smithenhiven

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ForcedAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's pretty awesome man. I could only imagine how hard it is to find all of the restoration pieces.

Goodluck. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks. Actually, it's virtually impossible to find any parts for this bike. Every once in a blue moon, Yahoo Japan Auctions has some used parts, and on even more rarer ocassions you can find some NOS peices on there. But for the most part, if you need parts, they will have to come with a parts bike.

Since these are directly related to this bike, I figured I'd post my little collection of original brochures:

lenn

Thanks for sharing those! I love how the third photo has that red bubble that screams "10 Horsepower!!!!!"

And also, although the bike was, as you had mentioned, for the japanese market only, they seem to have drawn a fair amount of caucasians outside of their target audience riding the bike

Baltz

This guy is the man when it comes to classic honda items.

You should see his s600.

smithenhiven

So this past weekend, I made the 12 hour trip from Pittsburgh PA, to Leeds Al, to pick up my Benly.

Here's a couple quick pics after I got her home:





Here's a short vid of it running, I wanted to take it for a short spin around the block, but the carb seems like it needs some attention as the bike wants to bog down when I give it gas.


I'll post a few more pics shortly.

Starscream

Awesome man, good luck with the restoration

That first one looks incredible, everyday that passes I'm diggin' old bikes more and more...I could see myself getting one in the future.




Modified by Starscream at 10:32 PM 10/24/2007

smithenhiven

Thanks,

I hope one of these days, I'll be able to make this one look like the restored one. It shouldn't take too much, it looks much worse than it is. It obviously needs painted, and the chrome redone, but it's 99% "there", and it's solid otherwise.

civhatch90

wow thats awesome! and the engine sounds pretty good too

MSchu

I left one of those (Actually a tohatsu 50cc) in the trash when I left california recently... it was going to be to much trouble to transport and to find parts for ... now I am

smithenhiven

Never heard of that bike, should have sold it on ebay.

sup gurl

That's a pretty bad *** looking bike for the 50's!

Good luck with the restoration!

starsxburn

wash/wax it and detail it asap.

and give it a tune up/oil change. and jsut ride it like that for a while.

maybe some new rubber.

but i think it will look cool to ride it "vintage" style for a few weeks while you come up with a plan.

smithenhiven

I had actually thought about that, and may just do that.

cortezmachine

that thing is teh hotness

it would be super gangster if you could squeze at least a liiiiiittle bit wider rubber on it

smithenhiven

Yeah, I known. However, believe it or not, the original 50 year old tires are in decent shape, just a few cracks, but they hold air and have decent tread.

WanganRunner

WOW! I love those, especially how the seat is suspended like that.

Unfortunately, given that you own both an S600 and a 50's Benly, I'm going to have to hate you....a lot.

IMO that is the neatest pair of vehicles on this website, but I'm also a sucker for ancient Honda iron.