Honda Series C70 to CL77 from 1957 to 1968!
The 250/305 series bikes changed Honda's fortunes!
This series "Dream" was influenced by the German NSU motorcycle of the early 1950's. The first engines were dry sump, not reliable, and relatively low performance. By 1960, development had progressed significantly making the engine an oil tight, high reving, "stone" reliable engine which made the little Honda's something to contend with in a world market! The CB, CL,and CA twins have a legendary record today as reliable and modern (for their time) engine.
For additional information go to: www.honda305.com
The series starts as a C70 touring bike (250cc) in 1956 and ends with a super sport 305cc bike in 1968!
From C70, to C71 (electric start) 250cc twins, their counterpart was the C77, a 305cc version of the same bike. They started with about 16 horse power for the 250, and ended with 28.5 horse power for the CB77 Super Hawk (305cc).
At the end of the "C" serice development, they were modern, reliable, and powerful bikes for their day!
The CE71 pictured below had a pressed steel frame and low pipes. It was sold in 1959 and 1960. Most of the "sport" models had high pipes. This model was a very low volume machine with an estimated production of 390 to 400 units made. There was also a CR71 Super Sport model made in 1959 with production numbers around 40 units. The CR model was very much like the CB72 Hawk of 1961 except for the squared off tank like the CE model below. The newer CB72 also had an updated engine which was much stronger, though they looked nearly identical! A photo of the CR71 motorcycle is at the top of the "Specialty Bikes" page.
The Scrambler models were offered from 1962 as 250cc machines. In 1965 the machine could be purchased in either 250 or 305cc versions. The 305cc version continued from 1965 to 1968. These bikes sold in large volume and many were raced even though they were heavy. The high pipes were copied from the BSA Spitfire Scrambler.
The stock Hawk/Superhawk's were fast for their day. The 305cc version could run with most of the older British 500cc bikes. With a 350cc kit, "roller" race cam, and Honda 450 carbs, these bikes would really run. Back in the late 1960's several friends and myself sponsored a CL77 (305 Scrambler) drag bike. It was completly stock except for a racing cam, CB pipes, and a little tuning, and it ran in the low 15's at nearly 90mph (15.3's @ 88.5) in the quarter mile. I came across a "Cycle World" article dating back to 1964 which reported a full race Super Hawk (with a 350cc kit) which ran the quarter mile in 13.4 seconda @ 99mph. Very fast for the day!
The 305 Scramblers were good looking bikes!
There was a time during 1965 through 1968 that half the bikes you would see riding around were Super Hawks and Scramblers. Honda sold hundreds of thousands of these bikes. The Super Hawks sold for around $600 and the Scramblers for about $50 more. When the 250cc bikes were available, they were only about $50 less than the 305cc versions. I don't remember seeing many 250's around, they were almost always the larger version!
It was this series of bikes, the CB (Hawk 250/Super Hawk 305) series, CL (Scrambler), and CA (touring) series, that made Honda one of the major producers of motorcycles in the world. They were clean, oil tight, required little maintenance, and were inexpensive to buy. Today they are very collectable. The early models are most collectable, a CE71 of 1959/60 will fetch over $10,000 if in pristine condition. Any CB or CL in good condition will bring $3,000 to $4,500 dollars depending on the level of originality. A 250cc bike will actually bring a little more than a 305 because of their rarity!
The CB, CL, and CA twin was a fully Honda design. It was not a copy as previous engines were. This was the bike series to open the door for Honda's sales growth, technology development, and freedom to engineer as they wished. Starting out as a weak engine in the early 1960's, Honda developed it to become a high reving, reliable, sturdy, and influential engine. By 1961, after the inception of the Hawk and Super Hawk's, this was a world transforming engine which built an impressive reputation.
The Super Hawk was seen as a serious motorcycle in it's day and many served as amature race bikes!
From 1959 to around 1963, Honda's were fairly rare. From 1964, sales grew significantly every year. By 1966/67, Honda's were selling millions of bikes each year. By the late 1960's, Honda's were more visible than nearly every other brand of bike! Even in the late 1960's, the early Dream series bikes were rare and not often seen. The Hawk pictured below was identical to the larger 305cc version. This model was very popular, especially the larger version, and sold in the millions around the world.
