Honda Scramblers

This page differentiates the many variations of Honda street scramblers built in The Sixties. A few models continued into The Seventies, but these types of motorcycles were mostly a Sixties phenomenon. Honda invented the concept for the American market with the first of its kind, the 250cc CL-72. The Sport 50 and the Sport 65 have been included because their styling concept is much the same, including upswept exhaust pipes, small gas tanks, and generally sporty styling. The information has been gathered from books, magazines, brochures, and websites. I realize that Honda made running changes throughout the production periods and that model years are not as important in some cases as the K designations. The point is to disseminate as accurate information as possible. I am not the world's expert on Honda details, but I am certainly one of the world's biggest fans of Sixties Japanese Tiddlers in general and Honda Scramblers in particular.

The photo is of a beautifully restored 1963 Honda CL-72 Scrambler. Honda began producing Scramblers for the American market in 1962, and these models quickly became some of the most cherished Hondas, both then and now. The slim tank and upswept exhaust concept actually debuted in 1960 on the tiny little C110, also known as the Sport Cub. The Scramblers continued up through the last CL-450 of 1974, and the emasculated CL-360 continued alone in its swan song year of 1975. Continued below are a few details and descriptions of the various Honda Scramblers.

C110's had 17" wheels, kickstarters, and pressed-steel frames.

S65's had OHC engines and mostly identical features.

CL-70's had Y-shaped, pressed-steel frames.

CL-90's had Y-shaped, pressed-steel frames.

CL-100's had kickstarters and single-downtube frames.

CL-125's had chrome fenders.

CL-160's had tubular backbone frames, 18" wheels, four-speed transmissions, inclined cylinders, no turn signals, silver fenders & side covers, and body-colored frames, headlamps, and front forks. The final batch of CL-160's were very similar to the last CL-77's and the earliest CL-175's: black frames and trim with Silver, Candy Blue, or Candy Orange tanks and side covers.

CL-175's had five-speed transmissions and turn signals. The 1970 K4 had a black exhaust heat shield. All other models had chrome heat shields. The K0-K1 models were mostly identical to the CL-160D, except the 175's had black frames, headlamps, and forks with rubber gaiters; the fenders were chrome and the front one abbreviated from that of the 160; the side covers were body-color; and the seat had gold piping. (See the late-model CL-77 in the photo gallery.) The 1969 K3 had several SL Motosport components, including Ceriani-type front suspension, high, painted fenders, and a similar gas tank design.

CL-200's had single mufflers, chrome fenders, and electric starters.

CL-72's had 19" wheels, single-downtube frames, silver painted gas tanks and side covers, and kickstarters. None had turn signals.

CL-77's had 19" wheels, single-downtube frames, and kickstarters. None had turn signals. Some small number of the final production had a different look, featuring tanks and side covers in the body color with frames and all trim pieces painted black. The seat had gold piping around the upper seam. There is some question as to the time period in which these were built. The CL-350 was introduced in the Spring of '68, so these were probably late '67 and early '68 models. The look was very similar to that of the CL-160D and CL-175 of the same time frame. Only the CL-175 had both turn signals and electric starter. The CL-160D had an electric starter.

CL-350's had hybrid, pressed-steel with single-downtube frames, electric starters, 19" front wheels, and five-speed transmissions. The 1969 models can be distinguished from the '68's by their front fender reflectors, pleated seats, and a body-colored stripe added to the lower tank panel.

CL-360's had electric starters, Ceriani-style forks, and six-speed transmissions.

CL-450's had single-downtube frames, DOHC engines, CV carburetors, and electric starters. All except the 1967-K0 had turn signals.

Visit the Tiddlerosis Honda Scrambler Photo Gallery.
See the detailed Honda Scrambler Chart by year.