For Sale: Restored 1975 Hodaka Road Toad 100…
In the 1970s, before dual-sport became a marketing category and “adventure bike” meant 500 pounds and 150 horsepower, there were small, cheerful machines built simply to explore backroads and trails without complication. One of the most lovable was the Hodaka Road Toad.
Lightweight, oil-injected, and charmingly named, the Road Toad was Hodaka’s answer to riders who wanted a true do-everything motorcycle in a compact package — equally at home on dirt lanes, suburban pavement, and forest trails.
Hodaka motorcycles were built in Japan but distributed and developed by PABATCO (Pacific Basin Trading Company) out of Athena, Oregon. The brand launched in the mid-1960s with a simple mission: build lightweight motorcycles that were affordable, durable, and fun.
The company built a reputation on lightweight two-stroke machines with whimsical names — Super Rat, Dirt Squirt, Wombat, Combat Wombat — that masked genuinely capable trail performance. By the mid-1970s, Hodaka sought to broaden its appeal with a street-legal dual-purpose machine that retained its off-road DNA. The result was the Road Toad.
It was designed from the outset to function as a legitimate dual-sport motorcycle. Highlights included a 98cc air-cooled two-stroke single, oil injection system (no premix required), reed-valve induction, and 5-speed transmission.
“Finished in a glorious candy lime green any amphibian would be proud of, the Road Toad was a useful, lightweight dual purpose bike. Built on a traditional twin loop tubular steel frame, equipped with a stout luggage rack and a chrome tool box, braced bars, universal knobby tires, a skid plate, serrated pegs and turn signals, it was a go anywhere bike. According to period magazine accounts, this is the first Hodaka to feature oil injection.” –National Motorcycle Museum
Power output was modest — roughly 9–10 horsepower — but the bike barely weighed over 200 pounds dry. That combination made it lively, forgiving, and unintimidating for riders of all sizes. In an era when Japanese manufacturers were rapidly scaling up displacement and horsepower, the Road Toad doubled down on accessibility and fun.
By modern standards, the Road Toad is slow. There’s no way around that. But that’s part of the appeal. These bikes thrive on backroad wandering, light trail exploration, and local show-and-shine events. The narrow chassis and featherweight feel make it playful rather than demanding. You don’t ride a Road Toad to conquer terrain — you ride to enjoy it.
The Example for Sale…
This particular 1975 Road Toad (auction here) is described as a 2,390-mile original and comes with notable provenance from the Roy Thacker Collection of Dallas, Texas — a respected collection known for ultra-low-mile survivors and concours-level restorations.
According to Kaplan Cycles, the bike spent its life in indoor storage in a dry Texas climate and shows no signs of hard off-road use. It retains many original components, including:
- Original switchgear, levers, mirrors, wiring, reflectors
- Original chrome luggage rack and toolbox
- Original rear fender paint and decals
- Original 100cc side cover decals and part markings
- Original seat cover with crisp Hodaka logo
- Original wiring harness, including rare surviving brake-light wiring
- Original sprocket, kickstarter, footpegs, and hardware
Kaplan Cycles reports investing over $5,400 in shop labor, parts, and refinishing to bring the bike to museum-grade presentation. Cosmetic work included:
- Fuel tank repainted in correct Hodaka color and graphics
- New tank badges installed
- Frame rails, swingarm, and kickstand refinished
- Engine cases, cylinder, and head refinished to factory appearance
- Exhaust refinished
- Front hub refinished; chrome detailed and polished throughout
Mechanical service included:
- Fuel system cleaning and rebuild
- Carburetor rebuild
- New fuel lines and filter
- Airbox ultrasonic cleaning with new filter
- New battery
- New gold drive chain and chain rollers
- Cable adjustments and full safety inspection
Kaplan states the bike now “looks, starts, runs, and rides like a brand-new Road Toad.” The only noted flaw is a broken high/low beam switch lever, currently stuck in low beam — a minor and easily correctable issue.
In short, this is not just a tidy vintage dual-sport — it is a documented, low-mile survivor from a known collection, carefully detailed to show standards while retaining significant originality. You can see the full action listing here: www.ebay.com/itm/397641992846
Hodaka Road Toad: Key Specifications
Engine: 98cc air-cooled two-stroke single
Induction: Reed-valve
Lubrication: Oil injection
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Frame: Steel backbone
Front Suspension: Telescopic forks
Rear Suspension: Dual shocks
Brakes: Drum (front and rear)
Dry Weight: Approx. 200–210 lb
Top Speed: ~55–60 mph (real-world)
Why Collectors Love Them…
Hodaka ceased operations in 1978, which effectively froze the brand in time. There were no evolutions into larger corporate structures, no rebrands, no rebirths. What we have is what was built. That’s created a loyal enthusiast community and steady collector interest — especially for well-preserved or correctly restored examples.
While it’s no fire-breather from a performance standpoint, the Road Toad has a quirky, nostalgic allure all its own.
Have you ever owned a Hodaka? Let us know in the comments!
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Big Hodaka fan! Saved my money and at 14, I bought a new ’76 Dirt Squirt.
Hours and hours of 2 stroke delight!
Sure wish I still had it!