Honda 110 Trail Conversion
HONDA 110 TRAIL CONVERSION
ONE OF THE NEATEST SWITCHES ever seen appropriately describes what occurrs when the little Honda 50cc 110 model is converted from transportation bike to scrambler/trail machine in a matter of minutes by the installation of special equipment designed and manufactured by the American Sports Co. in North Hollywood, California.
Along with the Dual-Drive trail/street double sprocket that mounts a trail gear sprocket alongside of the standard street unit, two very important accessories are the front and rear extension blocks which add 2 inches to the ground clearance and allow the use of special oversized tires. The rear extenders merely raise the shock absorber mounting points; in front they are integrated into the leading arm suspension, and neither alter the movement of the suspension.
ASC’s handlebars replace the flat, narrow street models which are inadequate off the road. Another important accessory is the Deluxe Engine Guard with a heavy steel plate mounted in front of and under the extremely vulnerable single-cylinder engine barrel. It hangs dangerously low to the ground for trailing, even with the additional ground clearance offered by the ’extenders.
Next comes a set of folding footpegs with ample rubber covers; both fold rearward and upward in the event of contact with obstructions. Readers not familiar with scrambles machines should know this is a fairly common practice with machines of this type. Another useful item is the high center stand, necessary when the extenders are used as the original stand will not reach the ground.
Two items whose dual use makes more difference in its value as a trail machine than any other, are the oversized tires. Front tire is a 2.75 x 17 Japanese Mitsuboshi and the rear is a 3.00 x 17 Pirelli; both are available from either ASC or Ed Kretz in Monterey Park, California. Both tires are knobbies and offer extreme traction in most uses off the road, though for high speed work on fairly hard surfaces the Pirelli 2.50 and 2.75 tires are somewhat better.
The final item is the Krizman spark arrester which is U.S. Forestry Service approved for use in National Forests. Through the use of aero-dynamics it not only removes hot carbon from the exhaust but silences as well. All items, except the high center stand, are handsomely chrome plated and very well finished. The completely converted Honda is so entirely different a machine, few recognized it as the contender it has become. The machine shown on these pages was converted for use by CW staff member Betty Jean Parkhurst and has proven to be an excellent machine for her, as a beginner. Every member of the staff who had wrung it out came away bubbling with enthusiasm and praise for the handling and tractability.
ASC’s prices on all items are as follows; Engine guard (EGD), $14.95; High bars (HB-1 ), $12.95; Folding foot pegs (FFP2), $10.95; High center stand (HCS-2), $8.50; Krizman spark arrester (KSA-1), $13.95; Rear extension blocks, $4.95 per pair; front blocks, $6.95 per set; DualDrive (DD-1), $4.95 with Tab-Loc
sprocket (62 tooth seems ideal); 2.75 Mitsuboshi front tire, $12.95; 3.00 rear tire, $17.45. Some items will also fit on the familiar Honda 50 and Trail 50, though other accessories are specially available for these models. •
