1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+

Enduro

1-cyl. 98cc/9.8hp

#1 Concours condition#1 Concours
#2 Excellent condition#2 Excellent
#3 Good condition#3 Good

$4,500 CAD*

-2.2%
#4 Fair condition#4 Fair
Value Graph07/2310/2301/2404/24$1k$2k$3k$4kJun 2024
Let us watch the market for you

We update the Hagerty Price Guide each quarter. Sign up for alerts and we'll notify you about value changes for the cars you love.

1963-1978 Hodaka stats
Highest sale
$15,454 CAD
Lowest sale
$144 CAD
Most recent sale
$4,939 CAD
Sales
53
insurance

Protect your 1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+ from the unexpected.

Better coverage built for classics at a price you can afford. Online quotes are fast and easy

Model overview

Model description

Hodaka occupied a unique position in the world of motorcycle manufacturing from about 1963 until 1978 and it still enjoys the kind of loyalty only Studebaker owners can relate to.

Based in the tiny Eastern Oregon town of Athena, the company with the Japanese-sounding name was actually owned by Pabatco (Pacific Basin Trading Company), formed to trade Oregon farm products overseas.

Pabatco starting importing 49 cc and 80 cc bikes from manufacturer Yamaguchi in 1961 and when Yamaguchi went under in 1963, it struck a deal with engine builder Hodaka to import a bike to the U.S. under that name.

Faced with 300 surplus engines, Hodaka agreed and the good old boys in Athena, led by Hank Koepke at Pabatco and retired Harley-Davidson dealer Adolph Schwartz designed a new 90 cc dual sport bike and tested it on their local Blue Mountain trails.

The design was called the Ace 90 and had twin down-tubes, high exhaust and gusseted frame. It was also street legal, and with its upgraded four-speed gearbox could be ridden anywhere the rider wanted to go. Hodaka agreed to build the whole bike and gave Pabatco exclusive distribution rights.

The first Aces arrived in 1964 and in four years 17,000 were sold through Pabatco’s 480 dealers. In all, about 150,000 Hodakas were sold in 15 years, ranging from 90 to 250 cc two-stroke singles with four- and later five-speed gearboxes.

Hodaka’s virtues were light weight, simplicity and surprising durability. Apart from thousands of weekend warriors, Jim Pomeroy won the Portugal Motocross Grand Prix in 1973 and Pabatco’s own service manager Harry Taylor won the 1968 Daytona road race for 100 cc bikes on a Hodaka.

Hodaka’s wacky advertising campaigns reflected a company that was hardly able to believe its own luck and success. Cartoon characters hawked the 90 cc Ace, the 100 cc Super Rat, the 125 cc Wombat, the competition Combat Wombat, a Super Wombat, the 100 cc Dirt Squirt (featuring a racing Clam), the dual sport 100 cc Road Toad (advertised as “Wart’s New?”) and the 175 cc and 250 cc Thunderdog. The Super Rat out-of-the-crate racer could be bought for under $500 in 1970.

It was all lots of fun and even profitable, but a few things signaled the end of the road for Hodaka. The major Japanese manufacturers entered the off-road market. Yamaha came with the DT-1 in 1968 and Honda with the Elsinore in 1973. Further, the dollar was devalued against the yen in the late 1970s, cancelling the economic edge.

Any chance the enthusiasts at Pabatco might have survived was shortstopped by Shell Oil, which had acquired Pabatco in 1965. The mega-corporation watched its motorcycle division with detached amusement until it started to lose money. Shell decided the answer was to get bigger or go home. Hodaka refused to sell its factory, so Shell folded the U.S. enterprise in 1978.

Hodaka owners have remained fiercely loyal to the brand, however, and the enthusiast community remains as strong and supportive as ever. Hodaka parts remain relatively easy to find, though sheet metal such as gas tanks and fenders are getting tough to locate in very good condition. Owner’s manuals and parts manuals are also readily available.

Find more values
Search for prices of other cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles
Classic car

Common Questions

The value of a 1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+ can vary greatly depending on its condition, mileage, options, and history. Typically, you can expect to pay around $3,300 USD for a 1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+ in good condition with average spec.

The highest selling price of a 1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+ at auction over the last three years was $5,759 CAD. The highest prices are usually reserved for rare or exceptionally well-maintained examples with desirable features or modifications and excellent history.

The lowest selling price of a 1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+ at auction over the last three years was $5,759 CAD. The lowest prices are usually paid for examples that have extensive maintenance needs, differ greatly from their original configuration, or have accident histories or title problems.

In the last three years there have been 1 1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+s sold at public auction.

The most recent auction sale of a 1971 Hodaka Ace 100B+ was $5,759 CAD on March 30, 2024 by Bring a Trailer.

Many factors can increase a car's value including excellent condition, exceptional originality, a recent restoration, low mileage, unique provenance, desirable options, popular or unique color choices, and excellent maintenance records. Upgrades and modifications that enhance performance or aesthetics can also add value.

Factors that can decrease a car's value include unusually high mileage, poor maintenance history, visible wear and tear, accidents or damage, title issues, and gaps in ownership history. Additionally, less popular color choices and extensive modifications that don't appeal to a broad audience can reduce value.

Mileage plays a significant role in a classic car’s value. Lower mileage usually increases value because it indicates a higher degree of originality, is rarer, and suggests less wear and tear. However, cars with exceptionally low mileage may also have maintenance needs due to lack of use. Whether someone should pay more for a vehicle with lower miles will depend on how they plan on using it, and the vehicle's specific condition.

The value of modified cars differs widely based on the type and quality of modifications. While some modifications can significantly increase value, especially performance enhancements and high-quality custom work, others may not add much or could even detract from the car’s value if they appeal to only a limited audience.

All prices shown here are representative of stock condition vehicles only and based on various data sources, as detailed in About Our Prices. Value adjustments for optional equipment are in U.S. dollars. More information on how forecast models are calculated can be found on Forecasted Values page. For additional information and a complete description of benefits, visit hagerty.CA/legal. Purchase of insurance not required for membership in HDC. Hagerty, Hagerty Valuation Tools & Hagerty Drivers Club are registered trademarks of the Hagerty Group LLC, ©2024 The Hagerty Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.