laird387 Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 When the Dalesman models were in full swing at the 'works' in Otley, there was potential for a tie-up into a lucrative American market - so an engine that had readily available spares and support Stateside was an excellent idea - just such a motor could have been a Hodaka unit - they already had a flourishing business in the States - but no trials expertise as such - so at least one model was made. Now here's the query - has anybody seen such a model? Better yet, does anybody know where there is one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post shakennstirred Posted December 31, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Hodaka 250 Trial 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spen Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 S'a beauty..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petert Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Is it just me or does that have a Kawasaki look to it 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineaway Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot taco Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Not for sure,but I think this might be one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bashplate Posted January 1, 2017 Report Share Posted January 1, 2017 sure has that Dalesman look about it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted January 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2017 13 hours ago, scot taco said: Not for sure,but I think this might be one. That certainly looks as though you have spotted the actual bike - like all Dalesman frames it would have been created by Jim Lee and popular rumour has it that Mick Grant had a finger in the design pie, and since there were definite links between Mick and Kawasaki at that time , there's another link........ Now Scot taco all we need is the background to when that photograph was taken - and would it be possible to have a copy please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffmutt Posted January 1, 2017 Report Share Posted January 1, 2017 Is that not a Hodaka Commbat Wombat?. Iown 2 Dalesmans(men) and are both full duplex cradles,the bike shown has a similar appearence, but?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scot taco Posted January 2, 2017 Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 I found the photo on the web so not sure when it was taken. I did follow the link to a forum and it is said to be a Wassel framed Hodaka. It said they were sold in the U.S. as Hodaka Challengers and in Canada as Sprite Avengers Definitely a British frame kit for the Hodaka motor,but is it a Wassel or Sprite frame or were those one in the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted January 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 11 hours ago, scot taco said: I found the photo on the web so not sure when it was taken. I did follow the link to a forum and it is said to be a Wassel framed Hodaka. It said they were sold in the U.S. as Hodaka Challengers and in Canada as Sprite Avengers Definitely a British frame kit for the Hodaka motor,but is it a Wassel or Sprite frame or were those one in the same? Thanks scot taco, Here is a picture of the particular frames, they were put together for Peter Edmundson by Jim Lee and sold as Dalesman motorcycles, definitely not a Wassell frame. The tie up with Hodaka was because Peter had a chance to export to the States, if he could find a motor with adequate spares and knowledge 'back-up' Stateside - that proved to be the Hodaka. A batch of machines were created, Peter bought the Hodaka engines, paid Jim Lee to make the frames, bought the wheels, forks, etc., and shipped the lot to the States. Expecting money to arrive to pay for the batch of completed and exported machines, Peter faced near bankruptcy. But he was not expert in overseas sales, so had not used the ECGD facilities offered by the government (Export Credit Guarantees Department) who would have verified the status of the purchaser in the States before allowing shipment, and then insured Peter for the subsequent payment. That all but ended the Dalesman story, but Peter was still keen to do his bit for sporting motorcycling, so he took up an interest in the Wassell concern - which is where the reference may have inaccurately originated - so NO not a Wassell or Sprite (from Frank Hipkins) but a DALESMAN. Enjoy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie prescott Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) Hi Guy's. Hi Deryk. Look on the USA trials page, I have got you the page back up, that I could remember reading years ago. This is filled with posts by guy's that used to work at "Hodaka." "Malcolm Smith Page". They seem to have built the trials bikes in the factory, copying the Sarascen frame, now there is a company that lost out big time trying to get into the USA market. Regards Charlie. Edited January 3, 2017 by charlie prescott missed words Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spen Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NKRYLxEd6uAC&pg=RA1-PA72&lpg=RA1-PA72&dq=hodaka+malcolm+smith&source=bl&ots=yrvmsz_Bz3&sig=qvA2Z01P4inW-zOhujGbKZALvQk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwit36up6qXRAhXhLMAKHckWB2oQ6AEIRTAH#v=onepage&q=hodaka malcolm smith&f=false Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc2 Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 On 1/1/2017 at 4:58 AM, scot taco said: Not for sure,but I think this might be one. Gents, there seems to be a few 'wires crossed' in this thread. Dalesman may have produced a Hodaka-engined bike - I don't know - but the bike pictured is definitely a Sprite (Avenger, as mentioned by Scot Taco). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie prescott Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) Hi Guy's. I have done my history. And the Six trials bikes built, were built in the Hodaka factory, and not for sale to the general public. A page on my web site shortly should explain the story. Deryk, Is the person sat on the bike the Late Rob Fitton? (road racer)? Regards Charlie~Oo> Edited January 9, 2017 by charlie prescott to add comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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