Honda’s high-revving alternative to the smoky two-strokes of the 1970s.
Introduced in 1970, the Honda SL100 Motosport arrived at a time when the lightweight off-road market was utterly dominated by noisy, oil-burning two-stroke singles. Honda, committed to its overhead-cam four-stroke architecture, proved that a small-displacement thumper could be lightweight, clean, and incredibly durable on both dirt and asphalt.
At the heart of the SL100 was a 99cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine featuring a single overhead camshaft (SOHC). It kicked out roughly 11.5 horsepower at a screaming 11,000 RPM. Paired with a slick 5-speed transmission, high-mount exhaust, and full street-legal lighting, it gave a generation of riders their absolute first taste of true dual-sport freedom.
Tracking the subtle styling changes and factory paint variations.
The SL100 had a relatively short but highly memorable production run. Mechanically, the bike remained remarkably consistent, utilizing the same rugged frame and 99cc powerplant, but the cosmetics changed significantly each year, making correct identification easy for restoration work:
1970 (SL100K0): The inaugural year featured a silver frame and came in candy-flake finishes including Candy Ruby Red, Candy Sapphire Blue, or Candy Emerald Green, accented by a clean white tank stripe layout.
1971 (SL100K1): The frame remained silver. The paint lineup introduced the vibrant, non-metallic solid Mars Orange (Paint Code: YR6) alongside Candy Ruby Red and Candy Emerald Green. The solid Mars Orange offers a distinct, high-visibility contrast compared to the deep, metallic depth of Honda's multi-stage Candy Topaz Orange.
1972 (SL100K2): Frame paint officially switches from silver to black. Tank graphics evolved with yellow side accents over finishes like Candy Bacchus Olive or Candy Ruby Red.
1973 (SL100K3): The final year of the dedicated SL Motosport run before transitioning to the XL lineup, featuring a black frame, distinct pin-striping, and rubber dust boots on the levers.
Documenting the rediscovery and mechanical revival of a personal time capsule.
Pulled out from long-term garage storage where it sat undisturbed for decades. Doing an initial evaluation of the frame, checking the tank for rust, and verifying if the engine still turns over freely on the kickstarter...
Read Entry →
Disassembling the tiny slide carburetor to clear out decades of varnish. Chasing the microscopic idle circuit passages with fine wire and solvent to ensure a clean, dependable first start...
Read Entry →