CLASSIC IRON: JODY’S 1974 HODAKA SUPER COMBAT 125

The 1974 Hodaka Super Combat 125 was briefly the fastest 125cc motocross bike on the market, marking a significant moment in off-road motorcycling history. Emerging from Hodaka’s successful lineage of trail and enduro bikes, including the 100cc Super Rat and the Combat Wombat, the Super Combat was a trailblazer for its time. Despite its initial acclaim and advanced design for Hodaka, its reign was short-lived as it was soon surpassed by the Honda CR125 Elsinore and Yamaha YZ125, both of which offered more reliable engines and greater factory support. Hodaka, an Oregon-based manufacturer, had been a dominant force in the off-road scene during the late 1960s and early 1970s, selling around 10,000 units annually. However, by 1974, the brand struggled to keep pace with the financial and technological powerhouses of Japan. Even Hodaka’s top riders, including Tommy Croft and Bob Rutten, defected to rival manufacturers. The Super Combat, while innovative with features such as a spring-loaded chain tensioner and air forks, could not compete with the rapid advancements and marketing muscle of Honda and Yamaha, signalling the beginning of the end for Hodaka’s prominence. Jody Weisel, a key figure in Hodaka’s racing efforts, played a pivotal role in developing a proof-of-concept Super Combat with partial factory support. His custom bike incorporated numerous modifications, including a handmade aluminium fuel tank, extended swingarm, reinforced frame, and upgraded suspension components, making it the most radical Hodaka 125 ever built. Jody’s involvement extended beyond motocross to road racing, and his efforts helped showcase American ingenuity in the sport. After his racing career, the Super Combat was preserved and eventually displayed in the AMA Hall of Fame Museum’s “Motocross America” exhibition, cementing its legacy. Despite Hodaka’s innovations, the company’s inability to sustain development and production ultimately led to its demise. Jody’s later project, a heavily modified 1977 Hodaka 250 Thunderdog trail bike converted for motocross, demonstrated continued creativity but was lost following Hodaka’s closure. The disappearance of this bike symbolises the fading presence of Hodaka in the motocross world. Nevertheless, the Super Combat remains a testament to the brand’s impact on American off-road motorcycling during a transformative era.