1970 Honda SL175 K0

The Pioneer Motosport

Built for the street, forged for the dirt trails.

The Birth of Honda Dual-Sport

Released in 1970 alongside the iconic SL350, the Honda SL175 Motosport K0 marked Honda’s aggressive move into purpose-built off-road motorcycles. Unlike earlier street-based "Scramblers" (like the CL line), the SL175 featured a dedicated off-road frame, high-mounted swept exhaust, and generous ground clearance.

Parallel Twin Heart

Powered by a 174cc 180-degree parallel twin engine—delivering smooth, rev-happy performance that gave it a distinct edge over single-cylinder rivals.

Purpose-Built Frame

Features a full double-cradle frame design with upswept twin exhausts and crossbar handlebars engineered specifically to absorb rough trail abuse.

Street-Legal Freedom

Equipped with full street lighting, mirrors, and speedometer, allowing riders to cruise seamlessly from city streets straight onto rural dirt trails.

My History With This SL175

Acquired: [Year you bought it]

I acquired this 1970 Honda SL175 K0 in [Year]. [Share a story about how you tracked it down—was it a barn find, bought from a collector, or rescued as a rolling chassis?]

[Add details about your restoration journey—e.g., sourcing original Candy Sapphire Blue paint, rebuilding the twin 20mm Keihin carbs, or polishing up the high-pipe exhaust heat shields.]

It's an absolute blast to ride around town and take on light fire roads. [Describe how it rides or what makes this little 175 twin special in your collection.]

Maintenance & Restoration Log

A record of trail maintenance, engine tune-ups, part sourcing, and active projects for this 1970 SL175.

Fork Seals & Front Suspension Overhaul
6,420 mi April 2025 Completed
Disassembled front forks to replace hardened 50-year-old fork seals and stale fork oil. Cleaned internal damper rods and polished chrome stanchions. Refilled with fresh 15wt fork oil for improved trail damping.
Parts & Materials: OEM Honda Fork Seals (27x39x10.5mm), Motul 15W Fork Oil.
Dual Keihin Carburetor Rebuild & Sync
6,480 mi Active In Progress
Cleaned both 20mm Keihin slide carburetors in an ultrasonic tank to clear clogged idle circuits. Replacing gaskets, float needles, and setting float height to 21mm.
Parts & Materials: Keyster SL175 Carburetor Repair Kits, OEM Bowl Gaskets, New Fuel Lines.
Ignition Points & Timing Adjustment
Future Planned Planned
Replace ignition contact points and condenser to eliminate high-RPM stutter. Set point gap to 0.014" and set static timing with a test light.
Parts Needed: Tecumseh/Daiichi Contact Point Sets, OEM Ignition Condenser.

Technical Specifications

Engine 174cc SOHC air-cooled 180° parallel twin
Bore & Stroke 52.0 mm × 41.0 mm
Carburetion (2) 22mm Keihin mechanical slide carburetors
Power Output 20 hp @ 9,000 RPM
Transmission 5-speed manual, wet multi-plate clutch
Exhaust System High-mounted 2-into-2 upswept pipes with chrome heat guards
Dry Weight 238 lbs (108 kg)
Top Speed 75 – 80 mph