Best 50cc bike - old one though
Discussion
I will be going on a bit of a bike tour with friends next year. We have decided to only take 50cc maximum bikes, preferably old ones too.
I have been looking at the Yamaha Fizzy and Honda Express. I don't really want to spend over £1k on this little adventure. I am not a big bloke so at leat my small frame will not hold me back. But I am thinking for optimum speed I want a two stroke.
Anything else I should be looking for, anyone advise something better. I do not want one of these new Chinese bikes, nor a vespa style scooter. Something with a bit of comedy behind it!
I have been looking at the Yamaha Fizzy and Honda Express. I don't really want to spend over £1k on this little adventure. I am not a big bloke so at leat my small frame will not hold me back. But I am thinking for optimum speed I want a two stroke.
Anything else I should be looking for, anyone advise something better. I do not want one of these new Chinese bikes, nor a vespa style scooter. Something with a bit of comedy behind it!
joestifff said:
I will be going on a bit of a bike tour with friends next year. We have decided to only take 50cc maximum bikes, preferably old ones too.
I can kind of see what you may be trying to do but I guarantee for any kind of tour 50cc isn't going to be funny for too long.We of course have no idea what kind of tour you are talking about but if you want any flexibility in the journey(s) you might need to do a bike capable of at least 60mph is a really good idea. Even a tuned classic running some performance parts will really struggle past 50, on the flat.
Kawasaki AR50.. (Easy to make 93cc but that would break the rules of your trip 
) Go pretty well with aftermarket exhaust.
Yamaha DT50MX .. I had one brand new. Went very well with a replacement front pipe.
Suzuki TS50X - Nice bike. Looked good quality when I was a young lad
Honda MTX50 - Seemed rarer at the time but looked ok.
Personally, I'd avoid the MT5 (Honda) as it looked like a kids toy and a bit naff (and a mates one was very very slow) compared to all of the above, (when I was 16 and buying my first bike)
) Go pretty well with aftermarket exhaust.Yamaha DT50MX .. I had one brand new. Went very well with a replacement front pipe.
Suzuki TS50X - Nice bike. Looked good quality when I was a young lad
Honda MTX50 - Seemed rarer at the time but looked ok.
Personally, I'd avoid the MT5 (Honda) as it looked like a kids toy and a bit naff (and a mates one was very very slow) compared to all of the above, (when I was 16 and buying my first bike)
trickywoo said:
I can kind of see what you may be trying to do but I guarantee for any kind of tour 50cc isn't going to be funny for too long.
We of course have no idea what kind of tour you are talking about but if you want any flexibility in the journey(s) you might need to do a bike capable of at least 60mph is a really good idea. Even a tuned classic running some performance parts will really struggle past 50, on the flat.
I wouldn’t be so sure. Bloke I work with goes on a moped tour with all his mates every year. We of course have no idea what kind of tour you are talking about but if you want any flexibility in the journey(s) you might need to do a bike capable of at least 60mph is a really good idea. Even a tuned classic running some performance parts will really struggle past 50, on the flat.
This year they’re riding from Dublin to the Dingle Peninsula, can’t remember how many days over but it’s 125 miles a day. There’s about 30 of them doing it and they’re all in there 40s-60s and on 30+ year old 50cc machines.
He loves it, reckons it’s an awesome laugh and a proper adventure!
You could look for an FS1 which are no where near as valuable as the older fizzys.
If you jump up to 125s I think you'd have more options and a better time, the old mopeds have huge nostalgia value as first bikes in a way I don't think the 125s do.
Riding something bigger gives you more flexibility on routes and more options if things don't go to plan - A roads basically.
If you jump up to 125s I think you'd have more options and a better time, the old mopeds have huge nostalgia value as first bikes in a way I don't think the 125s do.
Riding something bigger gives you more flexibility on routes and more options if things don't go to plan - A roads basically.
Any Chinese QT-50 scooter (loads of different manufacturers use the base scooter and put their own bodywork on it).
The engine is a 4-stroke, but if you do the valve clearances properly and adjust the carb so it gives you full throttle, it will comfortably do 45mph.
And if it breaks down irreparably while you're on tour you can just lob it in a skip without caring...
The engine is a 4-stroke, but if you do the valve clearances properly and adjust the carb so it gives you full throttle, it will comfortably do 45mph.
And if it breaks down irreparably while you're on tour you can just lob it in a skip without caring...
Honda C50, my first bike. I loved that thing and really you could not kill it. It was a 1973 version that I pulled out of a shed of a friend of my mums, bloke next door repaired the rear frame by screwing a big chunk of alloy each side and I was away.
All my mates had new DT50's or RD50's ? if I can remember, my C50 was a far better bike.
All my mates had new DT50's or RD50's ? if I can remember, my C50 was a far better bike.
Most of the Peds mentioned here are Post 30mph limit no pedals. Hence speed wise they won't be spectacular. Anything Prior to the "S" suffix will be unlimited and have pedals of some sort to comply with the regs. The Fizz is the most famed of those with the Fantic Caballero being the fastest if a little fragile. Due to the nostalgia market and the limited number available £1000 will only buy a bike that will need rebuilding at best I'm afraid.
Thanks guys some useful info.
It has to be a 50cc or less ... thems the rules!!!!
We have done this type of thing before for years, but with 125cc, I had a Honda CG which I loved so much it became my daily. I now have a 1981 CB205N which I also love.
I know I will end up keeping this new 50cc, if I get it back. I want it old as I prefer the older bikes, and I certainly don't want a Chinese import new twist and go thing.
For reference, one of the bikes purchased already is a very early Honda Melody!
My current watch list on eBay is mainly Honda Express from the late 70s early 80s. I love the Fizzy but have as mentioned above, ruled it out due to price!
My current favourites are:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/honda-express/254272069...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-HONDA-50-EXPRESS-I...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-express-50cc/2235...
Cheers for all your help. If anyone knows anyone selling a good bike let me know. I shall keep you updated on my search!
It has to be a 50cc or less ... thems the rules!!!!
We have done this type of thing before for years, but with 125cc, I had a Honda CG which I loved so much it became my daily. I now have a 1981 CB205N which I also love.
I know I will end up keeping this new 50cc, if I get it back. I want it old as I prefer the older bikes, and I certainly don't want a Chinese import new twist and go thing.
For reference, one of the bikes purchased already is a very early Honda Melody!
My current watch list on eBay is mainly Honda Express from the late 70s early 80s. I love the Fizzy but have as mentioned above, ruled it out due to price!
My current favourites are:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/honda-express/254272069...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-HONDA-50-EXPRESS-I...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-express-50cc/2235...
Cheers for all your help. If anyone knows anyone selling a good bike let me know. I shall keep you updated on my search!
Rubin215 said:
Any Chinese QT-50 scooter (loads of different manufacturers use the base scooter and put their own bodywork on it).
The engine is a 4-stroke, but if you do the valve clearances properly and adjust the carb so it gives you full throttle, it will comfortably do 45mph.
And if it breaks down irreparably while you're on tour you can just lob it in a skip without caring...
Well done for not reading the requirements properly.The engine is a 4-stroke, but if you do the valve clearances properly and adjust the carb so it gives you full throttle, it will comfortably do 45mph.
And if it breaks down irreparably while you're on tour you can just lob it in a skip without caring...
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff