Honda minibike restoration

[Nick R]

So while I'm here in ohio, I remember something. From my childhood, my grandfather had bought from his buddy an old honda minibike that me and my siblings rode all over his yard for years. About 4, 5 years ago the throttle cable had broken and couldn't do anything, so it's sat in his shed. Well I hauled it out, took some pictures, and as you can see in the video, it starts right up, that is the first time it had been started in about 5 years, on 5 year old gas.

Best I can figure it's a 1973 Honda QA50K1 minibike. 49cc, OHV 4 stroke engine. A few years ago we had put some new points on it, new rear tire. It had always been changed with whatever 30w oil he had happened to have lying around. New spark plugs a few years ago.

I looked online, and there are plenty of restoration sites that I can get parts frmo. this is my project for next spring likely, but I'm quite excited about this. Nearly all the parts that I need are available. This is what I plan on doing, first thing.

-Rebuild engine. New piston, new ring set, rehone the bore, clean it up. New gasket set. Might get it bored, there are 3 oversized pistons and rings available, in standard, .25, .50, and .75 over. Not sure if I want to get into that, but at the very least do a basic rebuild. Rebuild the carb (does Keihin even exist anymore?). New throttle cable can be made by a motorcycle shop, new throttle stuff in the handlebar, new brake pads. Gonna leave the original wheel bearings alone at first. New gas tank cap, a new coat of paint, new air filter. New engine seal set, and all that. Clean the whole thing.

Does anyone have any experience with these, or advice? Here are pics, and video below. Excuse the ugly guy starting the thing.

\

startup video. there is no throttle cable, so I'm controlling it with the choke.

 

[Cujet]

What a cool project. Good luck. I rode one once as a kid. but I started with bigger Honda's. Like the mighty C-50! They always ran so much better than the briggs powered minibikes.

 

[123Saab]

I had a Honda Monkey as a kid, Good times!

Good luck on your project, Sure looks like fun!

Keep us posted on your progression please.

 

[tom slick]

Looks like a fun project.

Kehin is still making carburators. Words of caution: The float bowl screws are made of the softest steel known to man and are JIS so a regular philips screwdriver doesn't fit correctly. You can use a philips screwdriver but use caution.

 

[greenaccord02]

Very neat project. Post more pics and videos as this thing progresses. If you get deep into the guts of it, make sure and shoot some pictures of that, too!

If you re-paint it, you should get a big VTEC emblem for it.

 

[QuadDriver]

A coupla years ago I sold my shed worth of honda parts - I was restoring 90-175cc singles and twins - especially the 90-110-125 varients (I had CT90s with ATC125M engines and E-start!)

but this much I do know - every single honda part is still available. The same time a few years back honda sold all the NOS and stamps/dies etc to make the Chondas you see, but that does not mean the dealers did! try honda of troy NY

 

[paulo57509]

There is a HUGE collector market for these vintage 50ccc and 70cc Honda trail bikes. By huge I mean crazy $$$$

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Looks like a fun project.

Kehin is still making carburators. Words of caution: The float bowl screws are made of the softest steel known to man and are JIS so a regular philips screwdriver doesn't fit correctly. You can use a philips screwdriver but use caution.


+1

Take them out once and replace them with allen head screws

 

[The_Jeff]

Tires look good for 30 years old!

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Tires look good for 30 years old!


Not sure how old the front is, but the rear was put on it about 7 years ago, it was completely bald at the time, had no traction and was almost dangerous.

 

[dwendt44]

Lot's of parts around. C-50/Ct-70 etc. parts will like fit.
Mini bike parts will often work in a pinch.
Three wheel Honda parts should work as well.
Any upholstery shop should do a good job on that seat.

Have fun.

 

[addyguy]

When my mom was going to University in Auz in the 1960's, she had a 49cc Honda mini-bike as her daily transport.

It was probably bigger than this, and would have looked more like a dirt-bike....but still, maybe had the same engine.

Awesome project - would love to see the progress!

 

[beanoil]

Love it! I just finished a 1981 YamaHopper QT50 this winter. There is a market for these toys, and that market drives parts suppliers. I found about 75% of the Hopper parts are still available. I bet you'll fine nearly 100% of what you need no farther than your local Honda dealer or Ron Ayers. And baby projects like this are easy, fun, and you have a great piece of nostalgia when you are finished. I'm getting stopped at every campground we go to when I ride the Hopper asking me what it is.

 

[javacontour]

Boy that thing brings back some memories, and not all good. When I was very young, and not so good at handling motorized bikes, I manged to take an unplanned ride one of those up a slide that was level with the ground. (Imagine scared young boy freezing up while incidentally lined up with the slide.)

The resulting crash was painful. But I was not seriously hurt, nor was the bike. My ego was bruised and we all eventually laughed. But it was not a good experience.

 

[JTK]

Oh that is cool! I've never seen a Honda 50 in that particular configuration or with that exhaust. I assume this model is just gas and go w/ an oil bath centrifugal clutch?

I had a Honda 70 as a kid just like the one below. It was a 3spd with a clutch. I'm lucky I'm still here the way we used to bomb around on it!

Joel