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NHRA225 · 01-26-2021, 06:39 AM

My newest Hobby!
Buying-Collecting along the way.

xrated · 01-26-2021, 06:54 AM

I remember them, although I never owned one. I started riding motorcycles in 1971 and have gone through over 30 of them since I started riding. Dirt bikes, street bikes, drag bike, 4wh ATV's, sport bikes, track bikes and now, a Spyder RT Limited. It's been a "fun ride" so far.

YC1 · 01-26-2021, 07:19 AM

I was green with envy when my cousin got one. Darn "rich kids". Never got to ride it. That one is pristine.

Tugboat · 01-26-2021, 07:32 AM

Honda 90 never had one but road one 2 weeks ago when a neighbor had the one he had as a kid restored.

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KanzKran · 01-26-2021, 07:56 AM

Honda made three Minitrail bikes in the 60's and 70's.

The QA50 was the smallest and least expensive, followed by the Z50A, and the CT70. They had fold-down handle bars and sealable gas tank vents so you could lay it down or store it in a cargo box. They had semi-automatic transmissions, with manual shift, but automatic clutch. I don't know if the 70 had an automatic clutch, but the smaller ones did.

They were a huge step up from minibikes, with an overhead valve engine and enclosed clutch and drive (other than the chain final). No rear suspension on the small ones, so you learned to rides the pegs real quick on the rough stuff.

They were marketed heavily to the outdoors and RV crowds at the time.

I had a Z50A in candy apple red that I bought brand new, just like in the pic below. Took me two years of lawn mowing and daily newspaper delivery to save the $300 plus $15 sales tax (5% in CT at the time). Before that were various Rupp-type minibikes, and after that was a string of street bikes. Which I miss. I got my dirt riding freak on with some friends' Bultaco dirt bikes; Alpinas, a Lobito (small, belonging to someone's wife

), and a few trials bikes (Sherpa T).

But that Minitrail was my pride and joy at the time.

Wrktfsh · 01-26-2021, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHRA225

My newest Hobby!
Buying-Collecting along the way.

I recall driving one of those into a huge multi flora rose bush one time when I was about 12. Ouch!

NHRA225 · 01-26-2021, 08:38 AM

The CT70 came in 2 versions- 1969 to 1972 the offered the CT70H a 4 speed manual shift ( Rare and Very sought after ) in addition they had the CT70 1969 on up to 1994 3 speed auto shift ( no hand clutch) .
Bought this for my Grandson (7ys Old) in July, tough Him how to ride it ( His Parents were a little hesitant) I won them over after an hour of coaching and them seeing Him riding all over the yard. He was only permitted to ride it in 2nd gear only- He soon learned how to Rip across the yard and wind that little 50 cc up.
I bought that one for $450 see before and after I did a full teardown Restore including the Engine. Gave it back to Him at Christmas- He was totally shocked ! Now He has a small piece of History.

Jkjavelin · 01-26-2021, 08:48 AM

My younger brother got the Mini Trail 50 for Christmas in 1969 (?). Couldn't believe it. I was 14, him 12. Small ranch house, rode it around in the basement, LOL. No, not the smartest.
Almost got the 70cc for myself in the spring with paper route money, but got a Bridgestone 90 instead.

Gery North · 11-22-2021, 09:58 PM

Check out Honda c90 on u tube. English kid road one around the world. including Alaska and across Canada in the winter. Ed March is the guy. Good entertainment on cold nights when you are watching tv

mikeyk101 · 11-23-2021, 09:38 PM

Take a look at this one that is current production, the Honda Monkey.
https://powersports.honda.com/street/standard/monkey

NHRA225 · 11-24-2021, 06:10 AM

Friend has one of those--whole differnt bike from the old one's- much faster too !

KanzKran · 11-24-2021, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHRA225

Friend has one of those--whole differnt bike from the old one's- much faster too !

125cc vs the 50cc on my Z50. Piston looked like the size of a pencil eraser.

Rob_M · 11-24-2021, 06:56 AM

Early 1970’s when I had a mini bike with a briggs, my friends both got Honda Trail 70’s . Dad co-signed a loan so I could get a ‘74 Honda XR75. (first year I believe) Paid for it with a paper route and driving a hay truck. I could run circles around my friends until they both got XL100’s. The trail 70’s had manual shift but no clutch.