That back fender is drunk.

I'm in Brisbane myself and have acquired a collection of three of four of these after my father passed in January. Huge amount of parts and frames that were painted. New tyres, cables, and even windshields which I think would be hard to come across. Would be good to move these onto a collector.

Hello from New Zealand, My father (Rod Coleman) was the NZ importer/distributor of all Suzuki product from late 1959 to Feb 1984. He was one of the three earliest distributors of Suzuki product - the other being a company in Queensland (which became Morgan and Wacker Ltd), plus a gentleman importing product into France and Belgium. The model 50MA you have is the very first step-thru 50cc model Suzuki manufactured from late 1959 to late 1962. It featured a 12 volt system with electric start, plus the first year model was fitted with a rotary gearbox - meaning, it didn't have a positive stop once you had selected top gear.....the danger was, the rider could then again step down on the front half of the gear pedal and change straight back into first gear.....thankfully, Suzuki amended the design fault within the year. Your example raises questions about it's year of manufacture, as the "S" badges on the petrol tank were only red/maroon with a gold "S" on the 1959-60 models. Later models had black badges with a gold "S". The single seat was a Japanese domestic market fitment, with export models having a dual seat. Maybe your example was privately imported by someone who had owned and used it in Japan, prior to its importation into Australia. I currently have 3 X 50MA in my motorbike collection. I will email you directly - Cheers.

Im suprised there isn't no vidioes of the old carrier ' cargo bikes ' the type every corner shop seemed to have had in the 60s 70s ' some people called them the butchers bike 🤷‍♂️

Great explanation. Thanks a lot for sharing. eBay is the best way to reel in a good buyer this niche. There's only so many of us freaks for touring bikes out there. Yes they can reel in 2k but it's like the wrist watch market. Color, pedigree, and features make or break the deal. Personally I think a lot of the value this bike has is in it's complete original build and patina but for bigger audience value I'm worried it's not as financially valuable as just parts.

Nice! I had a beautiful olive green long frame with a 3 speed shifter in the early 70s, unfortunately it got nicked.

A little more info for you Aaron. That seat post lug was cleaned up quite a bit in the later iterations somewhere between your #75 and my #202. Mine also has a different seat, a chamois Kashimax but not sure if it was original or maybe a factory option orwhat? What are those wheels? My wheels are from Araya. Do those wheels have tapered spokes?

Hi there Aaron! Thanks ever so much for posting this! Its great to see my bike's older sister! Youve made my week! I sent you a really long response last night but it seems to have disappeared from the thread... Did you happen to see it? My grandfather bought one in about 1977/78. I think it was built in 77, number 202, but the papers were lost after gramps passed away. I used to drool over it with him even as a youngster when i had an old Raleigh, and i inherited it in the early 80s . He taught me to ride on a 26 inch bike when i was about 7yo and 4ft something in the mid 60s 😂. Ive mollycoddled it and ridden it daily since then except for a ten year period from 2005 - 2015 during which time we were separated by circumstance. It still rides like a dream. Ill continue this in a bit as ive something to do right now 😊

Great Video Aaron 👌 On the Malvern Sovereign Star . Top of Range Malvern Star were Produced from the 1970’s, They were a Miki Japanese Frame Electroplated a Product of Japan with Superb Detailed Lug work, Available Size were 53, 54, 56, 58, cm Also Custom Painted to Your Colour Choice The 1st Bicycles from Malvern Star Ever to be Fitted with High End Componentry 1st Generation SHIMANO DURA-ACE Complete Black 7100 Series 1973 Group Set, The Sovereign Star were in Production Between 1975 to 1978. Malvern Star Factory Received The Sovereign Star Brass Gold Plated Plaques were Numbered from 1 to 240 and were Produced by KG Luke PTY LTD Melbourne. The Question Still Remains Today Were There Ever 240 Built Since Their Release l’ve Only Come Across 16 Sovereign Star , The Lowest Number, No. 1 and Highest Number No. 124 Rare Thoroughbred, A Superlative Machine of Meticulous Detail From that Era 👌🇦🇺👍

Very nice and hard-to-find. The rear derailleur is a Huret Svelto. I've got a Svelto on my '63 Grubb. You can judge the era of the Hetchins by measuring the over locknut distance (at the dropouts). If it is 114mm, then late '40's early 50's. If 120mm, then late '50's-early '60's. If it is early-mid-'50's, then the shifter boss on down-tube for the front derailleur may have been ordered as an extra by the buyer. I did not know anything about the history of Hetchins. Thanks for that. Are you going to tear all the kit off of it and have it professionally re-painted?

That's an amazing bike. I'm mostly into British, but i have seen some really nice Malvern Stars and Speedwells. I did not even know about the Sovereign. That's amazing that you got it for free, but it makes me want to tear me hair out when i hear about nice bikes being discarded.

Thank you.

I'm after 1 because my beloved sister that I loss 20 years ago had 1 in the 70s when we was kids and I use to use it all the time, it was luxury with 4 speed stermy archer and suspension

I'm after 1 because my beloved sister that I loss 20 years ago had 1 in the 70s when we was kids and I use to use it all the time, it was luxury with 4 speed stermy archer and suspension

I have the same one, same color, same suntour xcd! My bike forever!

G’day Aaron, Australia had its own version, the Gemini World Randonneur, legend has it, Sydney uni students in the 70’s were looking for a bike to cart there books etc around. Originally made in Sydney then in Japan. I have an early 80’s, beautiful to ride.. now I think it’s marketed as the Vivanti??

Nice shirt mate. Been watching some of your bike videos. Love the concept. 👍👍👍

I have a 1979 repco mono shock I’m just up some information about it

Great history well told

Raleigh’s have the heron chain wheel, bsa have the plain one

I have seen them in Ireland and the motor powered an internal wheel which a lever would lower and raise to touch onto the front tyre thereby driving the front wheel by friction. Raise the motor and it became just pedal powered. I only ever seen them in black and they had a small petrol tank in built looking like the white "Solex" assembly on the front making look more balanced.

Would be cool to ride around. Looks like you can put your feet up on that board if you don’t feel like pedalling

What are your plans for this bike?

Hi friend, Are you looking for a professional KZbin thumbnail designer? Let me know please Thanks

That old girl would fire right up👍

On the rear prior to 1960, there was a cable adjustment nut. After 1960, Campagnolo got rid of it. But remember back then you would have parts sitting in your store for years. Maybe a decade because things did not often change.

Thanks, nice informative video.

Nice find mate....Hope you dont break it up and sell for parts....It would be a brilliant project!

I had one of those, thought it was kinda cool, but ended up giving it away because I never rode it. I think I paid $10 for it 😂 so no big loss

Saw a lot of these. They originally sold for $99 in Target, because I was right into Dragsters at the time, I saw a lot of people buying them and stripping the frame and reselling the frames as vintage. They were ok for the money. I’ve seen a shitload of them with a heap of money put into them.

just watched your video i had one as a kid had disc brake on rear was a 3 speed gears purple in colour

So these early ones did not have a catcher? Having said that, I think they were meant for small, residential lawns that were constantly kept emaculate and not for working overgrown places. Nice design, except the aluminium base.

What would this old victa mower be worth in aud?

The year should be stamped on the seat tube collar. Moulton didn't make a folding bike, the made what they called a "separable" bike, the Stowaway, which could be taken down to 2 pieces, and carried in the back of your car. The most famous Stowaway rider was Alfred from the 60's TV "Batman" series, he could be seen riding a Stowaway in at least a couple of episodes.

I'm still riding my Mantis X/CR I bought new in the late 80s from Richard Cunningham.

Maybe they only came out for a year or so because they knew they had a flawed design?

They’re likely a 1964-65 sort of thing judging by rear forks - it had the BoA badge on the front so early ish that 68 rear wheel might have come from a later Raleigh build machine - can’t really tell you what models you have

any of them bikes 🚲 for sale

Is there any way I can make contact with you about this bike? I had one that was stolen in Brisbane in the late 90s and have been trawling the net forever

Ohh SLX nice

How much do you want for it? 😂 lol my wife would kill me

Pretty sure the extra “safety” brake levers were also called “suicide levers”

In the day I lusted for the Nishki Alien mainly because it was so different looking

Nice. So whats the plan with this yard full of bikes, Restoring or just sale as is?

The chainstays don't even need to be all that elevated if the goal is having a frame that can install a belt drive without breaking the rear triangle. And only the drive-side chainstay needs to be elevated, if one can tolerate some asymmetry, so the weight penalty of a stiffer chainstay/seat tube could probably be mitigated. If I was feeling really fancy and willing to pay for a custom frame, I would consider asking for something like that.

Better tyre clearance, better chain ring clearance or you can use a drive belt. I think this style of frame offers so many advantages.

Elevated stays make it way easier to change damaged parts. Used to run a 2003 Marin East Peak which has ECS, trashed a derailleur but was able to throw a freshie straight on with a fresh chain already installed through the jockeys. Saved a good few minutes during an XC steeple chase. ECS also make dropping the rear wheel easier by reducing the amount of chain entanglement.

Another hallmark of the late '80's is the Looong stem. I always felt like I was superman flying with how stretched out I was on my MTB from the era.

What a beautiful bike 👌🔝 I enjoyed hearing what you had to say about it

I am also a proud member of the elevated chainstays society ❤