The Honda Z50 might be the greatest motorcycle of all time

In this video we take a look at the history of Honda's iconic little Z50 or Mini Trail as many know it by. What makes a motorcycle great? Sometimes it isn't all about size and speed and technology. Size isn't everything...
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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
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[@RideOp74]

One Saturday morning in the spring of 1971 when I was 12, my dad took me shopping for a mini bike. For several years I had wanted one more than anything, and would have been happy with a simple lawnmower engine style bike, but I guess he wanted me to have something a little better. After looking at several of the cycle shops near where we lived, I settled on the Z50, a brand new blue one. I remember my dad paid $295 for it, and later that day I was the happiest kid on the planet. It was my first motorcycle and I'm still riding 50 years later. Thanks, Dad.

[@gmartin8043]

I bought a new Z50 Mini Trail in 1970 when I was also 12 with my paper route money. Mine was red and I paid $242.00 your 71 model a little more expensive ( inflation even back then) I remember adding a speedometer to it, downhill about 32 MPH, wish I would’ve kept it.

[@RideOp74]

@@gmartin8043 I wish I would have kept mine too. A few years later when I moved on to a Hodaka 100 and lost interest in the Mini Trail, my dad sold it for $75. That same year I got my first car - a 1966 Chevy II Nova purchased from my older brother who bought it new. I wish I still had that also.

[@gmartin8043]

@@RideOp74 I traded my Z50 Mini Trail to a neighbor kid for a I think it was a CL or SL 100 Honda + $130 dollars.

[@bobtheblindbedroomguitaris8742]

Everybody at the same age as me and if for me it was the summer of 72 when I got a go-kart I lived in New York City and my mom wouldn't get me a mini bike which was my birthday 13th birthday and these lists to say the next season so they were looking at the 73 I worked there in the summer at a car wash yup kids can get away with that in the early 70s I guess you would know you were same age as meek and I think maybe a year younger I was born in 59 anyway I hadn't seen it at a hobby shop that carried used a new mini bikes there was a used rapper roadster frame in there so when I had enough money saved the car wash I went there I bought it and wielded six miles home and put the five horsepower with the cubs engine on it and that was my first buy I had to do all that secret once the bike was in my garage huge egg is an acres of housing complex all the backs of the housing with driveways and garages there was a garage almost every apartment so it was really easy to and great to ride safely as far as the street goes but anyway I bought it to the garage I did the transplant ended up drilling a hole in my calf it's only the story but I did put it in my comment and my mom and found out and she learned to live with it cuz I used it for a few years till it was stolen took my road test though and providence Rhode Island from motorcycle on a Honda 70 trail 70 so yeah great memory is my first bike was a 1966 Yamaha YM1 305 to stroke was a Honda dream clone yeah it was a Yamaha m1 that's what it was anyway just so that I throw a reply there cuz it seems to kind of went down the same path I drove for a couple of decades more and I ended up going blind and had a stop otherwise I'd be like you and I have 50 years of riding so right safe for me and have fun for me to see all about the flying bedroom guitarist

[@donbrashsux]

You were a very lucky kid awesum

[@seam4002]

I used a Z50 as a commuter in Tokyo in the early 80's. It was small enough to fit in the elevator at our office building, and I parked it next to my desk every day. Not a single drop of oil ever leaked on the floor. Great bike for its size!

[@leonardoguzman5023]

Hi, Do you live in Japan?

[@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367]

@D R theft yes bike theft is common in japan.

[@seam4002]

@@leonardoguzman5023Hi, yes I have been living in Japan for over 40 years...

[@leonardoguzman5023]

@@seam4002 Dear Seam, I am interested in to sell my Z50J in Japan. To a Museum, or a collection, or someone who can appreciate the value of the All original Z50j (1978) at a good price. Do you have an idea where or to whom I could offer? Awaiting your reply and with best regards. Leonardo Guzman. (CHILE South America).

[@JQUICK21]

Amazing story! I bet you wish you kept that incredible machine!

[@Tracer414]

I will never forget Christmas morning in 1970 when my dad had 2 Honda Z50 mini trails under the Christmas tree for my brother and I. We spent hours on those motorcycles and the memories will never be forgotten.

[@Naltddesha]

Best Christmas ever!

[@Jonathan-L]

My Z50A Mini Trail was my Christmas gift of 1974 when I was 11 years old. Let's hope that after all these years that people will still buy their kids bikes like these.

[@LK-bz9sk]

My stepdad got me one in 1979. Nostalgia.

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

One thing I dreamed of when I was a kid in the late 60s early 70s.

[@omnipresent1215]

@@Jonathan-L I think the way you do. But I'm not sure the kids of today look at it the same way. I know of one kids whose Dad got both himself and his young son a small bike. The kid didn't have too much interest in it and after summer number 2, he had no interest in it whatsoever. Which I'll bet you'd agree... seems intensely bizzare. I'd pay $1000 to back in time and ride my Z50 out on the back trails of my old suburb again. Good times riding on my little old 'hog' lol. Even more fun when some of the few others who had one came along. We'd take lunches and a drink and be gone for the day then do it again the next.

[@vailmcc]

The brand new, blue Mini-Trail my parents brought home for me (because my friend had a yellow one and I badgered them unmercifully) to me, meant freedom. The joy of riding in its purest form.. I’ve owned a dozen plus bikes over the years, and I had more fun on that Mini-Trail than all the others put together! Thanks for this.. well done!

[@traviscartwright3950]

My fondest childhood memories are getting up on cold winter mornings and riding ours up and down the farm driveway and around the property. Minibikes were the best gift we recieved from our parents and will still own it to this day, I'm 51.

[@karelianshaman]

Z50 was my first bike. Endless happiness for 11 year old kid driving that minibike around local forest trails. Greetings from Finland

[@scootergeorge7089]

Greetings from the USA! Question; As a Finn, do you consider your country to be Scandinavian or European? Have heard both. PS; I consider Carl Gustaf Mannerheim to be the "George Washington" of Finland.

[@karelianshaman]

@@scootergeorge7089 Finland is not Scandinavian. Scandinavia refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. We are part of european union, but we are little bit different than rest of the Europe. We are drunken northern forest people. Mannerheim was field marshal during WW2 and after the war became the sixth president.

[@scootergeorge7089]

@@karelianshaman - Mannerheim , soldier, statesman, president. Hero.

[@karelianshaman]

@@scootergeorge7089 Mannerheim was badass. Mannerheim and Hitler met once. Mannerheim knew that Hitler hated smoking and smell of it. So Mannerheim decided to chainsmoke during the whole meeting. Sigma grind set: Smoke unhealty cigarettes to just annoy Hitler.

[@lannyqualls9428]

@@karelianshaman Being a student of ww2 history, I have much respect for the brave, resilient people of Finland. God bless from America's heartland.

[@thevoxofreason8468]

The Z50a was the first motorized bike I ever rode. It was in the 80's, I was around 8 yo and it was already an old machine. I spent about 10 hours just riding around a family friend's farm, through fields and some easy trails. I remember it like it was yesterday. It's one of my favorite childhood memories. It started me off on a lifetime of loving and riding motorcycles and dirt bikes.

[@charlesculnane7520]

I had Z50A when I was 12 back in 1972 . My mom brought it for me used . I had a blast on that bike , Hours of entertainment . Wish I still had it .

[@seaninness334]

That phrase, "...wish I still had it." sigh. I know what you mean.

[@muthrfuqrjonz3530]

I still have my 1970 Z50A mini trail , it is in factory mint condition and one of my prized possessions.

[@SchoolforHackers]

Nice!

[@leonardoguzman5023]

Hi, I also still have my Z50J from 1978. A present from my mother. The bike is full original. Question : In case of try to sell it, Do you think Japan can be a good market interested?

[@888jackflash]

An excellent tribute. My best buddy got a brand new '69 for Christmas and my eyeballs sproingged out. It took months before he'd let me ride it.. and I was thrilled. Since then I have owned 27 motorcycles, ridden across the US (four times), 13 countries, done trackdays and covered MotoGP races for magazines. Yep.. this is where it started.

[@bobhamulak3646]

@888jackflash; So, what you're implying is that motorcycles are an addiction? (LOL)

[@omnipresent1215]

Wonder if you are like me. Somehow the early days on my little 50' were better.

[@888jackflash]

Solution: Buy a GROM !

[@richardkafka5625]

Having grown up in the mid 70's, surrounded by almost every make of enduro's and full size dirt bikes, the day one of our neighbors got a mini trail 50 it had all of us fighting for the chance to ride it! And it was a blast!!! you could push this little thing to it's limits and never be in any real danger, compared to our 2 and 4 stroke full size bikes. And man were they tough. That bike was probably laid down more than any other bike in our group, and just kept going! I have so many good memories from riding one of these!!!!

[@puresinn6996]

I fondly remember, watching my cousin ride my minitrail for the first time. He had never been on one, and his fear directly translated into a throttle clench. I watched him ride that bike straight up the elm tree in our front yard. He went 9 feet forward, and three feet up. Never rode it again. I thought I was gonna die laughing..

[@insanemainstream3633]

So great to see your dad riding that bike with a smile from ear to ear. It truly is smiles per mile and I remember my Honda 50 as if it were yesterday. Those were great days!

[@billyrayvalentine7972]

My first bike was in the early 1970s. It was an Aggie 5hp. The thing was just too insane for this 10 year old so we traded it for a blue mini trail 50. I loved that thing and since my neighborhood was undeveloped I had tons of hills to ride on. I'll never forget that mini trail

[@chrismoody1342]

I’ve got nothing but great memories of the original 68’ Mini Trail. Even though I had full size 125cc I couldn’t get enough of riding the Mini. I would let the owner ride my bike and I’d ride his. It didn’t have to be fast or highly capable off road, it’s sole function was smiles and fun. I’ve got two high powered bikes in garage and I’d still love to own and ride one. As a side note; 60’s Honda’s started my whole love affair with motorcycles. I’ve never strayed away from Japanese’s motorcycles in my 50+ years of riding.

[@DavidDacaro]

My dad bought me a Cherry red 1975 Z50 in 7th grade, used, through the "want ad". It changed my life, sparking the adventure craving in my young mind as I rode endless forested trails in the northeast constantly fascinated by what was around the next corner. 3 years ago, after not riding motorbikes for decades, I bought another Honda, the crf300L, having been influenced by that z50's demonstration of how rugged honda's can be. Sadly, the 300L wasn't good enough in hard dirt so I got a KTM500, and wow I feel happiness riding just like I did when I was young with my Z50. I loved that Z50, it really was a great thing for my young brain. Now I love my KTM 500, what a machine, holy crap! Although no longer with us, I'll repeat what RideOp74 said here, "Thanks, Dad"!

[@hunterp6356]

I picked up a 1985 z50r a couple weeks ago and even though I’m still working on it, it’s probably one of my favorite motorcycles. It just looks fun

[@fritzd2116]

I’m proud to say that my first motorcycle was a ‘75 Z-50. Been in love with motorcycles ever since. 😎👍🏻

[@phillipware9681]

Same story here my friend! 🙂👍💯

[@stipcrane]

I loved my 1969 Mini Trail and rode the wheels off it. I broke the foot pegs and forks going off jumps and learned to drift on an asphalt tennis court. That bike gave me the most thrilling experiences a teenager could have with a machine. Video games don't come close.

[@bigcity2085]

We had a retention pond with steep walls and my buddies mini trail....he could plunk it in first and drive straight up the wall.But I had a Yamaha mini -enduro ...no way he could run with that.

[@toddbefield1100]

My first bike...the blue Honda Z50 back in the 70's...loved it!

[@Stupetin]

The Honda Monkey is pretty common here in Finland, as you can get a moped license at 15. I never had one, but I rode one my friend had. My dad also had one when he was a kid in the 70's, and he used to go to school with it even during winter, he just strapped mini-skis on and kept his feet on the ground while driving :D

[@jkoepis]

One guy in our middle school (yläaste) rode one with ice spikes in the winter! It had so much grip it could wheelie on icy roads

[@RideOp74]

I wrapped a dog tie out chain around the rear tire on mine for use in the snow.

[@thejubieexperience]

I saw kids riding minibikes on the bike paths of Rovaniemi all fall and into the winter. I thought you Finns were a bit crazy. The good kind of crazy

[@alexzingo6952]

I had 2 of them in the 70’s in Finland. I just bought new 2022 125cc Monkey and I love it here in Australia.

[@muthrfuqrjonz3530]

“Mini Trail”

[@chuckwilson6281]

Got mine in 69. Had a blast on it. Remember seeing them in stores in LA, CA while visiting my grandmother. I lived CO. My Dad took me to a town 50 miles to the closest Honda dealer to buy one. I didn't ask for the bike, Dad just bought one. It taught my alot about operating and taking care of vehicles.

[@davidbryngelson938]

In 69 my dad took us to a local MX race, I was 5. I spyed my first love.. a Honda QA50. Fast forward to 76 and while visiting my cousins they showed us a Z50 the older boys grew out of. Now I had a new first love for all of my then savings of $75 . Been a Honda fan ever since.

[@dethcult]

I had a QA50 for a pit bike. Lime green!

[@ThinkerThunker]

I wanted one of these SO DAMN BAD. So it's great to see where someone else believes the Z50 might have just been the coolest.

[@DirtRider22a]

I started on a Z50 in the 90’s and a few years ago I bought another one, 1996 model. 88cc big bore, with all the other goodies, 20mm carb, heavy duty springs, re-geared, street tires and was tagged. Most fun I’ve ever had on 2 wheels after 23 years of riding a plethora of different bikes. Hands down, can’t change my mind. If I had to own 1 bike only for the sole purpose of putting a smile on my face, this is it.

[@asdasdasdasdasd9795]

It's seriously such a great bike. I still own the one from my teenage days, though now it's fitted with a 160cc 15hp engine. I still commute to work with it. The police arent the biggest fans of it though.

[@JamesKovall]

had one in 75 my dad told me come outside theres garbage out on the lawn and there she was burnt orange z 50 miss you dad! and the z 50

[@msims1250]

In 1979, I got a used Z50 for my birthday. My mom brought it home from the Honda shop on the backseat of our station wagon. I promptly started it up and ran it straight into our backyard fence. But I learned to ride in that bike and I’m still riding today. I wish I still had my old Z50. I’m thinking about getting a Monkey. Great video, brings back lots of memories.

[@striker12300two]

I was fortunate enough that my dad worked for my grandpa and my grandpa had a bunch of land right there. My dad bought a Z50 and an SL70. He took us to work with him in the summer and we would ride those bikes all day long. Sometimes we would go with him in the winter too. Just as fun in the snow. Z50 is the best ever. No question.

[@Alex50cc]

My grandfather bought my uncles a brand new Z50 in 1968 (mind you money was tight) and we still have it. Don’t ever plan on getting rid of it. They’re passion for motorcycles is what got me into it and all stems back to that bike. I still love riding these 50s and have had a few Z50s and xr/crf’s. Love these little bikes as riding and working on them growing up has very much made me who I am.

[@nfapeng187]

I had the 50 also, but the ct70 was my favorite. Sadly i dont got no photos or anything from when i was younger. my parents never did anything, i got both my bikes from a uncle of mine.

[@Kickstart500]

Great bike! My first one was like you have at beginning.. 3hp Briggs and Stratton, rigid frame scrub brake. I was too poor for the Honda 😂. I did have a Z50 for my boys though and I longed for one as a kid. And btw, we rode the wheels of the Briggs and strattons off road.. made ramps and jumped them. Break a frame, dad would weld her up and we’d go break it somewhere else.

[@ericalger5003]

I had a 1st gen ridged frame Z50. It was my first bike. I was 5. It was AWESOME!!!

[@jseden]

I think Honda nailed it with the rebel 250 as well. It's still a motorcycle by any definition, but they're surprisingly small in person and super approchable. I rode one for years and I frequently had non riders asking me about it or overhead people saying things like "I could see getting bike like that...". It's not that fast or cool, but it's fast enough for all but the fastest highways, low maintenance, super reliable, and super easy to work on. I actually had no intention of selling mine but a nice vt500 ascot popped up, a bike id lusted after for years.. basically my personal ideal motorcycle and impulse got the best of me. No regrets but after that, I had a bunch of money tied up in bikes.. my goldwing is another story.. so the rebel had to go. I ultimately turned a profit, even after putting 20k on the thing And I was happy to see it go to a guy getting back into riding who'll enjoy it and hopefully keep talking care of it. They were stoked on it.. I kept in touch and while they'd initially planned on garaging it til spring, he ended up registering it and taking the msf ASAP.

[@tonyt8805]

1971 I got Z50 and my brother got a CL70. 😎 My mom was so upset when she found out how much my dad paid for them...... 🙈 🙈 🙈

[@Naltddesha]

These are iconic! The blue one in the thumbnail was the exact model I had as my first bike. I was 7 years old and it was a gift from my grandparents. They were the original owners, and this bike was my Mom, and her siblings’ bike when they were kids. I still own this bike to this day,! I hope to give it to my children some day

[@lannyqualls9428]

That's such a great story. Thank you for sharing.

[@EmotoZ]

Hey Bart keep the videos coming man! Always look forward to more! Love those little Honda's!

[@onekoolguy4921]

I bought a couple of them in 1969. Lots of fun. One caution: the front wheel will come up and dump you on your back very easily! When going up hills you have to lean forward and keep weight on the front wheel.

[@sparky6086]

Had a 1969 Z50, when I was a kid in the early 70's. It was a blast to ride for a runt 9 year old, like I was, to ride on the hilly forest trails on Grandad's land. Funny, I had that same "Rebel Flag" helmet (thrown in with the 2nd hand Z50) which appeared in the video, but that was during period when it had been co-opted by the counter culture as a symbol of rebellion against The Establishment, and it no longer held any racist connotation at least until the late '80's or early '90's, when the media began to dredge up it's racist past.

[@benjaminpettibone4254]

This webcast on the Honda Monkey is so awesome in multiple ways. Everyone has their own story about their first ride going back through the years. Indeed, these first rides are what propelled people to move to bigger motorcycles. Here’s my story if anyone is interested. The year was 1980. My next door buddy had the similar motorcycle as the Honda Monkey but was actually the 1978 Kawasaki KV75 (blue and gorgeous). He and his brother drove it everywhere. I drove it for the first time and got hooked. This was about identical to the Monkey back then. Being excited as a young guy, I thought how ‘cool’ it would be to have one. We struggled financially as a family so figured it would likely be out of the question despite me taking on extra work as a kid. One day after school, I rode my peddle bike to the local sport shop on the South side of town (seemed far away back then on that side gravel road) in Princeton, MN. And there it was, a 1977 red Kawasaki KV75 like my buddy’s blue one. It was used but was in showroom condition. That very night, I told mom about it and she saw that sparkle in my eyes. To this day, I remember her downplaying the thought of purchasing that Kawasaki. I certainly didn’t have the $300.00 saved up (that was a lot of money to a kid in 1980!) to buy it. The idea that some other person would own it crushed my spirit when I realized that someone bought it after going back a second time to look at it. That was my first experience in a retail situation where ‘the early bird gets the worm’ as the expression goes. On Saturday morning of that same week ending, my mom came home with a used vehicle that she bought and needed as our primary car was struggling to go much further for her and dad to commute to work in the Minneapolis area. Mom said to me to help her get some things out of the trunk. Mom always had groceries or pop to get out of the car so I went as requested. She turned the key inside that trunk lock, the trunk opened to that beautiful red Kawasaki KV75 I told mom about! She secretly purchased that motorcycle for me and my brother to ride! I was estatic if you can imagine. Everyone except dad rode that motorcycle. We even have a grandpa story to share another time. Mom actually hugged two grocery bags of food within her arms (sitting atop the gas tank) a couple of times riding it to town and back. We lived 3 miles to the edge of Princeton. I think mom had as much fun with that little motorcycle as we did. Years later, I still enjoy riding motorcycles. Here’s a small part two story that coincides historically with my kid story. I am 53 now and still think back to our first motorcycle (we should have kept our 1977 Kawasaki!) we got back in 1980. That’s 42 years ago already. How time flies. Then back in January of 2022, when there was a couple of feet of snow on the ground, I thought about going into our local sport shop in St Cloud, MN about 30 minutes from our house. And to my amazement, it was dejavew all over again as a kid. A 2021 blue Honda Monkey with only 49 miles on it was for sale. I absolutely couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like it was 42 years earlier in nearly the same identical way - just stumbled on it! With all the supply shortages in 2022 I was thinking how could this Monkey even be available? But, it was January and most people weren’t even thinking about warm season items. So I pondered the purchase of that Honda Monkey for a few days and decided to buy it! Asking myself, am I too old for this thing? Trying to justify this $4,000.00 purchase for a campground ride seemed a bit much. But after riding it around the parking lot at the sports shop, I was hooked all over again. Smiles from ear to ear. Initially I put $500.00 down to hold it and actually made the final purchase when the snow all melted (didn’t want road salt to get on the chassis). My dealer said he could have sold that Honda Monkey 20 times over again as people asked if it was for sale despite a sold tag on it. He said it was the craziest thing he had seen. Even a fellow employee was asking in hopes that perhaps the new buyer would back out of the deal. Honda obviously needs to ship more of these to dealers. One final note - was at the Black Hills campground this Summer and had about 4 different ‘toys’ on the trailer and got them unloaded. We were able to ride trails from the campground. Out of those 4 items, the Honda Monkey was repeatedly asked about with fellow campers (not so much on anything else). On the second week out there, my uncle’s brother and his adult kid just happened to camp the weekend next to our campsite. I hadn’t ever met them but my aunt recognized him so we all got to chatting. They brought out their Harley’s to ride. Soon enough they were asking about that Honda Monkey as well. How weird is that? I invited them both to take it for a ride and they loved it. The uncle’s brother said it’s more fun to ride than his big bike. Being a big bike rider myself, I couldn’t agree more!

[@sprintcar-acematt5175]

We had a blue 1969 Z50A and a red 1970 CT70. They were so much fun. After seeing this video, I'm wanting to re-live my childhood. The search begins!

[@marksanford3907]

Had one! Some of my most fondest memories growing up!! Even my pops said it was the cheapest investment for us boys he could've ever bought! We went through 2 of them.... good times

[@goldenhealer5645]

I had the 350 XL... it was a combo of dirt and street. It was great...Back in the early 70's

[@imtheonevanhalen1557]

The engine had one flaw, the cam, or timing chain. I was a grunt mechanic at a Honda dealership in the '80's, and had I saved all that I replaced, you could fill a 55 gallon barrel with the chains and sprockets. The chain was too small, and the tensioner wasn't automatic.....once the slop started it beat everything in the chain galley to pieces making the slop much worse.....oh yeah, most folks forgot the change the oil!! I think Honda sold all of the tooling to the Chinese.....lots of Z-50 looking engines on some of their stuff.

[@davidleonard8369]

I had a mini trail 50 in 1969. I rode the Piss out of it until the xr75 replaced it in 1973. All it got for maintenance was oil changes and cleaning the air filter. Never adjusted the timing chain, valves or even the ignition points. The little things was bulletproof. I guess some things don't improve over the years.

[@michaeldavis5775]

The Chinese copies of the z50 motor aren't as good as the original. A mechanic friend of mine told me they are made cheaper, and use bushings inside the engine instead of roller bearings.

[@darylsmioth1904]

@@davidleonard8369 That was the key (oil changes) to make that live long. ANY motor with a timing chain needs frequent oil changes and clean filters.

[@timothythomas1737]

China steals all good ideas nothing new here.

[@timothythomas1737]

If you had it serviced at a dealer timing tensioner should have been adjusted it took only a few seconds.

[@ss_whole]

In 1971 Z50 was $300, adjusted for inflation that's $2100 in 2022, yet the new Monkeys are literally double that, $4200

[@crisslastname9417]

I had a '69 Z50 and loved it! I would jam into 2nd gear and bring up the front end and ride it on the back wheel all day long.

[@rodneyemmerich8828]

My first bike was a Honda Z50 absolutely unbreakable

[@BigRaku]

The Z50 and the Keystone mini were the two machines I learned to ride on. The Z50 was indeed a tough little bike, but 50 years later, it also remains (knock on wood) the only one I ever broke. About 8yrs old, I came over a dirt track rise and failed to anticipate a right turn. Went frozen in fear down the backside and slammed into the next rise. Mangled the forks. Cried for a couple minutes, then pushed the remains back to camp. Glory days 😄

[@deedeeindustrialsuperprecision]

I skillfully operated one of these many years ago when I was asked to fill in for a Shriners parade going through complex maneuvers with little cars driven by clowns. It was the perfect machine for the task.

[@metals7361]

Well may b back when the lawnmower bike hit the asphalt The cops were more into coffee And donuts all day They didn't pay too much attention On these activities But as a rule Forget kids Any one riding any gas machine Even a lawnmower bike Is illegal unless You are over 16 And have a riding licence from DMV Also need insurance So as a mini bike story it all Sounds great But That was not legal by DMV chp Standards

[@timmarski6019]

Nice summation - I had a '69, and, over 50 years later, STILL a passionate motorcycle fan ... My MiniTrail led me to Yamaha's MiniEnduro, then larger off-road machines, into MX (Honda Hills in Ohio, Trans ANA'S, Interacts, California w/Suzuki, ... now fan-follower of AMA SX, Nationals, MXGP, WSB, MotoGP). Hearing your MiniTrail fire up for first time, my first reaction/thought was, 'The baffle is out of the buffer...', hence the throaty growl ... I should know, I did that to mine ! LOL You didn't discover your MiniTrail "Barn Find" in Ohio, did you ? 😉

[@privatepilot4064]

Troy Ruttman, the 1952 winner of the Indianapolis 500 had a shop in ky neighborhood in Dearborn Heights, MI that fabricated minibikes and gokarts. He did quite well with it for many years!

[@superzuki5831]

Had a 74 z50, it was orange and awesome. My brother, sister and everyone else rode the hell out of it and it just kept going. A valve adjustment every now and then and tires was all the maintenance it needed. It was the beginning of a lifetime obsession with motorcycles.

[@Mr.Robert1]

I had a mini bike. We had no money but with my birthday money and more that I saved up. I talked my mother into taking me to the store that sold them. Mine had no suspension it had a 3.5 horsepower Tecumseh engine. I believe from a lawn mower. I would assume. Living in the projects we didn't have any Lawns to mow the only poor kid in the neighborhood with one. knobby Tire thing with an engine that started my addiction for motorized vehicles. If my memory serves me correctly I would believe it was somewhere under $500 new that came assembled and ready to go. Going to add to my story why not. I started playing around with my mini bike until it didn't work anymore don't remember what happened to it really but I was purchased a Yamaha 80 as a gift I remember it had 4 gear's but no clutch? Years later I went out and purchased a used Honda 400 Hawk for $500 use it for a couple years sold it for what I paid for it ended up getting a 650 Honda Nighthawk as that particular year America had a tariff on anything that was 700 CC's or larger. That's why the 650 Honda Nighthawk this bike was brand-spanking-new $2,500 imagine that folks. Walking to your neighborhood Honda dealer today and see how much they want for a 750 or a 600 for that matter New and see how much they want. This was a 4 cylinder 4 carburetors going into 2 exhaust pipes. Double overhead cams shaft driven no chain to play with like with my 400 constantly adjusting and oiling all I did was start this motorcycle and drive. Another edit at the bottom I cannot swear on the price that I paid for the mini bike but I'm sure that I overpaid for it now that I see that people are stating that the Honda well actually they quoted too prices. First they said it was close to $300 then towards the end of the video he said it was about $200. I definitely know I paid under $500 from my mini bike I don't think it was anywhere near $200 I'm sure a little kid coming in with money and his mom they took advantage of me however I think I more than made up with it with that 650 Hawk for $2500. The day that I walked into that dealership I don't believe the salesman thought I had any intention of buying it they did not even have it out on the floor they took me into the room where they would doing repair work and showed me that they had it in a box. I asked him how much it was as having no idea and gave him a $500 deposit on the spot when it was assembled about a week later is when I picked it up.

[@awolslaboratory1388]

I'm overwhelmed by the greatness of this video and your commentary. Great work. I couldn't explain this topic better than you did. Kudos and thank you .

[@bigdeal6852]

I had a lawnmower Mini Bike (a used one) at 11 yrs.old for Christmas. It was fun when I first got it and it was very very fast the guy my dad bought it from had the biggest powerful Briggs on it (50mi.an hr.🤣)... but by summertime I hated it because it was a b#tch to pull that lawnmower motor and for it to start which hardly ever did so it sat there and yes it definitely had no suspension. So by next year in the middle of the summer my dad took me to get a new mini bike. I wanted the Honda 70 which I thought was the best one they ever made then the 50. Went to the dealership and they had them on backorder (and they didn't know how long it would take) and so we went to the Suzuki dealership and they had their 50 trail hopper. It was a 100 times better than the regular lawnmower Mini bike. I had a lot of fun on that bike especially at my uncle's place where I could ride for miles and miles of country roads and trails. 🤣🤣. My dad paid $300 dollars for it and I sold it for the same price in the early 2000s ...yes I kept that long. My mom wanted to keep it in the basement for her grandkids one day...which she finally was able to watch my oldest son do. 🤣 I plan on getting a Honda 70 for my grandkids now.😊. I had several dirt bikes from that one but that will be the one with the early memories of me and my cousin and friends and son riding our own bikes Today I have two Harleys...a Sportster and Heritage. 🤣. P.S. Thanks Dad ! R.I.P

[@M.S-Music]

I had a 1989 model, extremely reliable and durable 4-stroke thing! Suzuki had a similar bike called the PV 50 a 2 stroke one that was very easy to tune

[@WhiteTriForce]

This is a mini bike not a motorcycle ! 👈🤪 "Greatest motorcycle of all time" 🤺 Not a chance !!! I have had some of the best ! 👈🤠 And it sure the hell wasn't this thing ! 👉😖👈

[@benjamintravis6606]

My childhood’s happiest memories were on one of these!

[@user-wy1dl2me2p]

The z50 mini trail was slowwww that went for 300 bucks . An 80 dollar minibike from Sears could be more fun .faster ,more power

[@josevi5835]

Fantastic and emotional video. Loved the images of your dad riding this awesome bike. I recently bought a Monkey 125 and I enjoy it a lot. I have a 330 cc scooter and two bikes (650 and 850 cc) but this tiny Honda is special and shines above the rest of my machines. The new Dax is a real temptation...

[@musicauthority3516]

If your talking about the greatest motorcycle. it would really depend on the category where it would be placed. it has a lot characteristics of of a real motorcycle. but it's really a minibike it's size is it's limitation. but it's also it's bonus feature, with the handbars folded down it could be placed in the trunk of a car. which was handy for people that didn't have pickup trucks. it could even be laid on it's side providing a person turned the petcock off. and closed the vent in the gas cap. that opened it up to a market that might have normally be able get such a bike. it's huge difference over regular minibikes was that it had a transmission. although only three speeds. there were some people who thought it was a little small. but Honda thought about that too with the introduction of the Trail 70. that was similar except it was a little larger. and both models have seen a huge increase in popularity again. and now there after market companies. that make a long list of parts for them. including upgrades to 140 and 190 cc engines. however there is one weakness that people who want to restore them will find. and that is the wheels will tend to rust out badly. but they can be purchased though the aftermarket now. Honda is missing out on a huge market for these bikes. and should at least introduce models that are similar to them. but the requirements probably make it difficult for them to do that these days.

[@raymondmenendez6499]

First bike was a Honda 65. The most incredible thing I have ever seen at the time

[@arianasof]

Great video. I'm just going to be really annoying. I think dual sports aren't really a fad. They've been around since the early 70s and I would bet money that there will always be people who want a dirt bike they can legally ride to the trail.

[@thenexthobby]

I think that's me

[@drjbraun]

Cheers up front for this. Great presentation all around. The video title is Im sure debatable,...but you might be absolutely right. I had the 3Hp Briggs&Statten small tire/no susp mini bike like a lot young first time riding kids. The Z50 WAS the apex of that M/C form in that size in my youth. It did EVERYTHING great it seemed. More power. Better tires. More suspension, a transmission and handling. And it never broke. My brother,sister and me would ride our cousins Z50 from dawn to dark at their country place in the summer, non stop except but for fuel and basic maintenance. We did every jump, stunt and obstacle challenge together. Top 3 for me.

[@tommurphy4307]

until the yamaha mini-enduro came along- then guys were ditching their mini-trails for them.

[@bluesfanman1]

Always loved the Z, but my first bike was a CT70. Don’t remember what year it was but it was a blast. Wish I still had it.

[@Buckarooskiczek]

Nice! Kinda wish you would have touched in the next evolution of the Mini Trail which was the CT70 which at first borrowed the engine (bored) and semi-auto trans. But it was when they offered the four-speed clutch operation that the fun began! Anyway, now ya got me jonesing for a Honda Mini Trail!

[@scottshull3060]

Yup, I had the CT70. That was a great bike. Rode it till I got my CB 550F super sport. Took me all the way to the '80's

[@FordManiac76]

Including rear suspension!

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Excellent. I could not agree more. But then again I indeed do not own a Ducati Superlegerra... But I do own a Honda ST 1100...

[@JoshuaEagle1080]

Great video Bro! I started on a mini bike, then 2 a 125 kawi, then honda express, n finally my 72 Honda 450! I love when u mention the 450, its such a unique bike on its own! Keep up the good work Bro!🤙

[@bartmotorcycle]

Very cool! Yeah the 450 is often forgotten but it really was Hondas superbike prior to the 750

[@autodidact537]

@@bartmotorcycle The term to "live on in infamy" means that the thing or person you're describing is extremely bad or has a bad reputation. It comes from the word infamous. Are you really saying that the Honda Z50 is evil or something or what?'

[@vaffangool9196]

​@@bartmotorcycle Dude there's more Japanese maples on your street than in my Dad's hometown in Japan.

[@qawwertyyugggyiuiuuhinkopo748]

Does them videos bring back memories boy wow do that awesome💯👈✌🤘😎😎✌🤘👍

[@outbackeddie]

I had a generic mini bike when I was a kid and I had more fun on that bike that I have had in the 50 years since. My dad was voted dad of the century (by me) for providing me with such a fantastic fun experience.

[@rudygracia5573]

Generic...Yeah,I was 10?yrs old when my Grandma and I visited a friend of hers.Her 10yr old daughter(tomboy'ish)asked me the sweetest question a little girl could EVER ask a little boy;"I have a MINI BIKE,wanna ride it!?".🤯🤪.I was like;"Huh!?Who me?(I'm not worthy..).What an experience THAT was!!Exhilerating!It was one of those"Generic",Briggs&Stratton type.I had previously only seen OTHER kids riding those,and go carts,but I wasn't invited!😭I was(am)the"Forrest Gump"in my social"School Bus".Simple pleasures,but whata GREAT memory!

[@bigcity2085]

I had a Yamaha mini enduro, and my buddy had a 5 h.p. Montgomery Wards 2 speed mini bike...it flew, but it was always breaking down, and we had a guy with a honda mini trail(it was pretty lame),and another had a street scooter. We were quite the gang.

[@rudygracia5573]

@@bigcity2085 Yeah,I do miss that"gang".One(well funded)kid had a Kawi KD100m(mini).2 of us had Honda Z-50's,the other kid had a YZ80.Great times.

[@ChristianStout]

My Dad got one of those for us in the early 00s, and sold it when we "outgrew" it. I think I need to start shopping for one again.

[@garys2327]

53 years later I still have mine. Still runs and looks great. Have had quite a few Hondas over the years and still do but this one has a special place in the heart.

[@FordManiac76]

The 1970’s ct 70 was much more popular as it could be riden by all sized riders

[@blipcat3382]

They used to use the Z50 to herd/coral cows from pen to pen at the Ft. Worth Stockyards.

[@persico9017]

Thing I remember most about the Z50 was that it was stone cold reliable. We would beat it all day long and the next day it fired right up and run perfect! Loved that thing!!!

[@privatepilot4064]

I desperately lusted for one of these when I was a kid! I literally dreamed of having one.

[@roostercogburn809]

My buddy had a mini trail 50, I had the mini trail 70, we had a blast on these things...

[@xnihilo64]

In '72 my dad in his wisdom realized his eight year-old son was too uncoordinated for playing traditional sports and bought me a Z50. Fortunately, we lived in rural Florida so I could ride anytime...and I did. All the time. Now at 58 motorcycling is part of who I am. All thanks to my dad and that little Honda 50.

[@michaeldill7620]

The footage of jeff ward riding stand up wheelies on one is the most iconic thing.. that alone set a whole contingent of people into riding racing and living the feeling of riding. Spot on how you said anyone can ride it and as a kid who throttled these for years in rain , snow mud sand. They just go!! Thanks for putting that together!!

[@Lou-eye]

I had a taco 44 mini bike in the 60's, my friend on the next street got a honda mini trail 50.

[@j.7584]

Still have my 85’ Z50 first bike I ever got and I will never get rid of it. So much fun in a small package

[@seaninness334]

Yep. Definitely hold on to it. Otherwise you'll be misty eyed and sighing as the rest of us remember old rides.

[@hamrite]

YEP !!! I always wanted one of those and my dad probably hid the mail I sent to Honda France as I was asking info about where and how much to buy, I must have been 10 years old. I finally stumbled on a 1974 Dax Honda inn my home town, and it is sitting now in my living room.

[@RoadieWingZZ]

My first “motorcycle” ever was the 1970 red 50 mini-trail. I was 11 or 12. Folding handlebars allowed us to bring it home in the trunk of dad’s car. I’ve had many other bikes during the ensuing 50 years, but none left a more lasting impression.

[@bobtheblindbedroomguitaris8742]

Thanks for this video it evokes so many cool memories! My first bike will actually I lived in New York City and I got a go-kart for my 13th birthday I'm Jewish it was my by mitzvah present and my parents wouldn't my mother mainly didn't want to get me any kind of a motorized two-wheeled stuff we lived in a large a really large city blocks complex in the middle of them rural driveways into connected so the GoPhone have is actually useful anyway the next season for you know when it warmed up I started working at a car wash I work for 5 days and I saved up enough money to buy a mini bike frame it was a rough mini bike frame and I'm taking it might have been a roast it it had everything there except the engine I didn't tell my parents or anything I wheeled the bike about 6 miles back to our apartment complex went to the back to the garage and when it turned the engine off the golf cart and putting it on the mini bike I got everything to fit with the clutch was in the line up so make a shorter the story as much as I can shorten it I had to take the clutch and move it out so I drill so I put a bolt into the shaft where the centrifugal clutch went and I got everything online and I was going to cut the bolt off but you know the kid that I was with absolutely no patience I decided to start it up and take a ride and it beforehand I started it up everything was going okay and all of a sudden the bulk grab my pants like and drilled about an inch maybe more into my calf needless to say I went back to my lymph back to my apartment told my dad to come out he came out and he snuck me into the bathroom to take a look at it didn't want my mom to know well I had to go to the emergency room so she ended up finding out I rode the bike around for another season or two and then it was stolen New York City stolen stolen stolen especially in the early seventies lol. now I jump to its 1976 and 77 I'm living in Rhode Island now with my parents in Providence I got my junior license driver's license and I wanted to get you know a motorcycle and my friend had another Honda mini trail 50 he had a mini trail 70 I'm pretty sure that's what it was it was street legal so I went I made an appointment for my road test and a motorcycle and I took my motorcycle test on a Honda trail 70 and past it and I was ready to rock I was not really a ready for any type of real motorcycle with a clutch big wheels you know 70 miles an hour 65 but I ended up buying a 1966 Yamaha ym1. That was a 305 CC two-stroke and it was basically a clone of the Honda dream had that back for a while even when I got my third bike from the going from the mini bike to the Yamaha I got a triple a two-stroke Suzuki gt550 1975 it was like a year or two old but I did have a few mishaps on that ym1 didn't take long before I found myself flying into the back of a bumper I'll call that it stopped well I wasn't paying attention another impatient thing and the reason why I wasn't paying attention cuz there was a girl on the corner young girl or young woman and she was wearing hot pants which was you know a thing back then and I was just my eyes were coming out of my head I'm staring at this so as I'm looking at the girl I said I looked up and the car had stopped put the bike into a slide I probably didn't do it on for on purpose I wasn't Mr hey I'm a greater control and motorcycles yet and I figured but I'm going to hit that Kong and a jump while I'm on the side of the bike I got to jump away from it when I ended up doing was jumping into it I don't want to tell you to this day literally I have problems with that knee because of that so yeah I can't tell you how many times including my mini bike I got on my motorcycle on my mini bike strapping crutches onto the size of them because I had an accident but still alive still up on my limbs got a lot of arthritis from many broken this and that and rip tendons from this and that. I did have to stop driving very early in my life my mid 30s I had a genetic disease at the causes of blindness and that's progressive had pretty much a normal side up until my last 30 and then it started to get bad a few years after that I had to stop driving and riding but yeah you know the Honda mini trail it wasn't my bike but it got me started on my road down the love and enjoyment of riding a motorcycle I lived and breathe motorcycles can't tell you how much I miss it and yeah thank you so much for your video really great memories even going back to the mini bikes when you said they called it the monkey bike I was thinking of the show there was a show back then pulled the monkeys and in the beginning of the show they're all riding around on mini bikes yeah it's just as a kid I was like I couldn't wait to the beginning of that show because I wanted to see the mini bikes I had a love for anything of that a motor on it anyway I'm already into talking all over the place here so I'll stop thanks again everybody if you read this and and bought the ride safe and have fun for me sincerely Bob the blind bedroom guitars

[@bobtheblindbedroomguitaris8742]

U

[@sabba_dabba8649]

Whaaaa ha ha ha

[@henningpieterjordan7416]

My First Bike in the age of 6...❤..i Loved IT..😊

[@marksfarmcraft1888]

This was my first bike! I had a little red one. My parents and I were on vacation and a couple camping next us had a Z50 and sold it to us for $75! Greatest day of my young life! It was a great trip. We lived in Washington State and were taking a long trip to the Grand Canyon. We stopped at a Honda shop in Vegas for some parts and then I was riding! I road if for several years and had a blast! It always ran perfectly and was so tough. I saved up enough to by and XL100 and just kept getting bigger from there. Thank you SO MUCH for posting. So many great memories on that amazing little bike!

[@JeffK.]

This bike brings back some of great memories. Not only was my brother's 1970 model bulletproof, alot of the parts were interchangeable: brakes, wheels, tires, forks, footpegs, etc. We put a bigger sprocket on the rear wheel and added chains so that it would climb steeper hills. And the semi-automatic transmission made it easy to pop wheelies. Thanks for this video.

[@alelectric2767]

Back in the day when you could actually fit a mini bike and a body in the trunk of a car. LOL!

[@flexjay87]

I had a '69 model, in 1971 , and rode it every day in the summer !

[@jeromecabral192]

With this type of motorcycle you don't need a license

[@mopiktm9480]

Right on, I started with Z50 in 1975, and still riding 🏍

[@tndeere]

Great stuff. Sure brings back good memories.My brother and I had 2 Z50's an older ridged frame then a leter mdel 74 I think that was orange and had rear shocks.When my son turned 5 we gat him a 2002 XR50 thet we still have.

[@raymondj8768]

i learned to ride on the Honda 50 great bikes !!!!!!

[@mastermnd22]

Z50's engine is the most cloned engine in the industry. The legacy will live on forever.

[@hisdadjames4876]

Beautifully explained and argued. Its right that you should still feel pure moro-mance for the first bike in your life. 😍👍

[@AudiophileTubes]

Do a video on the awesome HONDA MB5!

[@BatCaveOz]

The Honda Z50 might be the greatest motorcycle of all time. The Honda Cub *is* the greatest motorcycle of all time... it literally changed Asia from ox carts and bicycles into having access to motor transport.

[@BradCagle]

My dad bought one for me second hand in the 80's, pretty sure he paid $50. I road that thing everyday until dark.

[@masudashizue777]

Several years ago, I was all ready to purchase a Monkey when Honda pulled the plug. It's nice that they brought back the larger Monkeys but they don't appeal to me the way the older ones did.

[@rickrexrode6835]

Yeah i got my Z50 when i was just 8 years old !!! It was hands down by far the very best gift my late father had ever given me as well as the knowledge of riding and maintaining my most prized possession !!! Fast forwards to today !!! And once again i find my most prize possession is once more a ICONIC Honda product ,quite possibly the best bike Honda has ever made !!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CR500R AND WILL NEVER GET RID OF IT UNTIL I DIE OR CAN NO LONGER RIDE IT FOR REASONS OUT OFF MY CONTROL TO CONTINUE MY FAVORITE THING TO DO !!! FOR ME ITS MY FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AS IT KEEPS ME FIT ,ACTIVE ,ALERT AND KEEPS MY HAND EYE COORDINATION, REACTION TIME ,NOT TO MENTION MY ADRENALIN JUNKY FIX WELL SUPPLIED AND TUNED UP !!!And to think it all started with that ole little Z50 my pops earned on a maintenance job, that i even gave him a hand doing ,pounding down the nail on a ole redwood Hollywood Stake roof that the sun had worked their way up and partially out as my late father explained to me expansion and contraction of the redwood shakes would heat up with the sun light and at night slowly shrink back down and contract ,slowly causing the nails to raise and lower working themselves loose or even completely free ,as some did require new replacement nails !!! Love you POPS miss you dearly ,AaaMmmEeeNnn and GOD BLESS HIS SOUL !!!

[@bwjones8903]

How dare you! The one guy who commutes on his Superleggera watches EVERY motorcycle video on the internet. He's absolutely seen this! (Thanks for the great content.) Cheers.

[@bartmotorcycle]

LMAO