Many of us remember getting our first dirt bike when we were a kid. And that first tiny motorcycle was commonly a Honda. So if that’s your story, then the 1997 49cc Honda Z50 recently sold on eBay will conjure up terrific memories.
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Vintage Monkey Bikes
Fun fact: The first model of the Honda Z-series pocket bike was produced as a children’s ride at a Japanese amusement park. Honda released the Z-series in the US in 1968 and sold the lineup until 2017. Then, two years later, the company rekindled the spirit of its 1970s Z-bikes—in the form of the new Honda Grom - opens in new window or tab..
Back in the day, these motorcycles were commonly referred to as “monkey bikes” due to the rider’s crouched riding posture. Honda kept this name for the smaller model in the retro-styled Grom line.
An Instant Hit
Small motorbikes started to become popular in the 1950s. Repurposed lawnmower engines sometimes powered these small bikes—that is, until Honda released its production models in ’61. By 1968, Honda released US models, which sold over 70,000 units the first year alone.
Honda had five designations for the Z models: Z50M, Z50A, Z50R, Z50J, and ZB50. The J and the R were the longest-running models, each with different attributes and color schemes.
The 49cc engine on the bike for sale is a four-stroke, overhead cam style, with a 10-degree upward tilt from horizontal. The bore and stroke are 39 x 41.4 mm (1.53 x 1.63 in), culminating in a whopping 3-inch displacement.
A 13mm Keihin carburetor handled the air-fuel mixture for these little bikes until 2008 when the PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection) system was introduced. The carbureted versions produce 1.92 hp at 5,000 RPM, with 2.2 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 RPM. The Honda Z series shares the same centrifugal clutch assembly, and gearshift pattern as the CT70, with a left-foot-operated N-1-2-3.
The bike manages a top speed of about 25 mph, depending on the rider’s weight atop this little machine.
22-Inch Seat Height
The earlier models of the Z featured a metal gas tank, available in various colors such as Tahitian Red, Canary yellow, and more. Later models followed the styling of the bigger dirt bikes, moving to plastic tanks and fenders.
In 1997, the Honda Z50s were Shasta white, with a red vinyl seat. The fuel tank logo was redesigned and was black, white, and red—and the number plate up front was white. They ran on 8-inch knobby tires and weighed approximately 110 pounds. The seat height is a miniscule 22 inches—perfect for children and yet still fun for adults.
Overall, they’re about 50 inches long, with a wheelbase of 43.5 inches. Drum brakes front and rear provided the stopping power.
A Blast from the Past
The bike sold on eBay is a 1997 Z50R. That’s the “offroad” model. The seller notes that it starts and rides well, and is in excellent condition for its age. There are a couple of scuffs on the plastics, and the rear tire is worn. But this bike has plenty of life left.
eBay also has a variety of aftermarket and OEM parts for these Z50s - opens in new window or tab.. So you would have no shortage of options to make a small motorcycle like this truly your own.
The Z50R can be used as a childhood flashback or to pass on a love of riding to the next generation. Either way, it would be a blast to own one of these classic monkey bikes.
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