“Am I blue? Am I blue? Ain’t these tears in these eyes telling you?” In my best Ray Charles voice. The seller lists this Suzuki MT50 Trailhopper as a 1971 model, but in 1971 they only came in orange. The 1972 models were blue with white stripes. They don’t include a VIN, so either this is a repainted 1971, or it’s a 1972 model. It’s listed here on eBay in Tampa, Florida and they’re asking $4,600 or offer.
I can’t believe we’ve only seen one other Suzuki MT50 here on Barn Finds, a 1971 version in orange, similar to one that I have tucked away in the vault. The seller mentions that this Honda ZA50 Monkey Bike competitor has won awards at “Barber Vintage Festival, Riding into History Concours d’ Elegance and Dania Beach Vintage Bike Show.” For it to be blue and listed as a 1971 is a head-scratcher for me. Maybe it’s a late 1971? We won’t know unless they see this and comment and add the VIN, and I’ll stand corrected and acknowledge that every single piece of information on the entire internet is incorrect and this is in fact a 1971 model but is painted in 1972 colors.
Suzuki made these little beasts in 1970 for the 1971 model year until the end of the 1973 model year. In case you were wondering, the 1973 models were lime green and white and that’s it. I’m assuming that this blue bike may be tagged as a 1971 but it would have been for the 1972 model year. Have I beaten that to death yet? Sorry. They were really enjoyed by period motorcycle magazines, other than some possible hard-shifting tendencies, and power-wise, they were faster than the Honda 50. This one comes with a rare Suzuki tool kit. That’s a great find!
The seller says this example was restored in 2022 and it appears to be in outstanding condition. Some of these parts are harder to find than a politician who will actually “reach across the aisle” after being elected, but replacement decals are still being made. The MT50 is small, but the seat is adjustable, and if I can fit on mine, almost anyone this side of Shaq can fit on one. It’s not a cross-country touring bike, it’s a goofing-around mini-bike. The seller says that the knobs on the forks aren’t working properly. Those are for when you loosen those things up, fold the handlebars in, and put this bike in your trunk so your kid can ride around the gravel pit. Ahhhh… the good ol’ days.
The engine is Suzuki’s 49-cc air-cooled two-stroke reed-valve single with 3 hp. It sends power through a semi-automatic transmission and this one was completely rebuilt and overbored a bit during that process. New seals were included so I’m guessing it’s leak/drip-free, and this looks like a nice example. Have any of you owned an MT50 or other tiny motorcycle? If so, do you own and ride one now? I do.
We have got to find out where this guy finds this stuff. These submissions only go to show, how everybody jumped on the dirt bike bonanza that was going on then. Kind of like cell phones today, all claiming to be the best, but basically, all doing the same thing. Children were the biggest draw, get them on a bike early, they more than likely will for life. The other thing, is how, um, shall I say, how ignorant some people are when it comes to pricing THEIR treasures. Newsflash to seller, nobody is going to spend this kind of money on something as frivolous as this, restored or not, nobody, especially kids, cares anymore. Amen to the author, for showing us, this is what fun was, and we were darn lucky to have lived through that era. We took many a lump, but was all in good fun. To tell the truth, I’m not sure what replaced this today as fun.
Amen to your comment. I am 65 and darn lucky to enjoy the 70’s!! I remember this bike. I knew someone that had the orange one took it out of his 69 Buick 225 trunk unfolded started up and take off. Yeah we lucky to have fun and skate boarding also. Your last sentence… What replace fun today.. we are holding it in our hands! What a shame!!’ And I still have my skateboards and my lovely wife yells at me to get off it. 😂😂
She’s right, you know, act your age for heavens sake. The thing is with these back then, for what, $695 new or maybe $100( more like free) with foot pegs torn off, that was what was attractive. That was the target audience, everybody, folks permitting, could have one. Today, the market for these just isn’t there, and the seller is hoping for that one person with too much money, to buy it, never intending to ride it whatsoever. Nothing yet,,,
What! 65 and still on a skateboard? I think you are definitely ‘cruisin for a ‘bruisin. You do realise that your bones don’t bend anymore, they just break! My wife is always at me to get rid of my ’99 Suzuki Bergman 400 but as I’m only 85 I don’t feel like it’s time just yet. Go safe on that board my friend.
When and why did these become so expensive?
It wasn’t just pit bikes, dirt bikes back then, it was a Motorcycle Boom, Gas Prices. I worked as a motorcycle mechanic at a Honda shop, I worked on all kinds of bikes & they sold so many could not keep bikes stocked, Ended my job, not enough to fix. I have restored some bikes & have some friends that have restored Many Many Vintage Bikes. The Collector’s Market seems to be Strong.
A collector might spend the money for this. Then it will be put in a room someplace never to be seen again.
Boy does that look fun. Imagine that sitting under the tree at xmas in 72 (or 71 lol) glwta
Thanks for your great write-up, Scotty. A cute bike and a fun read. I miss my Suzuki TS 185. Rode it everywhere, never had a problem. On the other hand, my Rickman 125 with the Zundapp engine left me uncomfortably stranded several times.
Same with me! After a steady diet of Honda XLs and XRs and never having to walk home, I bought a Can-Am 250 TNT. I remember two things about it; when running properly it was about as fast as my buddy’s Suzuki RM370. And I walked home or got towed out of the woods more often than not.
The problem with this bike? It’s not a Honda Mini Trail, which evokes 10x more memories for most people, and looks a lot better too.
Looks are a subjective thing, Rob. It’s like saying red is a much better color than green, we all like different things. I get what you’re saying, though, the Honda is more popular, but that’s exactly why I like this Suzuki better, I don’t normally like what “most people” like.
My first bike at 8 years old. We brought it home in the trunk of, my Dad’s 1956 Fairlane Victoria. It was used, and needing rear wheel bearings. In a couple of days, it was back in riding order. That was, probably, in the spring of 1975. Brings back, memories. Thanks
Yes, as a matter of fact I do have one. A blue 1972 just like this but an original, with original paint and everything else, and with 500 total miles on it. It’s in at at least as good condition as the one on offer, and nothing has been “restored”.
I had an orange ’71 and a blue ’72 back in the day, so I bought this current one basically as a nostalgia piece. But it’s so perfect and so unmolested that it’s more an objet d’art than a minibike at this point. So it goes…
Skateboards were never $100 back in the day,more like $10 or $20. Thats why everyone had one. I guess if they were sold today they might be $1000.
Wes, $10 in 1971 is $76 today, that’s probably about what it costs today for a good one.
My brother saved all summer for a skateboard. It was 1985, he finally got a Vision Gator. He paid $139.00 for it.
My cousin had an original 71 orange one of these. My mom wouldn’t let me have one she said l may have been killed and she was probably right. I would’ve been every where.
Saw a guy stuffing one of these in a dumpster. Dragged it out restored to beautiful and gave it to my son for his 9th birthday. Went through my other two sons, indestructible! Went to another family with two boys, they rode the hell out of it. Last I heard it was in upstate New York and still going strong. My boys are in their 40’s and all still ride
This was my first bike at, 8 years old. We brought it home in the trunk, of my Dad’s 1956 Fairlane Victoria. It needed rear wheel bearings. In the following week, I was riding. That was probably, spring 1974. Great memories. Thanks!
Had an Old 80 trail Suzuki, stopped running, Begged my dad to let me fix it, No had to take to shop, think it might have been fixed but Owner of Store or Somebody Took Off With All the Money, shop closed. My bike was Stuck In That Shop for a Long Time. Completely Soured me on anymore Suzukis, did find Way Later On a Trials bike 250, but sold it to a Friend. Still Love the early Honda CT70’s & 305 Superhawks & Scramblers. Shortly after that I was a mechanic At a Honda dealer. Like most all bikes but had trouble with Suzuki, but not really Suzukis Fault.