Candy Orange sounds like a stage name, but it was in fact the only color available on Honda’s QA50 in 1974. Sometimes, not having a choice is easier; just give me what you’ve got, and that’ll work. This 1974 Honda QA50 is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in West Bend, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $1,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
Incorporated as a city in 1885, but settled four decades before that, West Bend, Wisconsin is where you’d get your fix of West Bend appliances since 1911, like popcorn makers, crock pots, coffee pots, and all sorts of things given away on classic game shows. “And here’s a West Bend Stir Crazy popcorn popper!” It’s also where you may have gotten your wallet up until about three decades ago, as Amity Leather was the world’s biggest maker of leather wallets. Enough of West Bend, back to this QA50!
We saw a nice Gypsy Yellow one from 1970 about a month ago here on Barn Finds, and this 1974 model is pretty similar but with some visual changes. That was a QA50 KO, and this 1974 model is officially known as a QA50 K2, and they were only made for one year. The following 1975 QA50 K3s would be the last of this tiny series of starter motorcycles, fun for kids to learn how to ride, and fun for adults to relive those childhood memories.
The white plastic fenders with color-matched striping are unique to the K1 through K3 (1973-1975) models, as is the chrome molding on the gas tank, and fixed handlebars. This QA50 looks great to me, other than some usual discoloration on the head from engine heat and some general wear. There is a ding on the side of the gas tank, and some black paint is worn off of the frame, but overall, this looks like a nice one. The seller says it’s a great survivor and doesn’t have the dreaded second-gear slip that a lot of them come down with eventually.
The engine is Honda’s 49-cc OHV single-cylinder with just under 2-hp. It’s backed by a two-speed transmission with an automatic clutch, and the seller says it runs good and shifts great. Preferably, I’d want both to be great, but I’m guessing they’re just a bit modest. This looks like a really nice one, and I still can’t believe I haven’t owned a Honda 50 yet. Let’s hear those tiny motorcycle stories!
Saw one some years ago in an enclosed Reno shopping center with a diminutive Valentino Rossi type dicing in and out of the Saturday morning Christmas crowd-with a mall cop trying to catch him while astride a Segway..we still laugh about it when we drive by that mall.
Hondamatic.
Wheeeeeee,,,what a refreshing change from the norm, and again with the West Bend. Not mentioned was West Bends greatest achievement, the West Bend outboard, later to become Chrysler, then Force( no relation) and I think became part of Mercury. West Bend ground pounders and a host of other machines powered by the same motor as the Rokon, the West Bend 134 “Bee” was the best. Imagine what a ground pounder does to a motor. Also not mentioned, the 2nd picture was taken last week,,,,not really, but it can snow in the Badger anytime after Labor Day. I don’t miss the mosquitos, not pictured.
The bike? Well, it’s okay, for a tot, the primary target and you can’t go wrong. Valuable skills can be learned, Grasshopper, but one must be cautious, ER visits are costly. IDK, what was an ER visit in 1974, like $18 bucks? For any of “us” it would look like those 2 real fat guys( the McGuire twins) on minibikes. Since these rarely survived, ridden until that good old “want for more” kicked in, and it wasn’t long. You know those big piles of older motorcycles we see? I bet one, or more, of these is towards the bottom.
See? We in Wisconsin weren’t all booze swizzlin’, sausage eating, football watching tube junkies, we had a lot of fun too. Oh, btw, GO PACK,,( Broncos? Meh)
Nice one, Scotty! These came into my radar lately as I search for vintage bikes under 300 lb to slap on the back of the ’82 Lazy Daze. Too small and most are not road legal so I’m still looking, but these are super-cool. Sounds like some came with a conventional four-speed which I would prefer. I was seven when this was built, and back then I’d have probably give my left… pinky toe for one.
When they built our towns high school, in 1966. All the dirt was piled up behind the football stadium. Over the years, they’d use scoops for various projects around the new school. But it was a fairly substantial mound. We neighborhood kids used it for sledding, and for those of us with mini bikes, hill climbs. One day, a kid from a development a mile or two away, showed up on his QA 50. The assembled bikes were a Honda Trail 90, a Honda Trail 70(mine), and this QA50. The first two made the hill fairly easy. The poor QA 50 made it half way, before it, and the rider, tumbled over, and over, and over…We zipped down the other side to the kids aid. Besides a banged up tank, and a bruised ego? All was well. Good times!
I like these little guys!