Ranking as one of the most unusual designs in all of scooter’dom, Honda’s three-wheel Gyro series of small motorcycles are fun to ride. This 1985 Honda Gyro S TG50 scooter is something that doesn’t come up for sale that often. The seller has this example listed here on eBay in Downers Grove, Illinois and there is an unmet $1,500 opening bid and a $2,400 buy-it-now price.
I can attest to that the fact that they are fun to ride as I have an older one, a Neptune Blue 1984 Gyro that I’ve had for a few years now. I will probably be selling it this summer to make room for this black Gyro… I mean, just to keep things churning in the collection of oddball vehicles. The 1985 Gyro was made in only black and they look much less like a mobility scooter than the 1984 model does.
As a mobility scooter, though, they would fail miserably as you can see in the composite photo above showing three of the photos that the seller has provided. I put them together to show how the Gyro pivots. The rear wheels stay on the ground but once you unlock the parking brake lever all bets are off, you’d better have a way to keep your balance or you’ll fall over. The 1985 Gyro came in only black as mentioned and the following year they came in red and then they were gone, at least for the US market.
You can see the parking brake lever on the left side. You pull it up to lock it in any one of several positions, and then push it down when you’re ready to go but not before turning the key or you’ll break it off. My parking brake lever was broken by a previous owner from pushing on it too hard without turning on the key. eBay is your friend for some parts but finding body shrouds will be like finding world peace or political harmony: as in they don’t exist. This black Gyro appears to be in outstanding condition with some light wear or scratches around the rear wheels, which is the engine shroud.
The engine is in the rear and it’s a Honda 49 cc TB08E, a two-stroke single that put out around 3.8 hp and would propel, or maybe that isn’t the right word – it would eventually ensure a rider of a top speed of around 30 mph. My blue ’84 Gyro is fun to ride and there are a few YouTube videos showing Gyros if anyone is interested. Have any of you seen a Honda Gyro?
Mobility scooter,,,Sherman, set the Wayback machine for 1985, there we were, full of pixx and vinegar, jumping dirt bikes and snowmobiles through the air, mobility scooter, ha,ha,ha,ha, look at them Scotty,,not us,,,fast forward 40 years, now, the vinegar is gone, leaving only the pixx, mobility scooter, you say? Hmm,,suddenly a viable alternative? NEVER!! I’ll be in the cold, cold ground before I’m seen on a scooter, of any kind, I hope.
It is a novel idea, and never knew Honda made such things, even the Almighty Honda is bound to have a few duds( The White Fox snowmobile was another) looks a bit “tippy” for an old fart,, now, I have to go to Walmart 2 miles away, pickup takes $10 bucks to get to the gas station 2 blocks away( wasteful choke, you know), let me just yell at those kids to pull their pants up, and maybe a scooter is the answer after all,,Walmart is open after dark,,
I seriously thought about putting a bid in on this because let’s face it the Honda CT70s I grew up with are bringing astronomical prices. Once I saw the scuffed fenders and how scarce parts are and then heard one run and drive on a youtube video I knew it would never pass the noise ordinance here.
Pretty cool, also has a Polaris Slingshot listed.
The Polaris is slightly bigger.
First one I ever saw, mighty strange looking device I’d say. Then again I’m not a Motor Scooter type person. Only had two Motorcycle’ in my lifetime and that was a long time ago. Back in the early 70’s I had a 1960 Triumph bored to 750 with 19′ extended forks, the in the mid 80’s got hold of Honda 750 customized but that was it for me. Didn’t even keep them very long, as guys with more interest and extra cash bought them. Think I’ll stay with 4 wheels at this stage of my life.
God Bless America
Cute, but no title or paperwork.
Is that pronounced “yure-o or jie-ro”
Too bad Honda didn’t jump in it with both feet and build one with at least a 150cc motor, rather like the Vespa MP3 3-wheeled scooter.
After three tries on eBay, this one sold for $1,900!