What better time to talk about a tiny, 86-pound, 49-cc mini-motorcycle made in Japan than during Sturgis Week?! I would love to ride this down Main Street in Sturgis, for about 0.01 seconds before I take a 2×4 to the skull. I’ve never been there during this week, but I’m assuming non-Harleys are at least somewhat welcome? This 1969 Honda QA50 is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Plover, Wisconsin, and the seller is asking $2,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
This is my kind of motorcycle. Maybe not this exact one, although I’m a big fan of yellow vehicles. I don’t think we’ve seen a QA50 here on Barn Finds until now, but the resemblance to the Z50 series is unmistakable. The seller has this QA50 listed as a 1969 model, but they didn’t come out until the 1970 model year, so I’m not sure why they have it listed as a ’69. They don’t show any VIN or other numbers to verify the build date, but maybe it’s listed somewhere on the bike? It needs a bit of cosmetic help as you can see, but it’s small enough that you can easily tackle that in a corner of your garage.
I prefer motorcycles with a headlight and taillight, but that’s just me. This is somewhat mini-bike-like in not having either of those, but it does have a kick-starter rather than a pull-start, as most mini-bikes do. Honda made the QA50 until 1974 or 1975, and they’re a bit rarer to see than the more street-friendly (with lighting) Z50s. These bikes are strictly for off-road use only, but even at 6′-5″ tall, I’d ride the heck out of this thing on a gravel trail through the woods. Or, down Main Street in Sturgis. The handlebars fold down so you can throw it in the trunk or the back of your pickup or SUV.
Getting around 100 miles out of the 1.2-gallon tank, this 86-pounder has a Honda 49-cc four-stroke single with just under two horsepower, and is backed by a two-speed transmission with an automatic clutch. The seller’s kids have outgrown it (I’m well over the half-century mark and I haven’t outgrown them!), but it runs and drives as it should. They just cleaned the carb and gas tank, and it’s ready to go. Who’s in for a ride down Main Street in Sturgis with a couple’a Honda 50s? Hello?
This is one I could see getting lots of attention during the bike week in SD! Fun little rider, and a great write-up. Thanks for sharing this one Scotty!
Lol great article SG. Ride On 😎 👍
Wow Scotty!!! I saw the bike…….. Saw the Title……. I didn’t even have to open it up…… I Just KNEW it was you!!!! This has your name all over it!!!
Great little Honda!!!
Who else? I don’t know, I’ve never been to Sturgis either, but I don’t believe it’s as redneck as it used to be. I remember the word “Sturgis” conjured up images of drunken hooligans doing burnouts on H-D choppers and wet t shirt contests, to a more relaxed family atmosphere. Not to say those shenanigans don’t still go on, just a bit more subdued. I believe all makes of bikes are welcome. Not sure if the Asian ones mix with the H-Ds, but has become more of a celebration of motorcycling, rather than H-D specific. I heard, the other 51 weeks, you’d never think the place hosts such a deal. What’s cool about motorcyclists, is they( we) have respect for something as seemingly minor as this, to the ultimate Ultra-Glide, 2 wheels( or 3), you’re in. This was about as basic as one could get, to introduce the kid to motorcycling. It was Hondas attempt to get the kid on 2 motorized wheels asap. I bet some kids rode this before a bicycle.For a list price of $250-$300, it was money well spent. Cool find.
That’s good to know, thanks for the Sturgis info, Howard! I was hoping it would be friendly to all, and I’m sure that any crowd of a few hundred thousand people will have a few troublemakers who are there to cause trouble for the fun of it. I like to believe that someone on a Honda CB750 or Kawasaki 500 would be welcomed just because they have a love of motorcycles and riding, and who knows, maybe they have a Harley at home, and a lot of the Harley riders have Japanese bikes at home.
I sure saw a lot of bikes of all kinds heading west last week when I was in Western North Dakota for photos. I’m guessing those folks were from North Dakota and were turning down at Bismarck to hit the SD Black Hills. About half were on trailers being hauled out there. About 50% of the riders were on three-wheelers, so they can keep riding even if they don’t have the mobility that they had when they were younger. I don’t mind that at all, unlike some folks who look down on trikes as if they aren’t real riders. I’m sure the shopkeepers love everyone this week, no matter what they’re riding or driving, 2-3-4 wheels or more.
I have a photo client in Rapid (Rapid City) who got in touch to have me come out for a few days, a few years ago, without realizing it was Sturgis week, for some odd reason, since they’re from there. I went online to book my usual $80 hotel, and it was $800 a night! I thought it was a typo until I realized it was August 2nd, ouch. I called the client, and they said, yeah, let’s wait a week or so. The hotel price went back to $80 after the rally. Wowie.
Good Grief that’s some mark up Scotty!!! Thankfully you could put that off a week. You reminded me of an old friend of mine who years ago got a debilitating disease. A bunch of his friends got together and took his Triumph motorcycle and converted it to a 3 wheel so he could ride it. ( I forgot all about
that until you wrote that)
Yeah, you don’t see much but H-Ds during the Rally (which ended today, SUN 10 AUG); however, there are a few others. One of the more commonly seen non H-D rigs are the BossHoss V8-engined monsters in various guises: Cruiser, Bagger, and Supersport, but several different trikes all with 400-500 HP & Torque ratings. They’re mostly between $50K and $100K new.
Motorcycle Missions was here in Deadwood on Friday for a show/fundraiser. The top two winners were vintage Army bikes that were my favorites before the awards were announced, but then again, I like vintage stuff.
Where anything goes and you might get to live some of the more lurid stories coming out of Sturgis is the Wednesday party based near Hulett, Wyoming. I’ve heard many stories and would only recommend that “event” to the hardest-partying, drug-taking, skin-surveying type of bikers.
Buddies went there in the 90s, one on kawasaki LTD, one on a v-max, had a great time apparently 👍 🍻
This little Honda would be perfect for riding around the Buffalo Chip campgrounds.
had one of these when i was a kid 350.00 out the door who would have thought to keep it would have been a very good return on your money.
We had one. Green. We begged and begged for a “minibike”. Dad finally gave in and this is what we got. Credit to him as he would load it up in the 62 Valiant station wagon and we’d go to the “pits” to ride a few times other than when we would ride around the block. We finally threw a rod. I think that was its demise. Brother blames it on me. May be? IDK?? I did have an occurrence on the kid down the street’s Yamaha 80. (a little more squirrelly than our QA-50) popping the clutch and then through the badminton net. Never got on a MC again.
I think they might get a kick out of it out there in Buffalo Chip land. I will pose that hypothetical to my barber who was out there.
#campzerosturgis minibike show for sure.
1st bike. Wanted a mini bike like my buddy had but dad surprised me with this (only in red) back in ‘72. Took it everywhere in the trunk of our ‘69 Impala!
I still have it same color and yes it’s a 70 , also my brothers a 71 nicer looking red n white with chrome around tank longer seat ! Ran great just out grew them !
Oh what awesome memories this post of a QA50 brings as I had one exactly like this as a kid. It came in this yellow or green or red – yellow wasn’t my first choice, but since it wasn’t as popular as the other two, the Honda dealer gave my dad a deal. But, if truth be known, I couldn’t have cared less about the color, I was so excited to get it. My mom was totally opposed, as she thought I would get hurt or injured, but between my dad and I, we convinced her. But the plan almost came apart when the dealer’s mentally challenged son helped me pick out a helmet, and then turned it upside down and showed my mom the padding and said, “look it’s just like a casket inside!” I could have killed him. Anyway, that QA50 brought me so much joy for so many summers, and it was nice to remember those good times. Love this site and enjoy the posts – keep ‘em coming!