My Custom Honda c50 Stepthrough build.

debulebule, Nov 10, 1:37am
Hi guys, I used to live in Thailand and had one built over there. I posted a thread about it early in the year but it proved almost impossible to bring my Honda cub home legally when it was already customized.

Here is the Thai build:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424483758.jpg So in February i bought a registered c50 in pieces from trademe. I've finally got around to starting the build. She will have wide rims, custom swing arm, widened forks, among other many custom parts. Why? Why not. Haha. I've developed a passion for small bikes since living over seas the last few years and I've bought that passion home with me.

Here's a typical Malaysian style wide wheel build:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424484272.jpg

My plans don't involve so many dazzling colours but it's gonna be beautiful in it's own Kiwi way

I hope to update as I can. So stay tuned if you're interested in my custom moped build.

Before chopping:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424480757.jpg From the back: https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424480806.jpg
Swingarm comparison:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424480895.jpg Basic mock up (no tail): https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424480931.jpg
Cut forks:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424480973.jpg The story so far: https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424480987.jpg

bwg11, Nov 10, 2:54am
Generally, I hate classics being butchered, but this is rather cool. And there are still plenty original ones about. Will you use a bigger pit bike motor or the original?

tamarillo, Nov 10, 3:49am
Good on you, looks fun.

sr2, Nov 10, 4:54am
Cool ride, you need to join Oldschool NZ and start a build thread.

http://oldschool.co.nz/2011/forum/

glang, Nov 10, 5:26am
Wow, that malaysian one must stop on a dime with those hugh discs.
The C50 is a great bike, I had one in the early 70's and used to average 300km a week around Auckland on it delivering items for a shop. Top speed was 70kmph on the flat, but could do 85kmph down the harbour bridge.
Totally reliable despite the abuse it got from me, just changed the oil every 1000km and it was still going strong when I sold it a couple years later.
I can't understand why Honda didn't continue production of the C50, a far superior bike to the later 50cc models put out by various manufacturers.

debulebule, Nov 10, 6:04am
Cheers Tamarillo. Will do SR2.

It's definitely the best candidate as far as classic vehicles and chopping is concerned. There are plenty to replace it being the most mass produced mode of motorised transport in the world.

Tonight I'm primering the hubs, getting them ready for paint shortly so I can lace up these rims.

debulebule, Nov 10, 11:23pm
Here's a small update from today.

Very rough mock up with the new Bridgestone Battlax rubber. It's very out of proportion in the photo but I'm a bit too impatient to wait and see what it will look like later on. Stripping the hubs tonight so they can be changed to black before the weekend, when i'll be trying to lace up my first pair of rims.

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424697729.jpg

sifty, Nov 11, 3:02am
I think they have made over 80 million of them. Not like it's a rare bike being cut up.

sifty, Nov 11, 3:05am
Like it.
Did you cut the front end and weld in a section. ?

saki, Nov 11, 4:11am
looks good

dr.doolittle, Nov 11, 5:25am
I love your choice of wheels.
Seriously though, wouldn't it look so cool to have wheels made of a high strength clear perspex like product instead of spokes.

debulebule, Nov 11, 5:46am
The front end has been cut and will be welded up and strengthened once the tyres are successfully on the rims. Looks like at least 80/90mm will need to be added.

There are some insane bikes coming out of Malaysia and also the UK. Seen 8 inch wide car rims mounted with a single side swing arms. Not for me though. Haha.

Just been stripping the paint from the hubs and brake plate.

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/424775500.jpg

Pretty close to ready for the primer and black going on before the weekend. Good times ahead!

debulebule, Nov 11, 11:33pm

sifty, Nov 12, 12:45am
Just joined myself. Have commented on your post.

bill-robinson, Nov 13, 8:12pm
does this need a cert similar to a modified car?

bjmh, Nov 13, 10:23pm
O.P you are doing a great job,but as bill-robinson says ,find out the certification requirements from a L.V.V.T.A ,it could be a can of worms if you plan to register/ wof it.

debulebule, Nov 13, 10:50pm
It's already registered. Live rego, no WOF required as it's 50cc. It will still have all legally required lights and signals etc. By the time I'm done it will probably be a lot more rigid compared to it's pre-build state.

debulebule, Nov 13, 11:02pm
Just a small update, painted the rear brake plate black and decided to polish the hubs. The brake plate should match the front disc which is also black.

Painting:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/425302256.jpg Polishing the hubs was going well until the bench polisher shorted out. So only the rear was completed to about 70%: https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/425302841.jpg

Hopefully these can be finished soon so the lacing can start. The rest of the build is dependent on the size of the tyres when mounted and inflated properly.

bjmh, Nov 13, 11:06pm
yep ok I agree re wof ,but good luck about legality,as I see it you are modifying a recognised design. i.e the original bike. N.Z.T.A wouldn't like it. probably a grey area in our transport regs.Anyway you are very talented.

debulebule, Nov 15, 8:30am
Weekend update.

Yesterday I left the workshop with the following:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/425627803.jpg And started on the wheels this morning. After a million swear words, I figured it all out. https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/425627983.jpg And finally ready for truing next week, no stand at home.

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/425628041.jpg

debulebule, Oct 16, 5:08pm
I'll just be continuing the build thread on Oldschool. Trademe motoring seems to have gone the way of the Dodo in recent years. It's a long time since the good days of years past. If you're interested, follow there!