Honda MB5

Launched in 1980 into the hotly contested sports moped market, Honda broke with their four stroke tradition with the MB50. In it’s unrestricted form this by any 50cc standards of the day was pretty quick, as was the popular trail version. Honda listed this as well a the more traditional SS50 at the same time, to ensure they kept alive their traditional sales to four stroke die hards!

The three spoke wheels and spine type tubular frame were exactly what youngster of that time were looking for, and the model was hugely successful for Honda, and today has now achieved classic status, although never to the same degree as the machine this model was bought out to beat, which it didn’t, the hugely popular then (and now) Yamaha FS1E “fizzy” still selling well after a 10 year run, with only minor changes.

Interestingly early in its development it was originally called the CB-X5 as you can see from these Honda development sketches kindly shared by M Club page member Ian Foster.

Image: Ian Foster

Image Ian Foster

Image Ian Foster

UK and European model

The Honda MB5 (MB50) was produced in Europe from 1979 to 1981. They came in black, red, and white with a blue stripe. It also gained a nose fairing around the headlight and Clip-on style handlebars.

It featured a relatively unusual design in that the fuel tank stretched underneath the seat so that it could leave some room for the 2-stroke oil tank which is situated at the front of the fuel tank.
Typical for Honda the engine is a little over engineered as it features a balancer shaft to reduce vibration and this feature was retained in all of the M series engines.

Specifications (UK)
Engine: Air cooled, single cylinder, 2-stroke
Bore and Stroke: 39mm x 41.4mm
Displacement: 49cc
Compression Ratio: 5.9:1
Carburettor: Piston valve type
Starting System: Primary kick
Max. Horsepower: 2.55ps/ 6000rpm (DIN)
Transmission: 5-speed constant mesh
Clutch: Wet multi-plate
Ignition: Fully transistorised
Frame: Cross line backbone design
Suspension front: Telescopic (travel 125mm)
Suspension rear: Swing arm (travel 90mm)
Tyres front: 2.50 x 18-4 PR
Tyres rear: 2.50 x 18-6 PR
Brakes front: Disc
Brakes rear: Internal expanding shoe (drum)
Length: 1880mm
Width: 655mm
Height: 1160mm
Wheelbase: 1220mm
Seat Height: 750mm
Ground Clearance: 160mm
Fuel Capacity: 9 Litre
Curb Weight: 90kg

Colours / paint codes:
Red - R33 Helios Red – code 1138,
Black - NH1 Black – code 1039
White - NH24 Ceramic White - code 1005
Blue - PB109 Neptune Blue - code 1104

What Honda said:

"Honda's MB50 will give you all the excitement of motorcycling right from the start. Says Ron Haslam, 1979 World TT Formula 1 champion.
Exciting looks. Packed with brilliant new engineering developments. Made to give super smooth, trouble-free ride in the true Honda tradition. That's the MB50.
It's a machine that will set new standards, a machine to be proud of. what better way can there be to get the feel of two wheels!
The MB50 features a hydraulic disc brake on the front carefully balanced by a dependable drum on the read, to give sure, safe stopping power. The disc fluid reservoir is clear so you can see the level at-a-glance- you won't have to put off those vital checks until you have a spare moment!
It has 'big Honda' Comstar wheels, which combine the flexibility and strength of spoked wheels with the style of solid cast alloy wheels, and contribute in no small way to the MB0's excellent handling properties.
It has non glare speedo and tacho instruments - easy to see even in harsh lighting conditions - well positioned controls, and a low centre of gravity, all of which help make riding easier and safer.
As Ron Haslam said when he saw the machine: "This must be the ultimate road bike for the new rider - it's got so much much going for it."

The MB50. What a great way to start."

note the optional panniers

US version: MB50C

Officially only imported as an 82 model, the colours were black body and frame and a red stripe, and red body and frame with a blue stripe. This model differed to the Euro bike as it didnt have a handlebar fairing, it had higher rise conventional handle bars and had a different single style seat unit with no pillion foot pegs. Unusually the USA version ran 12v electrics (UK had 6V) and also had a high beam warning light.

Honda MB50 Bol d'Or

The Dol d'Or was a Belgium market special edition with the addition of a frame mounted half fairing, this is the original brochure text translated in to English.

"The Bol d'Or. The Honda Prestige for youth fairs, a complete range of resistance, performance, road-holding and braking power, A mono-cylinder 2-stroke engine with air cooling, equipped with a balanced crankshaft to make the whole vibration free. Disc brake voorann, wide tires (80/90 x 18), kilometre equipment speedometer, tachometer, quartz clock (as an option) and a windshield that continues the great tradition of his glorious predecessor and gives the whole a young, classy view.

The Bol d'Or is supplied by the factory in the legal moped version, but there is a kit to make it on your 18th a real engine with a remarkable performance."

Dutch MB50P (1980)

In The Netherlands the MB5 was available with a 'pedals' kit, this turned the bike in to a traditional moped meaning you can pedal the bike like a bicycle. The pedal cranks axle ran in parallel behind the swing arm axle via a unique swingarm with a secondary chain linking the pedalling sprocket to a secondary front drive sprocket. The pedals would of been disengaged for motorised running. 

European MB50 - 1984-1992

Produced in Belgium for the Dutch market the MB5 continued with some styling additions, most notably the addition of the lower frame cradle to modernise the bikes looks. The final models included the addition of MBX ComStar alloy wheels. Colours were white/ blue and white/red.
Thanks to M Club member Michael Vogels for his help on this model.

Colour options for 1984-1985 (with Comstars)

without frame cradle rails but with original type wheels

The future? 
As a foot note, Kar design re-imagined the MB5 for the modern era. Honda won't build this but it's nice to think that if they did it might look something like this.

Brochure selection

Video

Model Kit by Tamiya:

Model/ country codes:
MB50F MB5 1980 (A) AUSTRIA
MB50F MB5 1980 (A) SWITZERLAND
MB50F MB5 1980 (A) EUROPEAN DIRECT SALE
MB50F MB5 1984 (E) EUROPEAN DIRECT SALES
MB50F MB5 1984 (E) SOUTH AFRICA
MB50PA MB5 1979 (Z) NETHERLANDS
MB50S MB5 1980 (A) BELGIUM
MB50S MB5 1980 (A) ENGLAND
MB50S MB5 1980 (A) GERMANY
MB50S MB5 1980 (A) NORWAY
MB50S MB5 1980 (A) SWEDEN
MB50 MB5 1982 (C) USA
MB50 MB5 1979 (Z) JAPANESE HOME MARKET
MB50P 1980 (A) NETHERLANDS
MB50P 1981 (B) NETHERLANDS
MB50P 1982 (C) SOUTH AMERICA
MB50P 1984 (E) NETHERLANDS, SOUTH AMERICA
MB50S2 1982 (C) SWITZERLAND
MB50S 1980 (A) BELGIUM
MB50S 1981 (B) BELGIUM
MB50S 1982 (C) SWITZERLAND
MB50S 1984 (E) NORWAY
MB50S 1985 (F) NETHERLANDS
MB50S 1986 (G) NETHERLANDS
MB50S 1987 (H) BELGIUM

For more info on this model please also check out:

UK MB5 site http://www.mb5.co.uk/index.html
USA MB5 site http://www.hondamb5.com/info

Facebook groups

Honda M Club (UK)
Honda MB/MT Bikes
Honda MB5 owners

See also: Honda MB8

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