Honda SS 50
Honda SS 50 ( the SS is an abbreviation for Super Sport) was Honda's contribution to German moped scene of the 1960s and 1970s.
The predecessor was the Honda had 50 sport with the type code C 110 and C 111, which was offered from 1961 in Germany and the Honda S50 with the type code C 114 of 1965. These machines a pressed-steel frame with oil- damped telescopic fork. The engine of the S50 made 5 bhp at 9,500 min-1 and had a four-speed foot control. The top speed was specified in the prospectus at approximately 80 km / h. In the price list she stood with 1195 DM
Technology
In contrast to the German two-stroke machines (Hercules, Kreidler, Zundapp, Maico ) Honda SS 50 has a quieter four-stroke engine. It delivers 5.1 hp at 10,500 min -1. This Honda machines have a horizontal cylinder with an overhead camshaft and an actuated via a rocker switch five-speed gearbox with oil bath clutch. The drive chain runs in a closed chain case. Despite the usual Flywheel ignition, the SS 50 also has a 6- volt battery, which is why the existing competition in the rattle could be replaced by a proper horn and on the frame above the battery box a real ignition was present. Also to be found at other mopeds was not the idle indicator lamp in the speedometer of the SS 50 In a test of "The bike " reached Ernst Leverkus about 76 km / h The original SS 50 was delivered in the colors black and red, with the fenders both variants - front sheet metal, rear plastic - were light gray on the 5.3 -liter fuel tank located to the right and left chrome covers with rubber knee pads the handlebar controls and switches corresponded to the high level of other Honda motorcycle models from aluminum, including the two. . standard rear -view mirrors are, they stood out from the existing to the small German motorcycle competition sheet metal fittings.
The SS 50 cost end of 1960 about 990 DM Taking inflation into account, this corresponds to a present-day purchasing power of about 1,709 euros. Fuel consumption is 2.1 to 2.3 liters of premium petrol per 100 km, resulting in a range of approximately 250 kilometers. Due to the low consumption and the fact of not having to rely on two-stroke mixture, the operating costs of SS 50 are significantly lower than those of the German competitors, but consistently reach for a higher top speed. There was a standard ( horizontally positioned exhaust) and a De - Luxe model ( a raised exhaust, other tank), later only the De - Luxe model ( new styling in red or blue metallic with no chrome moldings and rubber knee pads on the tank ). The SS 50 De Luxe cost 1248 DM ( early 1974 ) This corresponds to a present-day purchasing power of about 1,751 euros.
Conversions and derivatives
Honda shoe from Frankfurt then delivered a conversion kit to 65 cc with pattern certificate, which the rated power of the engine was increased by approximately 10%. The resulting approval as a motorcycle resulted in an annual road tax of 11, -DM and an annual insurance premium of about 54, - DM, which over due on a moped registration insurance premium of about 300, -DM and vehicle tax freedom meant a saving which has recorded the cost of the conversion kit within a year. However, for guiding the reamed Honda driver's license Class 1 (aged 18 years) was then necessary instead of class 4 (from 16 years).
At times, a stronger model with displacement 90 cm ³ was produced by Honda, the SS 90, which also required the motorcycle license.
A derivative of the Honda SS 50 was the Honda Dax, later the Honda Monkey. The concept of the four-stroke engine used was exceptional and has so many fans found that the engine is still installed as a replica with various engine capacity variants in the Far East models that emerged partly as Honda under license and partly as a plagiarism of Dax and Monkey viewed can be. The 50 derived from the engine of the SS vehicle engines are likely about 50 years production time to the longest and most produced belong to the history of human mobility. The number of built with such a motor base type mopeds and motorcycles is expected to be at 120 million, an icon in the history of mobility and motorization.
Specifications
- Engine: single cylinder four-stroke OHC valve control
- Power: 5.1 hp at 10,500 min-1
- Cooling system: wind
- Transmission: 5 speed
- Power transmission: Chain
- Fuel tank capacity: 7 liters
- Empty weight: 75 kg
- Maximum speed: over 80 km / h