Rare High-Mile Mini – 1983 Honda Motra

In Japan, Less than 5k, Off-Road, Small Displacement by Tim HuberLeave a Comment

The Honda Motra – also known as the CT50 – is a particularly funky little mini. Honda marketed the Motra as a rugged mini-scoot capable of schlepping a surprisingly heavy payload. The unique 50cc Honda was only sold in the Japanese market, but a handful of models have made their way to US shores thanks to what I can only assume are diehard minibike enthusiasts. Only produced for two years (’82 and ’83), the “heavy-duty mini” was powered by a 49cc single similar to many of Honda’s minis, however the Motra featured a few mechanical tricks up its sleeve to enable it to carry more than its 168 lb (dry) weight.

At the heart of the CT50 is an air-cooled, four-stroke single that made 4.5 hp at 7,500 rpm and 3.3 ft-lbs of torque at 5,500 rpm. The CT50 was an excellent two-wheeled sherpa (albeit not a very fast one) thanks to its two-stage three-speed semi-automatic transmission that boasted a high/low range. The Motra came from the factory in just two colors: army green and school-bus yellow, but every Motra came fitted with relatively large front and rear luggage/cargo racks. These were at the front of the mini’s ad campaign which featured Motra’s loaded up with everything from camping gear to sports equipment. To compensate for the extra weight, these models also featured suspension that reportedly had more travel than the rest of Honda’s minis.

The rugged little Honda also featured an angular steel tube and panel chassis that provided structural integrity for the aforementioned oversized luggage racks. The CT50’s wheelbase is only 44.3”, but the model’s overall length is 65.2”, with the additional length being all luggage rack. The Motra’s CT-moniker is a bit strange considering the fact the CT50 isn’t technically part of the same designation as the rest of the CT family, not to mention the fact the “CT50” name had already been used on the ’68 Trail Cub CT50 model.

This particular Motra example is a rather interesting one that more than proves how truly rugged these minis are with almost 30,000 miles (and counting) on the odo, and it’s still running strong. The seller says this example currently runs well thanks to the carb and fuel system having recently been rebuilt. A new battery was also a recent addition, and the seller says all of the lights and the horn are still 100% functional. The paint is far from perfect, but there doesn’t appear to be any rust, and in all fairness the factory coat of yellow isn’t in terrible shape considering it is older than I am. This Motra unfortunately doesn’t have a title and therefore isn’t street legal, but it will be sold with a bill of sale.

As Abhi can attest, examples of these little scoots don’t pop up very often, and when they do they tend to be in less-than-stellar mechanical shape, making this example that much more noteworthy. You can find this 1983 Honda Motra (CT50) for sale here on Craigslist in Los Angeles, California with a price of $3,000.