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.....to a 6th grader 50 years ago. In 1968 I was 12 years old and I had a Briggs & Stratton 3hp mini bike that I loved UNTIL I saw Honda's first Mini Trail. I've never wanted anything so intensely. Tacked the brochure up on my bedroom wall. But they cost $250 which might have well have been $100,000. I didn't have it and my parents weren't buying in to my desire. Two years later I was bigger and finally got a Trail 70. But I've never quite gotten over that yellow and white 1968 Z50.
When my son was 5 years old I bought him a 1996 Z50 but it was quite different from that 1968. I wish I'd kept that bike too. Anyway, I finally found and purchased a 1968 yellow/white Mini Trail and over the next few months that 50 year old little bike will be restored to brand new. I'll never ride it. But it will finally get that monkey (bike) off of my back!! I'll go in my living room next to the 1973 Husqvarna 250WR. Below is a photo of a '68 Z50 like the one I just bought. Cheers!
Chip
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Way to scratch that itch. Sorry you can't really ride it. Rosebud!
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Nice! Been there, done exactly that! Mine was a pristine blue/white '70 K1 (your '68 is more collectible). It lived in my living room until I replaced it with a CB50R. I rode it a few times, which must have been quite a spectacle (I'm 6'6").
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(05-21-2018, 06:58 AM)Inhouse Bob_imp Wrote: Way to scratch that itch. Sorry you can't really ride it. Rosebud! 
Exactly!!!!
Chip
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This was my first bike as a kid back in 1975
And now I have this one, which I do still ride from time to time for fun:
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(05-21-2018, 06:53 AM)ChipBeck_imp Wrote: .....to a 6th grader 50 years ago. In 1968 I was 12 years old and I had a Briggs & Stratton 3hp mini bike that I loved UNTIL I saw Honda's first Mini Trail. I've never wanted anything so intensely. Tacked the brochure up on my bedroom wall. But they cost $250 which might have well have been $100,000. I didn't have it and my parents weren't buying in to my desire. Two years later I was bigger and finally got a Trail 70. But I've never quite gotten over that yellow and white 1968 Z50.
When my son was 5 years old I bought him a 1996 Z50 but it was quite different from that 1968. I wish I'd kept that bike too. Anyway, I finally found and purchased a 1968 yellow/white Mini Trail and over the next few months that 50 year old little bike will be restored to brand new. I'll never ride it. But it will finally get that monkey (bike) off of my back!! I'll go in my living room next to the 1973 Husqvarna 250WR. Below is a photo of a '68 Z50 like the one I just bought. Cheers!
Chip
Nice story and good luck with your toy !
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(05-21-2018, 09:53 AM)Houtman_imp Wrote: (05-21-2018, 06:53 AM)ChipBeck_imp Wrote: .....to a 6th grader 50 years ago. In 1968 I was 12 years old and I had a Briggs & Stratton 3hp mini bike that I loved UNTIL I saw Honda's first Mini Trail. I've never wanted anything so intensely. Tacked the brochure up on my bedroom wall. But they cost $250 which might have well have been $100,000. I didn't have it and my parents weren't buying in to my desire. Two years later I was bigger and finally got a Trail 70. But I've never quite gotten over that yellow and white 1968 Z50.
When my son was 5 years old I bought him a 1996 Z50 but it was quite different from that 1968. I wish I'd kept that bike too. Anyway, I finally found and purchased a 1968 yellow/white Mini Trail and over the next few months that 50 year old little bike will be restored to brand new. I'll never ride it. But it will finally get that monkey (bike) off of my back!! I'll go in my living room next to the 1973 Husqvarna 250WR. Below is a photo of a '68 Z50 like the one I just bought. Cheers!
Chip
Nice story and good luck with your toy !
Nice story and good luck with your toy !
Must be an itch several of us had. I had one of these when I was 12. Bought this one and restored it. Sleeps in the garage with my ‘14 Standard and ‘15 Goldwing. My sons won’t even let me think about selling it.
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Mini-bike memories
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I love the Z-50's (and CT-70's, SL-70's and XR-75's) from the early '70's. I really hope we see the new Monkey 125 make its way stateside. If so, I think a bunch of us aging mini-bike lovers will find one in their garage.
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(05-22-2018, 05:19 AM)LongRanger_imp Wrote: I love the Z-50's (and CT-70's, SL-70's and XR-75's) from the early '70's. I really hope we see the new Monkey 125 make its way stateside. If so, I think a bunch of us aging mini-bike lovers will find one in their garage.
There's the Grom.