1982 Honda Motra

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hat would you scribble if you rolled up to your designing job and were told to draw: ‘a heavy-duty motorcycle that looks more like a truck’? That was the bizarre brief handed to Honda’s crayon operators in the early 1980s. Obviously, you’d create something of comedically small proportions, and powered by the weedy 49cc four-stroke single with centrifugal clutch that’s propelled many millions of Cubs and monkey bikes. Of course you would.

On sale for one year spanning 1982 and 1983, the CT50 Motra (rumour has it the name is a combination of motorcycle and truck) differs from other slam-and-go Hondas by having an exotic six speeds. The normal three-speed transmission has an additional splitter giving high and low ranges – with the lower range selected Honda claimed the 4.5bhp Motra could romp up a 23-degree incline in third. Having had to stamp down to first gear to coax my 1973 Honda C50 up the 11-degree ascent out of my village, that sounds like quite some feat.

Honda clearly expected adventurous types to get up to all manner of

Wjcapers on their Motras. Advertising showed the ‘heavy-duty recreational bike’ piled high with assorted clutter, though put-put-putting deep off the beaten track was clearly expected. The steel frame had a huge load rating (well, for a 50) and was festooned with racks, clips and bungee points for locating items for exciting outdoor pursuits. Balloon-like tyres promised bog-wading exploits, its 76kg weight meant you’d be able to pull it out when marooned in said bog, and military green paint ensured you’d look rugged doing it. A bright yellow option was offered for those worried about misplacing the diminutive device in the countryside after alcohol-fuelled camping.

Though only sold for that year and only in Japan, the Motra did have an impact. Honda’s 50cc Zoomer and 250cc Big Ruckus from the early 2000s clearly took their design and colour choice from the CT50 Motra. And it’s in demand now. You’re looking upwards of £3000 for a bike that’s made it to Europe, while truck-loving Americans are asking closer to £6000. Make sure you get a yellow one.