Beschreibung
HONDA NV50 STREAM – MOPED TRIKE. This is a very rare lightweight classic 50cc moped trike, first registered in January 1983. It is almost 40 years old, so in July 2023 it becomes 'road tax' free (currently only £20 per annum), and no longer requires an MOT. It can be ridden without ‘L’ plates on a full car licence or on ‘L’ plates by a 16 yr old with a CBT course pass certificate.
The futuristic design has stood the test of time quite well I think. It features two wheels and the engine at the rear, attached to the body by a clever tilting mechanism so it rides and leans like a normal two wheeler.
Only about 500 of these were sold in the UK in the early 1980’s as they were very expensive, and only 6 are currently road registered in the UK. The design was the start of the Honda 'Gyro' dynasty which is still in production today.
I have had this machine in storage since 2008 when I bought it and it’s just been recommissioned. I have never ridden it on the road, only in my garden so it’s only done about 3 miles since 2007, but I do have another two which I have ridden locally and they are a hoot. A full set of expensive new tyres have just been fitted, and it has a new battery. A couple of fuel pipes have been changed, and I’ve fashioned new rubber footplate mats, otherwise it's as I bought it.
This moped was designed to be easy to ride, with both brakes sited on the handlebars (like a pushbike) making it more intuitive for an inexperienced rider unfamiliar with a standard motorcycle layout. An automatic Honda V-Matic centrifugal clutch transmission means there are no gears to worry about. Unusually it has a parking brake like a car. After stopping you simply flip up the brake lever and step off, no need to flip down a stand like a two wheeler so parking is easy.
It has a large full instrument panel compared to other mopeds of the day, with a speedo, fuel gauge, lots of warning lights for indicators, oil level, high beam and parking brake. It has electric start plus a kickstart and starts easily. The two stroke 50cc motor is quiet, and limited to a flat road speed of 30mph, inline with the moped legislation of the day but it accelerates OK. The fuel tank holds about 4. 5 litres (1 gallon) so a full tank should be good for about 125miles.
The bike has some storage. A lockable compartment in the front boot panel, and a smaller compartment in front of the rider’s knees. An aftermarket rack is fitted to where a top box or soft bag could be attached.
The two stroke engine self-mixes fuel and oil, so once the separate oil tank is full, it just requires filling with petrol for many subsequent fuel stops. The dash warning light tells you when you need to add another bottle of two stroke oil which I guess would be around every thousand miles?
Now the negatives. As far as I can see the bike has mostly original paint but it carries a few marks, scrapes and small cosmetic repairs to the plastic panels which is how I bought it. It's still smart and they don't really detract. The ‘60’ sticker on the engine compartment covers a small glued repair. The sills and frame are all steel, but almost all upper structure is moulded. I did consider repainting it, but it would be a shame to lose the originality and patina as it still looks smart. It’s an easy task if you want to paint it however, as the panels can be removed without much effort. The one exception is the wheels which have already been cleaned, repainted and lacquered (when the new tyres were fitted).
Included in the sale is the original service book, a mint condition sales brochure, two old MOT’s from 1990/ 91, and 2006/ 07 (when it was last on the road), and a rare full factory workshop manual in mint condition.
Please note the bike currently has no MOT, but it should pass without a problem. I have tried to show all the defects on the bike in photos, but please remember everything always look better in photos so don’t expect an as ‘new’ bike if you buy without coming to see it. Potential purchasers are welcome to test ride it in my garden when you visit, but as a 40 year old machine I can’t offer a guarantee. The bike is 'sold as seen'. Please remember this is a ‘classic’, and old vehicles often need tinkering to keep running well. I hope it will go to a new owner who will look after it and enjoy riding it.
I am only selling because it’s time to down size a number of my classic vehicles to make space as I head towards retirement, and I have two more of these machines. My interest ( and why I have three!) is down to writing a thesis on the tilting trike concept for my university degree many years ago.
Please call me on the details below if you need more details and I also have a video of the machine in action available on request. Just ask.
