1981 HONDA NC50 EXPRESS- Customer Bike, Project

1981 HONDA NC50 EXPRESS- CUSTOMER BIKE

The Honda motorcycle corp. of Japan released the Honda Express (NC50) to the North American market in 1977. This new bike was designed to enter the large market for scooters that developed following the 1973 oil crisis. As such it came with a fuel-efficient single-cylinder two-stroke engine. It was also designed to be simple to operate, as many owners would be inexperienced with or
intimidated by larger, more complex motorcycles. Honda accomplished this by using a fully automatic transmission and a small oil pump to self-mix the Express's oil and fuel, thus eliminating the need for premixing.


Versions from 1980 onwards included a kick start, capacitor discharge ignition, and automatic choke as well as an improved compression ratio. Most versions include an automatic one speed transmission with a centrifugal clutch, double suspension, and oil injection.

This bike was brought in to the shop in rough, but somewhat running, shape. With a faulty electrical system, almost no brakes, and everything else about to fall off, the request from the customer was, "get it running right, and make her look pretty"

We'll do our best. Stay tuned...