Honda CZ100 - Misplaced Pages

Honda's first production minibike Type of motorcycle

Honda CZ100
CZ100 Mark II
Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	Mark I and Mark II
Production	1963-1966
Predecessor	Honda Z100
Successor	Honda Z50M
Class	Minibike
Engine	49 cc (3.0 cu in), OHC, air cooled, four stroke, single
Transmission	3-speed semi-automatic transmission
Frame type	Backbone
Brakes	Drum
Related	Honda Z100 Honda Z series, Honda Z50M, Honda Z50A, Honda Z50J

Honda CZ100 was the Honda Motor Company's first minibike which was sold to consumers. The CZ100 minibike was first introduced in 1963 after Honda saw how well their Honda Z100 prototype was received at The Tama Tech park.

Background

In 1961 the Honda Motor Company opened the Tama Tech park. The park attractions involved motorsports. It was at the park Honda first introduced a minibike called the Honda Z100. Honda recognized that the bike was popular with park visitors. When Honda first developed the Z100 minibike it was never meant to be a commercial product, it was only meant to be an attraction at the park.

History

Honda recognized the popularity of the Z100 minibike and they decided to manufacture a street-legal version of the bike. By 1963 they had created a production version of the minibike and they called it the CZ100 Mark I. The 1963 CZ100 Mark I series, had a white fuel tank and a rigid frame which was painted red. In 1964 they released the bike in the Japanese market and called it the CZ100. The CZ100 Mark II series was then produced and it was virtually identical to the Mark I series with the exception of paint: the tank and frame were both painted red. Honda continued to produce the CZ100 but it was not sold to consumers in the United States. In recent years collectors have begun to import examples of the bike from Europe.

The CZ100 was street legal and only offered to consumers in European and Asian countries. The minibike sold enough for production of the bike to continue until 1966.

Specifications

The Minibike was fitted with a 49 cc engine. Honda had much success with the 49cc, and it was fitted in other bikes like the Honda Super Cub. The CZ100 had small 5" wheels and the minibike had a white fuel tank and a bright red frame.

Honda also used a fuel tank which was meant for another bike: they used the tank from the Honda C110.

References

^ Chung, Dennis (12 July 2013). "What The Heck Is A Monkey Bike?". VerticalScope Inc. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
Fujishima, Kosuke (2017). Oh My Goodness. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Magna. p. 63. ISBN 9781630088804. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
^ Jitchotvisut, Janaki (30 August 2021). "Here's The Honda Monkey Bike That Started It All 60 Years Ago". Ride Apart. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
^ Polson, Jeremy (2017). Honda mini trail. Stillwater MN: Wolfgang Productions. p. 9. ISBN 978-1941064320.
Boehm, Mitch (10 September 2015). "Honda Z50 Mini Trail Bike". Motorcyclist. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
"Greatest Motorbikes Ever". Discovery Channel. Archived from the original on 2011-11-15.
Sathurshan (30 April 2020). "iM Cubaholic Ep.2: Honda C110 Sports Cub – The Roadster Cub". I Motorbike. iMotorbike World. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.