Planet Minis

Triple B · 06-12-2006, 03:50 PM

Hey Planetmini "Z" Guys
I finally got it back a 1976 Honda z50. This was my first bike that my parents gave me on my 5th birthday in 1978.(My dad bought it off one of his co-workers) After my two other brothers / cousins rode it for years the motor was tired so I pushed the bike down to High School and I re-built the engine in Freshman Auto Shop.
After a few more desert trips it was then use as our pit bike until it starting loosing compression. (I guess I did not do such a good job in auto shop I was only 13 years old)
About 8 years ago my dad put it in the tool shed and said he was going to re-build it some day. For the last 3 years I have been asking my dad for the bike back so I can restore it. A year ago my wife and I had our first child and his first grandchild so I putting more pressure on him to give me the bike so I can restore it and teach his grand daughter how to ride. Well he had a weak moment and he put it in the back of his truck and my mom brought it over to my house last weekend.
So now my soon to be 1 year old daughter has her first motorcycle and I have some work to do over the next few years. She and I are going to be counting on the planetmini experts to help us out and make this bike work as good for her and it was me 28 years ago.

So the first of may questions.

Are there any parts suppliers for these bikes? (I know about www.hondatrailbikes.com / www.dratv.com / minigunz and some guy in Texas but the 50 guys on Thumpertalk gave him a bad rap)
What can I do about the gas tank rust on the inside?
Can I get a factor service manual? (My Dealer said it is not available)
I am still debating if I want clean an polish what is there / Full Restoration / Or a cool Restomod so any pics of your vintage Z-50 would be helpful.
If I do a Full Restoration or a Restomod is the stock paint code available
Thanks for any help / advice you can offer.
I will try and post some pics soon.....
I hope I was not to long I am just so excited about getting the bike back and finding you guys
Thanks Again

Z · 06-12-2006, 03:58 PM

So the first of may questions.

Are there any parts suppliers for these bikes? (I know about www.hondatrailbikes.com / www.dratv.com / minigunz and some guy in Texas but the 50 guys on Thumpertalk gave him a bad rap)

www.hondatrailbikes.com
www.hondanuts.com
www.hondaminitrail.com

What can I do about the gas tank rust on the inside?

I'd find a better tank to start with on ebay, as when you mediablast that tank, it probably will turn to swiss cheese. Eastwoodco.com sells tank restoration products, but if you plan on never selling the bike, I'd purchase an aluminum tank out of Japan for $400 and never worry about rust again. That's what I did.

Can I get a factor service manual? (My Dealer said it is not available)

send me your email address via private message and I'll email you over the service manual in .pdf.

I am still debating if I want clean an polish what is there / Full Restoration / Or a cool Restomod so any pics of your vintage Z-50 would be helpful.
If I do a Full Restoration or a Restomod is the stock paint code available
Thanks for any help / advice you can offer.

Restomod it. It will be cheaper and less headaches and paint it whatever color you want.

I will try and post some pics soon.....
I hope I was not to long I am just so excited about getting the bike back and finding you guys
Thanks Again[/quote]

SprNtrl · 06-12-2006, 07:10 PM

I agree wholeheartdly that restomodding is the way to go, as it will cost you more to restore it than it would to restomod it, and restomodding it with a bigger motor will produce sizeable gains over a stock 50cc. But, seeing as its intended for a little child, I would say leave the motor at 50cc, put in a fresh piston and rings, and gaskets, fix up anything that is broken with new parts, and don't go to crazy on the refinishing of the paint because it will probably get dropped.

d0n · 06-12-2006, 09:18 PM

you can probably get a lot of OEM honda parts for it. The cheapest place is www.servicehonda.com They're even cheaper than most of the sellers listed above!

jigracing · 06-12-2006, 09:38 PM

Hey Triple B glad you made it over here. The guys on here are really good. As you can see so far. Enjoy the site and welcome to planetminis.

Triple B · 06-13-2006, 05:03 PM

Thank you guys for the reponse quick response and all the great info. I have a few more project to take care of before I have the time to re-build my Z50. I will keep you all posted on the progress and what I decide to do (Orignal or Restomod)
Thanks again for all you help

muxster · 01-07-2009, 11:33 AM

Great story

06-12-2006, 03:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Triple B PM Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Posts: 35 My Mood:	I finaly got it back 1976 Z50 Hey Planetmini "Z" Guys I finally got it back a 1976 Honda z50. This was my first bike that my parents gave me on my 5th birthday in 1978.(My dad bought it off one of his co-workers) After my two other brothers / cousins rode it for years the motor was tired so I pushed the bike down to High School and I re-built the engine in Freshman Auto Shop. After a few more desert trips it was then use as our pit bike until it starting loosing compression. (I guess I did not do such a good job in auto shop I was only 13 years old) About 8 years ago my dad put it in the tool shed and said he was going to re-build it some day. For the last 3 years I have been asking my dad for the bike back so I can restore it. A year ago my wife and I had our first child and his first grandchild so I putting more pressure on him to give me the bike so I can restore it and teach his grand daughter how to ride. Well he had a weak moment and he put it in the back of his truck and my mom brought it over to my house last weekend. So now my soon to be 1 year old daughter has her first motorcycle and I have some work to do over the next few years. She and I are going to be counting on the planetmini experts to help us out and make this bike work as good for her and it was me 28 years ago. So the first of may questions. Are there any parts suppliers for these bikes? (I know about www.hondatrailbikes.com / www.dratv.com / minigunz and some guy in Texas but the 50 guys on Thumpertalk gave him a bad rap) What can I do about the gas tank rust on the inside? Can I get a factor service manual? (My Dealer said it is not available) I am still debating if I want clean an polish what is there / Full Restoration / Or a cool Restomod so any pics of your vintage Z-50 would be helpful. If I do a Full Restoration or a Restomod is the stock paint code available Thanks for any help / advice you can offer. I will try and post some pics soon..... I hope I was not to long I am just so excited about getting the bike back and finding you guys Thanks Again

06-12-2006, 09:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
jigracing Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hesperia, Ca Posts: 3,265 My Mood:	Hey Triple B glad you made it over here. The guys on here are really good. As you can see so far. Enjoy the site and welcome to planetminis. __________________ Scott

01-07-2009, 11:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
muxster 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Redondo Beach, Ca. Posts: 471 My Mood:	Re: I finaly got it back 1976 Z50 Great story

06-12-2006, 03:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Z 5th Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: KANSAS Posts: 8,540	So the first of may questions. Are there any parts suppliers for these bikes? (I know about www.hondatrailbikes.com / www.dratv.com / minigunz and some guy in Texas but the 50 guys on Thumpertalk gave him a bad rap) www.hondatrailbikes.com www.hondanuts.com www.hondaminitrail.com What can I do about the gas tank rust on the inside? I'd find a better tank to start with on ebay, as when you mediablast that tank, it probably will turn to swiss cheese. Eastwoodco.com sells tank restoration products, but if you plan on never selling the bike, I'd purchase an aluminum tank out of Japan for $400 and never worry about rust again. That's what I did. Can I get a factor service manual? (My Dealer said it is not available) send me your email address via private message and I'll email you over the service manual in .pdf. I am still debating if I want clean an polish what is there / Full Restoration / Or a cool Restomod so any pics of your vintage Z-50 would be helpful. If I do a Full Restoration or a Restomod is the stock paint code available Thanks for any help / advice you can offer. Restomod it. It will be cheaper and less headaches and paint it whatever color you want. I will try and post some pics soon..... I hope I was not to long I am just so excited about getting the bike back and finding you guys Thanks Again[/quote]

06-12-2006, 07:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
SprNtrl 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,183 My Mood:	I agree wholeheartdly that restomodding is the way to go, as it will cost you more to restore it than it would to restomod it, and restomodding it with a bigger motor will produce sizeable gains over a stock 50cc. But, seeing as its intended for a little child, I would say leave the motor at 50cc, put in a fresh piston and rings, and gaskets, fix up anything that is broken with new parts, and don't go to crazy on the refinishing of the paint because it will probably get dropped.

06-12-2006, 09:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
d0n 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Troy NY Posts: 2,172	you can probably get a lot of OEM honda parts for it. The cheapest place is www.servicehonda.com They're even cheaper than most of the sellers listed above!

06-13-2006, 05:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Triple B PM Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Posts: 35 My Mood:	Thank you guys for the reponse quick response and all the great info. I have a few more project to take care of before I have the time to re-build my Z50. I will keep you all posted on the progress and what I decide to do (Orignal or Restomod) Thanks again for all you help

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