The Raydar MagazineStandard MemberPosts: 4
Joined: Apr 2019
Joined: Apr 2019
I first got an ST 50 off my cousin for £50 way back in the early 80s and picked it up from Bournmouth in the back of an Alfa Romeo Spider (1968 and basically rust and filler) a new rear light and we were MOTed ready to ride with an insurance of, if I remember correctly £19. I had it right up to the early 90s and used it for work and playing on. The reg number was SJB29M and apparently it had been bought in to the UK via Germany. I re-built the motor and gearbox, re-painted it in white with blue, red and yellow stripes following the frame pressing (looked better than it sounds) and after some homebrewed porting and polishing and an over bore it did go rather well and would easily out drag kids on their mopeds.... once had a confirmed 60 out of it.. down hill and revving like buggery!!... A crash bent the forks and did some other damage and without the internet and with a very unhelpful Honda main dealer it sat broken in the garage for about a year and there was no one had a clue about them. Eventually I sold it for £100 to the guy who started MonkeyBike UK in the early 90s and regreted it as he loaded it in to his VW van.....
FFW to 2018 and the possibility of riding my hardtail chopper very quickly disappearing (prolapsed discs are not fun) it was moved on to a mates son and having a poke round evilbay I strayed on to Monkey bikes and guessing I should be able to ride one started to look seriously. It had to be a Honda TBH and I'm not adverse to a bit of non stock stuff and had a good look for aftermarket parts making a bit of a list then pretty much what I would have built showed up but at a reserve price way more than I was gonna pay and, as it turned out way more than most other people would pay too... It was on and off ebay for a bit till with the price slowly going down till it hit an "almost what I would pay" price.... a bit of negotiation and it was mine!!!
I now have another ST50, this time with upside down forks, hydraulic front disc, alloy rims, extended swing arm, renthal bars and chain, sticky road tyres, etc etc etc and it's a hoot to ride. OK it had a few issues that have taken a while to get round and I'm now putting on a new headlight (god I hate electrics and none of the damn wires do what they're supposed to in the rats nest that filled one of the double headlights).....
FFW to 2018 and the possibility of riding my hardtail chopper very quickly disappearing (prolapsed discs are not fun) it was moved on to a mates son and having a poke round evilbay I strayed on to Monkey bikes and guessing I should be able to ride one started to look seriously. It had to be a Honda TBH and I'm not adverse to a bit of non stock stuff and had a good look for aftermarket parts making a bit of a list then pretty much what I would have built showed up but at a reserve price way more than I was gonna pay and, as it turned out way more than most other people would pay too... It was on and off ebay for a bit till with the price slowly going down till it hit an "almost what I would pay" price.... a bit of negotiation and it was mine!!!
I now have another ST50, this time with upside down forks, hydraulic front disc, alloy rims, extended swing arm, renthal bars and chain, sticky road tyres, etc etc etc and it's a hoot to ride. OK it had a few issues that have taken a while to get round and I'm now putting on a new headlight (god I hate electrics and none of the damn wires do what they're supposed to in the rats nest that filled one of the double headlights).....