A 50/50 Chance You're A Future Racer...
A 50/50 CHANCE YOU'RE A FUTURE RACER...
ROUNDUP
50cc ENGINE DOESN'T usually make a person think "roadracer," but the Honda Dream 50R and NSR50R owe their very existence to motorcycle sport. Their spiritual inspiration was provided by the late Soichiro Honda's original dream of taking part in international roadracing more than 50 years ago, specifically spurred on by his 1959 visit to the Isle of Man TT.
The connection to Honda’s roadracing history is obvious in the $5499 Dream 50R, built as a modern replica of the CR 110 club racer sold to the public beginning in June of 1962. The limited-production four-stroke is available only in silver, and definitely pumps HRC blood-like the little two-stroke NSR, it’s for track use only, as the street equipment offered in Japan doesn't come Stateside.
The Dream’s four-valve, dohc, four-stroke engine has an 1 1.7:1 compression ratio with a bore and stroke of 40.0 x 39.6, yielding a 49cc displacement. A 20mm carburetor inhales via an unfiltered velocity stack, combusting a claimed 7 horsepower when the tach needle is pointing at 13,500 rpm on the 18,000rpm clock. The 50R is fitted with a close-ratio six-speed gearbox and multi-plate wet clutch, the pair permitting the countless quick shifts needed to keep the little Single howling the way Mike Hail-
wood might have.
The Dream’s unpainted aluminum fenders curve closely over a pair of 2.50 x 18 bias-ply Bridgestone Battlax tires and under its oval front numberplate. Showa suspension and hydraulic disc brakes (with braided-steel lines) are in place at both ends of the slight-but-stout steel frame. A slender, 1.6-gallon gas tank is badged with a pair of white wings. Claimed dry weight is a feathery 157 pounds.
We were feeling the Sixties flashback during every lap around Riverside, California’s newly resurfaced Adams Kart track, site of Honda’s introduction for the pair of diminutive roadrace bikes. It was a hoot hollering at fellow journo’s during our“spec races” on the 14-
turn, .7-mile course. Other than some spoke flex under heavy g ’s through banked corners, the Dream performed flawlessly, even after ringing its throttle tube for hours.
Speaking of ringing, we also had loads of fun flogging the $3599 NSR50R. The" NSR's liquid-cooled, 49cc two-stroke Single delivers 7.2 bhp at 10,000 rpm, 1500 revs before redlinc. Single disc brakes grace 12-inch aluminum wheels shod with Dunlop 91GP rubber. A preload-adjustable Showa fork is complemented by a fully adjustable Showa shock with remote preload adjuster. Claimed dry weight for the lightest NSR is a scant 161 pounds, and as on Honda’s bigger raccbikes, white is the only color option.
While it’s not much taller than the boss’s dog, the NSR was nonetheless big fun to flog around the little track, riders dragging knees and elbows like MotoGP stars.
And when you’re done for the day, you can fit it in the back seat of your car for the ride home!
Whether your dreams are of vintage TT moments or modern GP racing, riding these two mini bikes is a scream.
Mark Cernicky
