In 1979 Honda introduced a series of light motorcycles in the United States and Europe, built on production lines in Spain, Belgium and Sweden. The MB road model and the MT off-road model were released in Europe and South Africa and came in 50 and 80 cc versions, unrestricted or restricted.
Honda MB/T/X at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1979 |
| Production countries | Spain, Belgium, Sweden |
| Models | MB, MT, MBX, MCX, MTX |
| Engines | 50 and 80 cc two-stroke |
| Versions | unrestricted (F) and restricted (S) |
| MB production | 1979–1987 in Europe, to 1982 in the US |
| MT50 production | to 1997 in Europe |
| MB equipment | speedometer, rev counter, front disc, oil injection, Comstar wheels |
| MT gearbox | four or five speeds |
| MTX50 gearbox | five or six speeds |
| Water-cooled successors | MTX50R/80R and MBX50S/F from 1983 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the MB/T/X series.
History of the Honda MB/T/X
Built for sixteen-year-olds
The MB road model and MT off-road model were released in Europe and South Africa. Honda temporarily left its four-stroke programme for these bikes because they were aimed at the European and South African moped markets for sixteen-year-olds, the legal age for a 50 cc motorcycle in South Africa and most European countries. Each model came in four versions: 80 cc unrestricted and restricted, and 50 cc unrestricted and restricted, all two-stroke.
MB and MT
The MB was made from 1979 to 1987 in Europe and until 1982 in the US, while MT50 production in Europe lasted until 1997. The MB came standard with a speedometer, rev counter, front disc brake, two-stroke oil injection and Honda Comstar wheels. Its success led Honda to release the MT, a naked off-road version, for Europe and South Africa. The MT became popular because of the large numbers of original and imitation parts, the ease of replacing restricted engine parts with unrestricted ones and its off-road ability thanks to high ground clearance.
MBX and MTX
Alongside the MB and MT, Honda released air-cooled MBX, MCX50/80 and MTX 50/80 cc models. Unlike the MT50, which had a four- or five-speed gearbox depending on model and country code, the MTX50 had five or six speeds and in some cases a HERP chamber on the exhaust. In 1983 Honda brought water-cooled successors to both families, the MTX50R/80R and MBX50S/F and 80S/F; from then on only small improvements and cosmetic changes were made.
Design and features
- Two-stroke 50 and 80 cc engines: restricted and unrestricted versions.
- MB equipment: rev counter, front disc and oil injection.
- MT off-road version: high ground clearance and easy tuning.
- MBX and MTX: air-cooled and then water-cooled derivatives.
Honda MB/T/X versions
- MB (1979–1987): the road model.
- MT (to 1997 as the MT50): the off-road version.
- MBX and MCX: air-cooled derivatives.
- MTX50 and MTX80: five- or six-speed off-road models.
- MTX50R/80R and MBX50S/F (1983): water-cooled successors.
The MB and MT family belongs with Honda’s small two-strokes such as the Magna‘s four-stroke contemporaries and the CG125 commuter. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda MB/T/X series, English Wikipedia: models, versions, production, successors
