Modern-day are a handful when it comes to rugged build and a dominating persona. It’s probably why such haulers don’t appeal to the young crowd. So, are there any utilitarian bikes that can haul your daily groceries without looking like an old man’s ride?
We’ll have to go back in time, more than four decades in the past to find the answer in the form of a Honda minibike that was way ahead of its time. The CT50 Motra which was a combination of a heavy-duty bike that could ride any terrain and a sizeable cargo motorcycle, is the answer to owning a cargo bike that looks ready to carry all your load.
Designer:
The naming convention comes from the words motorcycle and truck in Japanese language. This boxy bike has shown up in an auction at Mecum Auctions in bring yellow hue. The exclusivity of the bike is apparent as it was produced only for the Japanese market between the years 1982 to 1983. The 50cc 4-stroke single-cylinder engine is connected to a 3-speed manual transmission which is tweaked for normal and off-road travel. This toggle is done using the high-low gear transfer case common to 4×4 trucks. That gives this cheeky little beast the power to climb 23-degree gradients in high gear.
It is pretty clear, the motorbike is tailored for low-speed travel on not so hospitable terrain. When it comes to powerful torque, it has enough meat to pull a decent-sized sedan with ease. Call it an advantage or disadvantage, the minibike weighs 77 kg which is more than a typical e-bike or cargo bike. But it is the perfect little companion for country roads and trails. Coming from the house of Honda, this has Motcompo vibes to it – in fact, it seems like a Motocompo on steroids.
Some previously sold Motra bikes fetched anywhere between $4,000 – $5,000 and this one should too. The bike has just a 25,034 km odometer reading which means it should be in pristine condition when it comes to engine longevity. If you already fancy buying this exclusive two-wheeler from the past, the auction is all set to go live on 29 January in Las Vegas.
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