Mini trail ID

Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
Hey guys new here, thanks for having me. I’m in the process of going through my mini trail Z50A. I believe it’s a 1970/71 k2. But not sure. It has the oval mini trail badges and the paint looks original on the frame. Think the tank was redone prior to me owning it. It also has a speedo. I can’t find other examples of it when I look up parts at like cms. Here’s my numbers on the motor and frame. Any help appreciated. Could be a mismatch bike
1970/71 Z50AK2
Frame vin#Z50A396072
Eng #z50ae 434464
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
That has to be a K2. Z50'S went to a 7 digit Vin number beginning with the K3/72. That has to be one of the highest Vin numbers I've seen too. I would have guessed the engine # was K3, but if it has the auto adjusting cam chain adjuster, it has to be correct/K2.

The speedo could have easily been added. A lot of folks still put speedos in the hardtail buckets. CHP sells a pretty nice looking speedo kit for hardtails.

Show us some pics if your able. I love K2's.
 
Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
Kirrbby, Ill try and post a few pics later today. Thanks for the repy. Your theory of adding the spedo makes since. If it was a K3 or K4 i would suspect a rear foot pedal brake boss on the right lower side of teh hardtail and my frame does not have one. Do you think this frame and engine are an original pair or do you think I have a hot rod?
 
Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
Pics
 

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69ST

Well-Known Member
I agree with kirrbby, that looks like a K2 still wearing its factory paint.

Also, there are members here who are much more thoroughly-versed on Z50 specifics than I am.
 
Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
Ok, Just looked at CHP minis and realized they have just about everything I need to restore,/freshen up this old bike. I just want to make sure when I'm ordering parts, especially the motor stuff, i'm getting the right parts. Also I'd like to order a manual, but I want the right one for this bike. I'll post photos of it later as its far from the state its in now.
 
Gary

Gary

Well-Known Member
Can't put my finger on it but something is wrong about it being a k2. Missing frame mounted taillight bracket- late k1's new bracket pretty much stopped that from happening. No rear brake pedal or frame mount. Other things like fenders,seat,engine,tank could have been changed. Wonder if front tank mounts in frame are pins or blades? CHP has in the past been very good to me, another place are these guy's- http://www.hondanuts.com/home.html. They always have given their best shot at finding impossible to find parts for all my older bikes. A picture of the frame mounted tag behind the headlight would help.
 
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Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
Now you guys know why I was having a hard time figuring out what it is. I’m of the opinion it was a bunch of parts put together to make a mini trail. Frankenstein mini. Really at this point just wanna know about the rear brake bracket mount for the frame. Which one to put back on and where to get them. Also what year the motor actually is for parts. I can live with a frankenmini!
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
Definitely some funny business with that frame. It SHOULD have a foot brake mount. It should NOT have a rear brake cable stay near the rear hub...(that is a K1 thing). Looks like maybe someone put a mismash of parts together and made mods accordingly.
Post a pic of the left side of the engine...shift shaft area. A K3UP will have a stud and jambnut sticking out for a manual cam chain tensioner. A k2down will not have that stud.
 
Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
The brake stay cable mount, while not the prettiest welds I’ve ever seen look similar to the other factory welds on the frame. Not saying it couldn’t have been added, but at the same time the brake pedal mount looks to have never been mounted to this frame. Anyone have an idea which brake light mount would have been on this frame? From what I see on mine and what I’ve seen similar on other early frames is the stand up type as opposed to the later lay down ones. Mines broken, but I would have thought a weld in the front of the tab would have been present which makes me think it was the stand up mount. I’m interested in the mount if anyone has one!
 

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kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
ez50 said:
That's an Australian K2. They were around a little longer down under. Speedo, horn and no brake pedal. Metric speedo?
Congratulations, very nice find!
Long live the K2
Click to expand...

Good call ez. I wondered about that, but I thought they had the brake pedal. I also thought they had side covers on them.
Also, it seems like there should be something on the head tag...or in the Vin # to differentiate between US and Australian...Z50J maybe??

The headlight bucket looks like it might be different than the regular hardtail bucket too.
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
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Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
Thank you guys for the info! So we’re thinking a 70/71 K2 Australian version as I have a horn, speedo and no brake pedal. The speedo I have is non metric, but unknown if it’s the real deal for this bike. I appreciate the links to the tail light bracket. While I prefer the 2nd one for price, I believe based on how the bracket on my frame looks to have been broken off, it’s the stand up one. As far as the motor goes, does it look like it came from this frame based on the numbers. I know they don’t match, but not many Honda’s from the early 70’s do. When I looked at the number references awhile back, it did not seem so which added more confusion to my bike at the time.
 
6

69ST

Well-Known Member
Turn1nitro24 said:
Thank you guys for the info! So we’re thinking a 70/71 K2 Australian version as I have a horn, speedo and no brake pedal. The speedo I have is non metric, but unknown if it’s the real deal for this bike. I appreciate the links to the tail light bracket. While I prefer the 2nd one for price, I believe based on how the bracket on my frame looks to have been broken off, it’s the stand up one. As far as the motor goes, does it look like it came from this frame based on the numbers. I know they don’t match, but not many Honda’s from the early 70’s do. When I looked at the number references awhile back, it did not seem so which added more confusion to my bike at the time.
Click to expand...
Engine SN/frame VIN "matching" is almost equal parts art & science. With CT70s of this era, anything within ~500 could be considered "numbers matching". The Z50s are another world unto themselves as far as "numbers matching". Based on your photos, this is an original bike, including the numbers. Look at the weld beads, imo they are typical of the era and very consistent.

As for engine parts, they should be the same as any other Z50 of the era.
 
Turn1nitro24

Turn1nitro24

New Member
RacerX and others who posted! Thank you for all the help. If it’s ok with Admin, I’d like to start a new thread in my project forum to document my version of the restoration.
 
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