Honda NC50 Express

The Elite is still in the shop - in addition to a tune up, her automatic choke is not working, so it's taking some extra time to get parts, etc. for that, so I've been riding one of my mopeds, the orange one shown above (a 1978 Honda NC50 Express). 50cc, so it's more of my "get the mail at the end of the drive" ride, but she is fun to ride. Starts after the third or fourth "kick" - actually, this isn't a kick start, but a "winder" start. You crank what looks like a kick start lever 3-4 times, and it winds up a spring inside the starter. Then, you press the rear brake lever, which releases the spring and it starts the engine. Kind of a poor man's kick start, but it works pretty well.

When I got her last year, it needed new brake pads, tires and a new seat cover. The first two items were left to my mechanic, and I bought a new replacement seat cover that is exactly like the original off ebay. The gentleman who sells these is from BC Canada, and does a great job of recreating seat covers for vintage bikes/scooters. I've bought several from him.

I call this a moped, but some will say that she is actually a "noped" since the pedals are merely footpegs and are not pedalled like a traditional moped. Whatever you want to call her, she is a real fun ride, and a good looker to boot!