1974 Honda MR 50 ORIGINAL

Basebull7
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Basebull7
Edited Date/Time 5/18/2019 1:59pm
I am curious, I have a 100% all original 1974 Honda MR 50 in absolutely pristine condition. I can load pics if needed. My father bought me this bike when I was 9 or 10 years old and I’ve had in my garage since. I’m now 56 years old and I’m a little to big to ride it even though I do start it every week and try to rider her around the block.

Any ideas on what kind of value and collector value this bike has? Thank you.



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Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/10/2019 5:08am
5/10/2019 5:08am
Tbteam
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Tbteam 5/10/2019 7:08am
5/10/2019 7:08am
Probably somewhere between $1500-$2000. I saw a very similar MR50 go recently for $1200, which i thought was a bargain. It sold fast.
Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/10/2019 7:29am
5/10/2019 7:29am
Got it thanks for the quick response. I’m curious because the other part of me is attached to this thing and I was thinking of converting it into something cool for inside the house. Like a pool table light. Call me crazy!
Bearuno
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Bearuno 5/10/2019 7:52am
5/10/2019 7:52am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2019 7:53am
Crazy if you at all butcher it.

It's beautiful as it is, and worthy of any pool room without it being mauled.

It's stunning to see it being so original. The thing about the MR50s was / is, is how similar the were to the 125 and 250. Truly part of a 'family' of models. Beautifully proportioned little things, when so many 50s were near parodies of bikes.
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Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/10/2019 8:05am
5/10/2019 8:05am
Fair enough...I knew someone wouldn’t be happy about that idea. I myself agree. They are absolutely beautiful little dirt bikes. I’ll have to display it in my man cave just as it is.
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Holigan
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Holigan 5/10/2019 8:40am
5/10/2019 8:40am
I have bought 63 bikes in the last 15 months for a moto themed restaurant I am building in Dallas. I would pay $1,500 for it based on the others I have purchased and on what I have seen at Mecum the last two years. if you ever decide to sell, let me know.
backinthesaddleagain 5/12/2019 12:15pm
5/12/2019 12:15pm
Wow I wish I still had mine from my birthday in 1974. Cool you still have it. Excellent looking. The coolest mini of the time. I guess z50 and trail 70s are worth more as more kids had them but the MR50 looked way cooler, handled way better and was faster.
mxracer106 5/13/2019 10:02am
5/13/2019 10:02am
Thank you for sharing your story and pics of your awesome MR50 there Basebull7! I cannot believe you have kept this bike your whole life...and it is amazing shape! I am now 52, my Dad bought me a '74 MR50 when I was 9 years old as my first dirt bike, and I obviously have a special place in my heart for these mini Elsinore's. I was not however fortunate enough to keep it, as I ended up trading it in to get a bigger 78 XR-75 back in the day. If I were you, I wouldn't take less that $2,500- $3,500 for it, as I saw one in similar original condition as yours go for around $3,500 on eBay recently. It is all about timing....finding the right buyer at the right time that wants to relive his youth, and is willing to pay for one as nice as yours. I definitely would not restore it or modify it as it would take away from it value, but that is my opinion. I actually found one back in 2008 and restored it, and now it resides with my trophies in my home office. I have posted these in the past, but if you haven't seen them hope you enjoy:

My original back in 1976:


My restored one now:




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newmann
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newmann 5/13/2019 10:10am
5/13/2019 10:10am
mxracer106 wrote:
Thank you for sharing your story and pics of your awesome MR50 there Basebull7! I cannot believe you have kept this bike your whole life...and it...
Thank you for sharing your story and pics of your awesome MR50 there Basebull7! I cannot believe you have kept this bike your whole life...and it is amazing shape! I am now 52, my Dad bought me a '74 MR50 when I was 9 years old as my first dirt bike, and I obviously have a special place in my heart for these mini Elsinore's. I was not however fortunate enough to keep it, as I ended up trading it in to get a bigger 78 XR-75 back in the day. If I were you, I wouldn't take less that $2,500- $3,500 for it, as I saw one in similar original condition as yours go for around $3,500 on eBay recently. It is all about timing....finding the right buyer at the right time that wants to relive his youth, and is willing to pay for one as nice as yours. I definitely would not restore it or modify it as it would take away from it value, but that is my opinion. I actually found one back in 2008 and restored it, and now it resides with my trophies in my home office. I have posted these in the past, but if you haven't seen them hope you enjoy:

My original back in 1976:


My restored one now:




^^^^ Love it.

I passed up the opportunity to buy a completely restored one back in 1994. Tons of NOS parts on it back then and it looked absolutely new in every way. Didn't feel comfortable unassing $750.00 for something I really didn't need back then...Blush
Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/13/2019 10:15am
5/13/2019 10:15am
Wow thanks for the message. That bike is perfect in the Trophy Room. The more I hear back from everyone on this forum the wiser I’m getting and I’m getting to the point that I’m gonna clean her up drain the gas and oil and park that baby in my sports room next to my Pool Table. They’re beautiful machines. Thanks again.
1
mxracer106 5/13/2019 12:07pm
5/13/2019 12:07pm
mxracer106 wrote:
Thank you for sharing your story and pics of your awesome MR50 there Basebull7! I cannot believe you have kept this bike your whole life...and it...
Thank you for sharing your story and pics of your awesome MR50 there Basebull7! I cannot believe you have kept this bike your whole life...and it is amazing shape! I am now 52, my Dad bought me a '74 MR50 when I was 9 years old as my first dirt bike, and I obviously have a special place in my heart for these mini Elsinore's. I was not however fortunate enough to keep it, as I ended up trading it in to get a bigger 78 XR-75 back in the day. If I were you, I wouldn't take less that $2,500- $3,500 for it, as I saw one in similar original condition as yours go for around $3,500 on eBay recently. It is all about timing....finding the right buyer at the right time that wants to relive his youth, and is willing to pay for one as nice as yours. I definitely would not restore it or modify it as it would take away from it value, but that is my opinion. I actually found one back in 2008 and restored it, and now it resides with my trophies in my home office. I have posted these in the past, but if you haven't seen them hope you enjoy:

My original back in 1976:


My restored one now:




newmann wrote:
^^^^ Love it. I passed up the opportunity to buy a completely restored one back in 1994. Tons of NOS parts on it back then and...
^^^^ Love it.

I passed up the opportunity to buy a completely restored one back in 1994. Tons of NOS parts on it back then and it looked absolutely new in every way. Didn't feel comfortable unassing $750.00 for something I really didn't need back then...Blush
Thank you newman! I am pretty sure we all have passed up opportunities to buy something in our lifetime that we really didn't need for a great deal....and then to get that deep, gut wrenching feeling when see that same item for sale 10 years later for 10 times the price! I was fortunate to have a friend that owned a Honda dealer back when I restored it, and I purchased about every available NOS part I could for it. Now I wish I would have bought two of everything, as many of those parts are now obsolete.
mxracer106 5/13/2019 12:14pm
5/13/2019 12:14pm
Basebull7 wrote:
Wow thanks for the message. That bike is perfect in the Trophy Room. The more I hear back from everyone on this forum the wiser I’m...
Wow thanks for the message. That bike is perfect in the Trophy Room. The more I hear back from everyone on this forum the wiser I’m getting and I’m getting to the point that I’m gonna clean her up drain the gas and oil and park that baby in my sports room next to my Pool Table. They’re beautiful machines. Thanks again.
Thank you Basebull7! I still couldn't imagine having my original bike like you do, and I would bet not to many people out there can match your story. It is really hard to put a price on sentimental value. I would be draining the fluids out of that baby, park it by your Pool Table, and enjoy it forever!
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Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/13/2019 1:43pm
5/13/2019 1:43pm
I actually did that about 2 hours ago! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everyone’s comments and suggestions. Final touches on cleaning taking place tomorrow and it’s gonna be a conversation piece in the sports room. I’ve added a few last pics that I didn’t add last time.





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mxracer106 5/13/2019 4:19pm
5/13/2019 4:19pm
Dude....you still even have the original sales agreement?? That is awesome!! Done, over, case closed....glad it's now in your sports room!
chrisg19
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chrisg19 5/14/2019 7:24am
5/14/2019 7:24am Edited Date/Time 5/14/2019 7:25am
I loved that little bike. I had one my parents bought it new in 76. I would ride it everyday. So great to see it in that original condition. I remember it used to have a throttle stop so you could limit the throttle. I think it had 4 positions, and you could move a screw and it would let the throttle twist further. I learned a lot about riding on that bike.
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mxracer106 5/15/2019 7:55am
5/15/2019 7:55am
chrisg19 wrote:
I loved that little bike. I had one my parents bought it new in 76. I would ride it everyday. So great to see it in...
I loved that little bike. I had one my parents bought it new in 76. I would ride it everyday. So great to see it in that original condition. I remember it used to have a throttle stop so you could limit the throttle. I think it had 4 positions, and you could move a screw and it would let the throttle twist further. I learned a lot about riding on that bike.
They were/are awesome little bikes, and were ahead of their time. Funny you mentioned the 4-position throttle stop...I remember when I finally got to the point where my Dad changed it to the max 4th position, and I finally got to run it wide open! Amazing what an extra 1/8" of throttle turn can get you! I still have the original brochure that I got from our local Honda dealer for the 1974 MR50 and XR75. You can see them showcasing the throttle stop adjustment bottom center. I don't remember ever seeing this on any other bike, and it was honestly a great selling point to convince my Mom this would be the best bike for me to learn on. Great marketing job Honda!

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Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/15/2019 10:10am
5/15/2019 10:10am
You all are correct. There a small Allen Wrench screw by the throttle with 4 settings for safety speeds with younger riders. Great feature.
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motoXman9995
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motoXman9995 5/16/2019 12:27pm
5/16/2019 12:27pm
I sold mine in similar condition (without the original paperwork) on eBay last year for $3550. Yours is worth every bit of that.
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Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/16/2019 3:38pm
5/16/2019 3:38pm
Wow thank you for the reply. I’ve made my decision. Picture shows the outcome.
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backinthesaddleagain 5/18/2019 7:57am
5/18/2019 7:57am
Some of the best times of my childhood on that bike. Also ruptured my spleen on it. Didn’t have lots of riding gear back then
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neverwas 5/18/2019 1:59pm
5/18/2019 1:59pm
Great thread,great story and of course a great bike.
Basebull7
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Basebull7 5/18/2019 2:42pm
5/18/2019 2:42pm
Indeed! And here I thought I was the only crazy old man hanging on to this little motorcycle! Because of all of you and your feedback I am now back in love with this bike and it’s in my room with the pool table and all of my baseball stuff. Thanks to all of you for straightening me out Smile

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