Honda DAX st50 “So a two-wheeler had to be developed that was small and compact and there had to be room for two people.”

Honda Dax (ST Series)

The Honda Dax is a small moped or motorcycle made by Honda. It comes in 50, 70 and 90cc versions. Many copies of it are now being made by Chinese manufacturers. The name Dax comes from the dog depicted on Japanese Daxen. That little dog is a dachshund.

History

After Soichiro Honda, chief executive of motorcycle manufacturer Honda Corp, had had immense success with its C-Series engines and mopeds, he wanted to develop something new. The C’s were already quite compact and handy in urban traffic, but Honda wanted to develop something that could also tear through Tokyo’s narrowest alley. From this came the Honda Monkey. However, the Monkey’s problem was that only one person could be transported on it. So a two-wheeler had to be developed that was small and compact, but also smooth enough to be able to come with the traffic and there had to be room for two people. To meet this, Honda thought it would be useful to make the Dax available with 50cc, but also 70cc. The development of the Dax began at the end of 1967 and a prototype was presented in 1968. This one had a fairly high exhaust, a fork that was at a fairly large angle and a swingarm consisting of the engine mount of a Honda N360, a car:

The ST prototype

In 1969 the Dax was ready for production. This production version had a slightly larger headlight than the prototype, another exhaust and the front fork was now standing. The production version also had a more common swingarm with two shock absorbers and a slightly different saddle. Interestingly, the fork was removable, so that the Dax could be easily transported, for example in the back of a car. Different versions of both cylinder capacity were also available: the classic type, with low exhaust and silver fenders, the ST50Z and ST70Z and a more sporty type with high exhaust and chrome mudguards. This one was called ST50EZ and ST70EZ.

Both models had a foot-switched three-speed gearbox with automatic clutch, small chrome flashing lights and a triangular speedometer. The classic type was available in the colours candy ruby red, candy sapphire blue and candy gold. The sporty type in candy ruby red, candy sapphire blue and candy special yellow.
For the American market, the ST50(E)Z was not available, but a different model: the CT70. With its extra high front fender and motor protection plate, this Dax was more suitable for off-road driving. Because you don’t need flashing lights and removable fork for off-road driving, these weren’t available on the CT70. The first version came in 1969, this was the so-called k0. A year later, a version with four-box and hand coupling was available on this model, this was the CT70H. The CT70 k0 came in three colours: Candy Ruby Red, Candy Sapphire Blue and Candy Gold. For the CT70H there were three others: Candy Topaz Orange, Candy Emerald Green and Candy Blue Green.

European and Asian evolution
Honda also built Daxjes for the Europeans, only sales started a little later, because there are different, stricter rules in Europe than the other countries where the Dax was sold. The first Daxen arrived in Europe in 1970 and were given the name k1. Because many European countries let people guess 50cc (moped) at 16, Honda decided to offer the ST50 here. In most countries the ST70 was also delivered, but on motorcycles. For the most part, there were no differences between the American, European and Asian Daxes, except for the German version; this one had a high exhaust, like the EZ models, but with the low classic mudguards. This model was called ST50G or ST70G. The flashing lights were also slightly further back and a luggage rack was available. By the way, not many Daxjes were sold in the Netherlands, because they did not have pedals and white piece on the rear fender. This ensured that they only came here on motorcycle badges.

In addition to the normal ST70s, Honda also produced a special version. This one was known as the Lady Dax of White Dax. Lady Daxen are white and have special stickers and a separate saddle cover. They’re pretty rare. A ST50 variant was also there, but these are already very difficult to find.

A Lady Dax/White Dax with classic mudguards

In 1972, sales of the classic model stopped, except for the ST50/70G. The same year, the k2 was introduced. Due to the new requirements, it had an abandoned flywheel, smaller carburetor, smaller inlet and a milder camshaft. The top speed was now only 45 km/h.
The k3 generation was released in 1978. The biggest differences with its predecessors were the other colors and the new stickers options. These were: candy ruby red with white, blue or black stripes stickers, candy riviera blue with yellow, white or black stripes stickers, mighty green with yellow, black or white stripes stickers and shiny orange with yellow black or white stripes stickers. Honda also stopped selling the ST70 in Germany, but in England an extra variant was added.

For Europe came the last Daxen around 1979/80. He was then succeeded by the CY50, a slightly thicker moped with a vertical cylinder. It was not delivered in the Netherlands, but it was delivered a lot in Germany and because of the relatively low prices some people import one to NL.

American evolution

American CT70s received completely different modifications than the other types of Dax. The older k0 type of the CT70 was followed by the k1 and hk1. The k1 and hk1 models were produced in 1972 and were candy ruby red or candy yellow special. This was a unique combination and, for many, the most beautiful model, because of its classic appearance. An optional four-box with hand coupling makes it even more beable. It was also the first year that the CT had a hydraulic fork and not rubber, but metal fork protection. ST’s only got a hydro fork years later, which makes the (h)k1 even more progressive for its time. The round odometer that was now separate from the headlight was also new. A saddle with a new design and a different exhaust shield completed the whole.

The ST90, which also came out in ’72, was a strange duck in the bite. He had a 90cc block with heavier clutch. The frame resembled the other models’ ones, but was slightly larger. This model also did not include small star wheels, but 14 inch spoke wheels. At first glance, this doesn’t seem like a Dax derivative, but it is. There are few models that look like the ST90. The exhaust, saddle, and handlebars with the flashing lights attached are quite unique in the Honda four-stroke world.

A year later, the CT70 k2 was released. Instead of the metal protections, the lower legs of the fork were now protected by more conventional rubber covers. One could choose between the colors riviera blue and candy topaz orange. The k4, which followed in 1974, was pretty much the same, except that it now had flashing lights on it.

During the 1970s there was considerable inflation in America, which is why Honda had to produce its models cheaper. In 1975 k4 came the first savings: a chrome spark plug protector and candy colors were no longer available. Yet with its green color and separate stickers, it was a special model.

From 1976 the models were no longer called k*something*. Because of an American rule, different types of a model were no longer allowed to be indicated by a type name, but had to be with the model year. The construction continued until 1982, but over time more and more chrome parts were replaced with plastic ones or they were completely omitted. You could only choose from one color, although it did vary per year. The last CT70s therefore look very different from the early types.

The 1980s and 1990s
Honda released the Dax again in 1986 with a few major improvements. As before, there was a 50- and 70cc version. This generation is also called the “New Type” or ab23. The engine block now had a 12v cdi instead of the 6v point ignition that was on previous models. A bearing camshaft ensured a longer life of the cylinder head. Furthermore, the mudguards were chrome-plated and the fork was a hydraulic one. The elegant but fragile flashing lights that sat on the older Daxen were replaced by lurking-looking cutters, which had the advantage that they were a lot more solid. There were three colors: candy ruby red, candy sapphire blue and silver with different types of stickers.

In 1991 the ab23 was given a black sprayed engine block, black sprayed exhaust, white wheels and colored mudguards. From now on, the colors italian red, shasta white and black were available.

Right away
Despite its poplarity, Honda stopped building the Dax in 1999. Around the same time, the patent on the small moped/motorcycle expired and Honda sold the rights to the Chinese company Jincheng. Honda had done this before with rights to the Monkey and the CF50/70 Chaly. There were still a lot of parts left, these are still being sold new.
Two years later, the band’s first Jincheng Dax came to roll. He was then sold under different names in different countries. Not long after, other companies followed, such as Skyteam and Zhenhua. All Dax replicas are built in China and are therefore also called Bamidax. The quality of these Bamidaxes is significantly less than the real Hondas. Often the chrome rusts quickly and many parts feel cheap. From the so-called noodles blocks that these mopeds have, the experiences are varied. Some soon get into trouble with things like banging crankshafts and worn cylinders, others only get this after tens of thousands of kilometers. Yet the quality is not yet as good as original Honda. Displacements go from 50- to 125cc.
Opinions differ on these replicas. Many Honda fanatics don’t like it, but many young people like them. Because a new counterfeit fax can often already be found for about €1000,-, it is for their good deals to drive on something special. Other people buy the Chinese versions to build something nasty of their own. Parts such as feathers, wheels, mudguards and handlebars are then exchanged for other models to create something unique.
Another important factor that the Dax maintains are owners who coddle it and adapt it to their own taste. Tuning factory workers Takegawa, Kitaco and Daytona make parts for various Hondas including the Dax. They make small things, like gas handles, but also complete engine blocks.

At the beginning of this century, Honda found out that they still had a large stock of cb50/xr50/cy50 engine blocks left. To get these on, they started building the Honda APE in 2001. Whether it falls under the Monkeys or Daxen, you can decide for yourself.

Buy a Dax
On websites as a marketplace you can find many Daxen, both original and counterfeit. Usually a much higher price is charged for the original, but these often also look slicker, drive better and above all last much longer. Sometimes original Daxes are offered that have some imitation parts. These can often be recognized by the less good finish and fit. A Bami motor block can often be recognized by the chrome flap caps and the slightly more angular appearance.