The Honda SS50 “Important to know is that it is difficult to find reliable information about the different models.”

The Honda SS50
The Honda SS50 is a sporty four-stroke moped from Honda. He has a low seat, also called a belly chur. Many different types of Honda’s SS50 have been delivered worldwide. With four gears, five gears, different color combinations and different saddles. Although a large part of the four-stroke Hondas that drive around the Netherlands is an SS, that is not the case everywhere. Seen all over the world, there are many more C50/70/90 and CD50/70/90s sold than SS’s. All the different types of the SS50 had some things in common: they all had a lying engine block with overhead camshaft, such as the C50 and all other Hondas delivered in the Netherlands, and a hand clutch. Frames of the different types are almost the same in shape. This article explains what types of Honda SS50 there are with an explanation. It is important to know that it is difficult to find reliable information about the different models. This article is based as much as possible on reliable information. For this reason, information has been omitted from some executions. Some models are not listed at all, because there are too few specifications to be found. Any errors or ambiguities are subject to change. If you have any suggestions or comments, you can email them to info@fourstrokebarn.com

SS50Z K1 (English)
An SS50 as it was sold on the Dutch market is always one of the Z-type. The old type SS50Z is called K1. You can recognize a Dutch K1 by the grey-colored frame, headlight and headlight ears, the short buddy saddle and the red, blue, bronze or gold petrol tank with white or black piping. It came with a stick handlebar, which means there was only a very light curve in the steering wheel. This differs from the other model delivered in the Netherlands, the SS50Z K3, which had a black frame with different tank colors and a longer saddle. However, they both had high exhausts– unlike some foreign SS-jes, which had a half-height or low exhaust. To comply with the legislation in force at the time, the SS50 K1 was given a grey-coloured rear fender with white end and a stair installation. In this way you could theoretically cycle yourself with your SS, but that was quite disappointing in practice. A lot of people took the stairwell system away. Because you were not allowed to go faster than 40 with a moped, the Dutch K1 got a 12mm carburetor with extra long gas slide and a flywheel with abandonment mechanism. A luggage rack was available as an option. The Honda SS50Z K1 was estimated to have been built from 1972 to 1977 and had a six-digit frame number.

SS50Z K3 (English)
The successor of the K1 became the so-called K3 in the Netherlands. There were hardly any mechanical adjustments: only the bearings in the engine block were improved. Furthermore, the SS K3 had a black frame instead of grey, a longer buddy saddle, other tank colors and the flashing lights for sitting on longer sticks. He also had a steering wheel with two nods in it. It’s hard to tell which type more have been sold, but it could just be the same. Because it used to be hipper to have a modern black frame with newer tank, many K1s have been adapted to look the same as an SS50Z K3. From the frame number you can see what kind of model your SS has ever been: a K1 has a frame number with six digits, while that of a K3 is seven-digit. The K3 was built from 1975 to 1977. He also still had the pedals and the black and white fender with the mandatory ULO taillight and was bounded in the same way as the K1.

SS50Z K1-b (Belgian)
Same as the Dutch version, but without pedals and ULO taillight. Had a Chrome rear fender with Stanley Taillight. Was bounded in the same way as the Dutch one.

SS50Z K1-e
Also not very different from the Dutch K1. Has pedals, but also a chrome fender with Stanley light. It was first delivered without a limiter, but from 1977 it had one.

SS50Z K1-f (French model)
This model is fairly similar to the Dutch K1. That means: the same color frame, the same tank colors and a 12mm carburetor. It is not known whether he was also bounded. It just didn’t come with pedals, had a shorter-type chrome rear fender with square Stanley taillight and a racing saddle. Such a racing saddle is a bit shorter than that of the Dutch SS-jes and has an “ass” on the back. Unlike most other versions with such a racing saddle, the French K1 has not five gears, but four. This can be seen from the black cast iron cylinder that has a four-box SS. Models with a five-speed gearbox have a light grey aluminium cylinder. The French SS K1 has a high exhaust. The photo below does not have a black piping on the tank. He’s supposed to have this one. Just like the Dutch K1.

SS50Z k1-ar (Austrian model)
Very similar to the French version. However, there are a few differences. Firstly, the Austrian model had up to five gears with aluminium cylinder, high pressure piston, larger valves, advance ignition, larger carburetor and a fast camshaft. Also, this type had a half-high exhaust. In terms of height, it is between the high exhaust, as the Dutch SS50s have and the low exhaust that sits on a CD50 or C50. These adjustments ensured that this version was quite fast. At top speed, an Austrian k1 travels about 85 kilometers per hour. It was therefore delivered on motorcycle license plate and not as a moped. In Austria, laws also apply to the maximum speed of a moped. At 50 mph, he didn’t live up to that.

SS50Z k1 (Japan)
Same as the Austrian version, but with smaller headlights.

SS50Z (without addition) or SS50E
Is like a Dutch CD50 on the chrome rear fender and headlight housing with built-in speedometer. Was a motorcycle and therefore did not need pedals. Also has the beloved buses fork.

SS50ZE (motorcycle)
Same as the above, but with five-box, half-high exhaust and a counter that was not incorporated into the headlight housing, but loose. Like most other SS50Z models. Didn’t come with pedals and came as a motorcycle.

SS50Z k2 (England)
Looks like an English K1, but has a black frame and five-speed gearbox with the faster stuff that go with it. Was bounded from 1977. SS50Z b2 (England)
This type is more special. He had a lot of parts that weren’t on any other type. With its five-speed gearbox, high compression piston, larger valves and forward flywheel, this is a fast one. The high handlebars and deviating stickers are only supplied on this type and are therefore very rare, but easy to recognize. Another special thing: he was the only one of all types of SS to have a disc brake. This one wasn’t hydraulic, it was mechanical, so it was with an old-fashioned cable. Tank colours of this type are different from the others, for example bright yellow or light green.

SS50d, also called SS50 (without addition), SS50 K0 or ’67 (Germany, Austria, France, probably England, many Asian countries)
A special model. At first glance, it looks like a CD, but if you look closely, you can see that the tank has a different, more pointed shape. The buddy saddle and chain box are of the same kind as on a CD. The odometer is integrated into the headlight housing and the Fenders are silver grey. Because the frame is painted in the same color as the tank, this moped looks a bit more classic. Originally, this type was sold on engine license plate and had a five-speed block, but with a low exhaust. This exhaust resembles the species that has a C or CD, but has an even deeper hum. Flashing lights weren’t on it, but there was a bus fork.

SS50M K1 “(super)deluxe” (Germany, Austria, ?)
With a higher tank than the other types. The frame was in the color of the stripes on the tank and it had chrome mudguards. Came on the market as a motorcycle, had five gears and a half-high exhaust. With the German type, the counter was in the headlight house, with the other it was loose. The other countries did not get a bus fork either. The Super de luxe version had a chromed petrol tank.

SS50ME (Germany, France, ?)
Similar to the SS50d. The tank is only angular and it did have flashing lights. The exhaust was one of the half-high models.

Encrypted
Many SS-jes are encrypted. This means that some people set up other petrol tanks, engine blocks, saddles, headlights, etc. Does your SS50 not look like any of the types described above? Then it could be that he was modified by one of the previous owners. Another possibility is that it is a model that is very rare. It could then be that there is not enough information about it and he is therefore not described in this article.