Honda FC50
Encyclopedia
The Honda FC50, also known as the "Beat", was a 50 cc scooter
manufactured by Honda
in 1983. It was produced mainly for the Japan
ese domestic market—although both new and used models were exported from Japan—making it a fairly hard-to-find scooter. It was available in red or black only, both with gold wheels.
The FC50 was powered by a single cylinder
petrol two-stroke
engine that was liquid cooled, making it one of the most powerful in its class. The small radiator was fitted behind the grill between the two headlights. It featured 12-volt electric start and CVT
transmission; the transmission changed from low to high at around 5500 rpm. It had an automatic centrifugal clutch that engaged gradually from 3000 rpm.
It was made to carry only one person at a time and had no provisions for a passenger. It featured V-TACS; this was a small valve in the exhaust port that was operated (closed to activate) by a lever via the rider's left heel. Many other larger two-stroke engines use a similar system although most are engaged automatically by electric servos. V-TACS gave it more power from 5500 rpm (but it also made less power if engaged at rpm under 5500 rpm).
An expansion chamber and tuned length exhaust were fitted from factory although they were only "average" in design. Top speed was about 60 km/h @ 11,000 rpm. Both front and back brakes were drum brakes.
The dash had dials to show rpm, speed, engine temperature and fuel level. A small set of lights on the rpm dial illuminated when V-tacs was engaged; other lights on the dash lit up for turn signal, oil low (two-stroke oil) and high beam (head lights). A small light on the speed dial flashed when speed exceeded 35 km/h.
Scooter (motorcycle)
A scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the operator's feet. Elements of scooter design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier...
manufactured by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
in 1983. It was produced mainly for the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese domestic market—although both new and used models were exported from Japan—making it a fairly hard-to-find scooter. It was available in red or black only, both with gold wheels.
The FC50 was powered by a single cylinder
Single cylinder engine
A single-cylinder engine is a basic piston engine configuration of an internal combustion engine. It is often seen on motorcycles, auto rickshaws, motor scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, go-karts, radio-controlled models and has many uses in portable tools and garden machinery...
petrol two-stroke
Two-stroke cycle
A two-stroke engine is an internal combustion engine that completes the process cycle in one revolution of the crankshaft...
engine that was liquid cooled, making it one of the most powerful in its class. The small radiator was fitted behind the grill between the two headlights. It featured 12-volt electric start and CVT
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
transmission; the transmission changed from low to high at around 5500 rpm. It had an automatic centrifugal clutch that engaged gradually from 3000 rpm.
It was made to carry only one person at a time and had no provisions for a passenger. It featured V-TACS; this was a small valve in the exhaust port that was operated (closed to activate) by a lever via the rider's left heel. Many other larger two-stroke engines use a similar system although most are engaged automatically by electric servos. V-TACS gave it more power from 5500 rpm (but it also made less power if engaged at rpm under 5500 rpm).
An expansion chamber and tuned length exhaust were fitted from factory although they were only "average" in design. Top speed was about 60 km/h @ 11,000 rpm. Both front and back brakes were drum brakes.
The dash had dials to show rpm, speed, engine temperature and fuel level. A small set of lights on the rpm dial illuminated when V-tacs was engaged; other lights on the dash lit up for turn signal, oil low (two-stroke oil) and high beam (head lights). A small light on the speed dial flashed when speed exceeded 35 km/h.