Project ZB50
June 29, 2003: Engine is now complete with 88cc bore up kit. The cylinder head has been ported. You can click on the picture above for another view. I want to wait for the supercharger to be done before I install the whole engine onto the bike. The supercharger compressor will be off of a Garrett AiReasearch turbocharger. This supercharger will be the toughest part to make. It will be a real challenge.
This 100% stock ZB50 was purchased in almost mint condition from it's original owner. After street riding it for a couple weeks, I was soon tired of it's poor performance. Think of it as a CT70 with a Z50 motor! Acceleration was poor, and was only suitable for inside neighborhood streets. On larger streets, cars could easily run over me! I was sort of sad because my other 2 stroke bikes could easily beat this ZB both in acceleration and top speed. Soon good things would change for this little minibike! This is where Project ZB50 comes in! The goal of project ZB50 is to transform this stock, POOR performing 50cc 3 speed automatic "scooter" into a complete powerful street racer, capable of keeping up (and maybe even beating!!) other racing mini's (such as the NSR50 and YSR50)!!! My goal is not only making this ZB50 go fast, it must handle and look good too!

The ZB was sold only one year in the US (two years in Japan as the Monkey R, and RT),  so there were few (if any) aftermarket performance parts available in the USA. Basicly you were stuck with the stock 50 motor. Today there are numerous aftermarket performance engine parts available for the popular Z50 and CT70 minitrails. Most of these engine parts will work on the ZB50, but some will require modification. Other than motor upgrades, there are no parts available in the USA to improve the ZB's looks, or handling. Therefore, many of the parts you see on this project bike are either custom fabricated by me, taken off full sized sport bikes and then modified to fit, or came directly from the Japanese Spec Honda Monkey R and NSR50 (AC10).

I have decided to not make a ZB50 gallery anymore, but instead please sign up with the ZB50 group! Now you can talk about your ZB50, ask any questions, share tips, post pictures, and best of all.....meet other ZB50 owners!! Take a couple minutes and sign up. It will be worth your time, plus it's free! CLICK HERE!
Project ZB50 as of 8/10/2001: This is how the bike looked when it was all stock. Only modification was replacing the stock tires with wider Bridgestone Molas 16 type race tires.
Project ZB50 as of 8/06/01. Monkey R front fender still needs painting, braided front brake line and Miya exhaust system not installed yet.
REAR SET FOOTPEGS
ENGINE NEW!!!!!
MODIFICATIONS
HANDLE BAR CONTROLS
CARBURATION
MIYA CARBON FIBER EXHAUST SYSTEM
MONKEY R FENDER SET
OIL COOLER
MONKEY R DISK BRAKE
Supercharger/Turbocharger (forced induction)
TIRES
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