THE TRAILHOPPER ⛰️

Introduced in 1972, the suzuki MT50 'Trailhopper' was an obvious stab at Honda who dominated the Mini-Bike market with their superb Monkey Bike.

suzuki made a good effort; the air-cooled two-stroke put out a crisp 3.0hp from its advanced disc-valve induction system. This was enough to propel this pretty looking machine to 35mph, aided by a three-speed gearbox with an automatic clutch. The suzuki MT50 was also designed to fit in the trunk of your car with swing-in handlebars and a removable front wheel.

Priced considerably lower than the Honda the model sold quite well, but it’s dimensions, unlike the Honda Monkey Bike, prevented all but the most petite adults from riding it. The Trail Hopper was a kiddie’s bike, and as such the model’s life span was limited. A shame because its weight of just 60kg combined with a very crisp two-stroke engine ensured this well-made little machine was a lot of fun to ride!

What’s your all-time favorite Mini-Bike?