Honda C110

The Honda C110 is a 50cc four stroke single motorbike from the early 1960's (top left).  There was a small family of derivatives, such as the C114 (top right), with minor differences in chassis, engine and exhaust.  

It was never a quick machine, despite the sporty styling, with the OHV engine putting out 5.0PS (4.9BHP). However it was a popular family of machines, particularly with commuters, due to the styling and the claimed fuel economy being in excess of 200mpg.

I've managed to get hold of a 1964 copy of "The book of the Honda", by John Thorpe.  This is a great little book on these bikes, and other Hondas of the era.  John was involved in some of the launch publicity for Honda when they released their range of 50cc machines in the UK, including being given a C100 with permission to try and break it over a 2,200 mile test.  He failed.

One of the publicity stunts was a non-stop seven day run of three of the 50cc bikes, including a C110, around the Goodwood race circuit.  The statistics for the C110 are quite impressive with it covering 5,897 miles, more than 800 miles further than the other two machines (both step throughs).  Over that distance it averaged 35mph and no worse than 124mpg.