An example of Honda's rugged Motra mini has surfaced for sale, and it has the potential to be quite an affordable buy.From endearing retro minibikes to quirky folding scooters, Honda has a knack for squeezing impressive amounts of utility into compact two-wheeled forms. It's why bikes like the Monkey and the Motocompo command a cult following.Even so, most riders here in the US likely aren't too familiar with one of the brand's more unique efforts. Despite its small size, it had big ambitions thanks to its adventurous inclinations and impressive capabilities.The CT50 Motra featured a unique 3-speed, 2-stage gearbox with an automatic clutch. - Credit: Bring a TrailerThey're a rare sight in North America. However, one has surfaced for auction on Bring a Trailer, and it could turn out to be quite the steal.Honda's tiny two-wheeled truckI'm talking about the CT50 Motra, a small workhorse of a bike that Honda built exclusively for Japan from 1982 to 1983. The name is a portmanteau of the Japanese words for "motorcycle" and "truck," and it embodies the concept in more ways than one.The front rack avoids attachment to the frame to minimize the effect on steering. - Credit: Bring a TrailerThe most obvious being its pickup-like hauling potential. Honda built the bike with a set of integrated front and rear racks, affixing them directly to the rugged tubed frame to increase overall carrying capacity and minimize any adverse effects on steering. AdvertisementAdvertisementMoreover, as the Motra was intended for navigating rural areas rather than busy city centers, Honda also gave it goat-like climbing potential.Similar to 4×4 trucks, the little two-wheeler featured a dual-range sub-transmission with high and low gear ratios. Honda even claimed it could scale grades up to 23 degrees.The CT50 Motra was available in two colors, one of which was a muted, military-like olive green. - Credit: Bring a TrailerArguably even more impressive was the diesel-like fuel economy. Because it came powered by a humble 49cc four-stroke single, Honda's CT50 Motra was supposedly quite the sipper. According to Silodrome, it posted a whopping 100 kilometers per liter over Japan's 30-kph constant-speed test.And that's not even addressing all the bike's approachable, beginner-friendly qualities. Along with riding on 10-inch wheels, the Motra also rocked an automatic clutch, a 28-inch seat height and a sub-180-pound dry weight.Honda claimed the Motra could scale slopes up to 23 degrees. - Credit: Bring a TrailerYour chance at Motra ownership Because Honda built the CT50 Motra for just one year and solely for Japan, it's not often that they make their way across the pond.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat kind of scarcity alone is bound to give some appeal to the 1982 example featured here. The sale itself only makes it more tempting. (I know it does for me.)This example needs a little TLC, but it nevertheless promises a lot of utility at a potentially low price. - Credit: Bring a TrailerFor one, it's a "No Reserve" auction, so it avoids any bidding threshold that bars you from landing it in your garage. Yep, the final bid is the one that takes it home.On that note, this particular Motra could end up being incredibly cheap. As of this writing, the auction shows just $1,200 in bids with three days left.Granted, it's been repainted, and there's some corrosion on the forks and parts of the frame. However, those flaws are easy to overlook when you consider that LiveWire wants to charge more than 4X that amount for an all-electric alternative without the same kind of range or pickup potential.AdvertisementAdvertisementAbout the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he's not chasing the latest industry news, he's probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.
