A Base 50 engine is a generic term for engines that are
reverse-engineered
Reverse engineering (also known as backwards engineering or back engineering) is a process or method through which one attempts to understand through deductive reasoning how a previously made device, process, system, or piece of software accompli ...
from the
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a producti ...
air-cooled
Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over heat dissipation fins or hot areas of the engine to cool them in order to keep the engine within operating temperatures. In all combustion engines, a great percentage of the heat ge ...
four-strokesingle cylinder engine. Honda first offered these engines in 1958, on their Honda Super Cub 50. Honda has offered variations of this engine continuously, in sizes up to , since its introduction. The Honda Super Cub has been produced in excess of 100,000,000 units, the most successful motorized vehicle in history. With multiple manufactures utilizing clones of the Honda 50 engine for current mopeds, scooters, small motorcycles and power sport machines, it is the most produced engine in history.
The engines are usually identical in form, fit and function to Honda 50cc engines and the parts are usually interchangeable with genuine Honda parts.
The term Base 50 has originated from the importation of modern styled, small
Pit Bike
A pit bike is a small recreation, stunt or motocross racing motorcycle. Usually defined as having a horizontal air cooled engine and an open cradle frame.
Pit bike history
The pit bike evolved from the use of custom-built motorized two wheeled m ...
s that use the Honda CRF50 as a ''base'' for design. Base 50's have also been known as Chondas, a slang term due to influx of Honda clone engines being primarily from China. The name, a
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words
Intellectual property infringement
Honda has a presence in China and shares manufacturing facilities with local industry, as required by Chinese local content trade law. Despite this, Honda has never pursued infringements regarding patents or intellectual property specifically regarding the Honda 50 or Base 50 engines, as the patents for said engines exceed 30 years. Honda has pursued legal action against Lifan regarding other business practices, including Lifans use of Hongda for marketing motorcycles. Honda also won a patent lawsuit in 2007 regarding a separate infringement for the sale of the Lifan LF100T motorcycle