Suzuki Carna (CI50D)
1985—1989

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1985 Suzuki Carna, Red and Black Yoshimura Tornado Limited Edition

A sporty and economical scooter Suzuki Carna was a small, lightweight and relatively powerful little scooter, released on the Japanese home market in July 1985. Sports bikes were very popular fashion in Japan, and even the commuters were given sporty features and more powerful engines. Suzuki Carna, with its 6,5 hp engine and 49 kg (108 lbs) dry weight had a 7.5 kg (16.5 lbs)/hp power/weight ratio making it the fastest bike in its class. It was lighter and had more powerful engine than its competitors. The exterior styling of the Carna was quite traditional, reminding the classic Italian scooters, but compared to Suzuki's earlier designs in the early eighties the new model looked very sleak and sporty with its curvy lines. Suzuki Shoot, for instance, looked like it was built of Lego bricks, in comparison (my own opinion). The Carna had a pipe underbone frame and its power unit was equipped with a reed valve air-cooled 2-stroke single-cylinder engine. The maximum output was 6.5 horsepower at 6,500 rpm. The transmission was a V-belt continuously variable transmission specification. It had 10-inch wheels and drum brakes front and rear.  It has achieved low fuel consumption of 91.1km / liter (riding at 30 km/h constant speed). Two months after the Carna CI50DG was launched, in September 1985, A Yoshimura color (Tornado color) was added as a special color and in February 1986 was a limited edition with a front basket and a special pastel color, launched. In April 1986, another Limited version, A Black Rossignol model saw the light of a day. A sports-specification Carna F-3 came in July 1986. The model was advertised by Satoshi Tsujimoto, a young and popular racing driver. The model was sold until 1989.

1985 Suzuki year code: F



1985 Suzuki Carna, Red with Silver and Orange stripes and Black/Gray seat

1985 Suzuki Carna Overall Length: 1 610 mm (63.4 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 980 mm (35.6 in) Seat Height: 695 mm (27.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 115 mm (43.9 in) Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in) Dry Weight: 49 kg (108 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. 6.5 hp (4.78 kW) @ 6 500 rpm, 7.1 Nm (0.72 kg-m) @ 6 000 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1986 Suzuki year code: G

1986 Suzuki Carna LE Overall Length: 1 610 mm (63.4 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 980 mm (35.6 in) Seat Height: 695 mm (27.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 115 mm (43.9 in) Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in) Dry Weight: 49 kg (108 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. 6.5 hp (4.78 kW) @ 6 500 rpm, 7.1 Nm (0.72 kg-m) @ 6 000 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1986 Suzuki Carna Rossignol LE Overall Length: 1 610 mm (63.4 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 980 mm (35.6 in) Seat Height: 695 mm (27.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 115 mm (43.9 in) Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in) Dry Weight: 49 kg (108 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. 6.5 hp (4.78 kW) @ 6 500 rpm, 7.1 Nm (0.72 kg-m) @ 6 000 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1987 Suzuki year code: H

The Carna F-3, launched in July 1986, had a few features that gave it a sportier look. It didn't have a shopping bag attached to the front of the bike. Insted, with the bike came stickers with numbers from 0 to 9 that you could attach to the front, to make it look look a bit more lika a racer. It also had a stainless steel cover on the muffler and instead of a bagage holder behind the seat it had a hand grip that looked like a small spoiler. The tail light and turn signal indicators had smoke-colored lenses and the headlight had yellow beam. The retail price for the Suzuki Carna F-3 was 134,000 Yen.

1987 Suzuki Carna F-3 Overall Length: 1 565 mm (63.4 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 980 mm (35.6 in) Seat Height: 695 mm (27.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 115 mm (43.9 in) Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in) Dry Weight: 49 kg (108 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. 6.5 hp (4.78 kW) @ 6 500 rpm, 7.1 Nm (0.72 kg-m) @ 6 000 rpm Click on the image for larger format.

1985–1989 Suzuki Carna specifications (Japan) Model: CI50D (CA18A) Overall Length: 1 610 mm (61.6 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 980 mm (35.6 in) Seat Height: 695 mm (27.4 in) Wheelbase: 1 115 mm (43.9 in) Ground Clearance: 140 mm (5.5 in) Dry Weight: 49 kg (108 lbs) Engine type: Air-cooled 1-cylinder 2-stroke, rotary disc valve Engine code: A119 Cylinder displacement: 49 cc Bore x Stroke: 41 x 37.4 mm (1.614 x 1.472 in) Compression ratio: 7.9 :1 Maximum power: 6.5 hp (4.78 kW) @ 6 500 rpm Maximum torque 7.1 Nm (0.72 kg-m) @ 6 000 rpm Fuel economy: 91.1 km/l at 30 km/h Carburetor: VM14SH Starter method: Kick combined with electric starter Ignition method: CDI Lubrication method: CCI (separate Lubrication) Lubricating oil amount: 1.0 liter Fuel tank capacity: 4.3 liter (1.135 US gal/0.948 Imp gal) Transmission type: V-belt continuously variable transmission Frame type: Double craddle Front brake type: Double-leading drum brake Rear brake type: Double-leading drum brake Front tire size: 2.75-10-2PR Rear tire size: 2.75-10-2PR Caster: 25°00' Trail: 70 mm (2.76 in) Steering angle: 45° Minimum turning radius: 1.8 m (5.91 feet) Retail price in Japan 1985: 119,000 Yen

More: Suzuki Carna series

More: All Suzuki models

Sources: Suzuki Motor Company, Japanese Wikipedia,
Suzuki Service Guide "Carna (A-CA18A)" July 1985,
Suzuki Parts Catalog "Carna CI50DG" July 1985,
Suzuki Parts Catalog "Carna CI50DT" (Tornado color specification) September,
1985 Suzuki Parts Catalog "Carna CI50DM" (pastel color specification) February 1986,
Suzuki Parts Catalog "Carna CI50DR" (Rossignol) April 1986,
Suzuki Parts Catalog "Carna CI50F" (Carna F3) July 1986,
Suzuki Parts Catalog "Carna CI50DG" (described in CI50DG / CI50DGH) May 1987

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