Suzuki Super Free 50 / Free 50
1969-1972

I have tried to tell the model history of the Suzuki F 50 / Super Free 50 / Free 50on this page as I know it. This page is still under construction. I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads, magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible. If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these instructions.

1969 Suzuki Super Free 50, standard model

The Suzuki Super Free 50 was released in January 1969. It was an underbone business model, with a 2-stroke engine aparently equipped with a reed valve – world's first crankcase reed valve in a commercially available motorcycle. The reed valve is mainly adopted to increase power at low revs, it helps to enhance launch and hill climbing performance, and also fuel economy. The model was also equipped with Suzuki’s new Cylinder Crank Injection (CCI) system, which reduces oil consumption and enchances durability. The nominal output of the engine was 4.5 hp (3.3 kW). The styling design was at the time quite modern with the rear fender separated from the frame and a two-tone color scheme. The nicely curved U-shaped frame was designed to prioritize rideability. The styling was similar to the Honda Super Cub. The main differences were the horse shoe shaped lights that were characteristic of Suzuki at the time and the turn signals attached to the leg shields. While the Honda Super Cub had a press-molded rear section and connected it to the front section with a simple pipe, the Super Free F50 used a press-molded frame from the rear to the center, and welded the head section to it. As a result, the frame rigidity and stability at high speeds was significantly higher than that of the Super Cub. The overall shape of the Super Free 50 frame looks like a combination of an underbone and a T-bone, and the rear part has a separate fender. Although the front section of the later FR50 model continued with almost the same specifications, the rear section of the frame was significantly different, and from the FR50 onwards, the rear fender was press-molded as an integral part of the frame. In addition, the center part of the leg shield was designed to be hollowed out to expose the frame. On the right side of the rear section of the frame is an steel fuel tank that also serves as a side cover, and on the left side is a side cover with the same style. It houses the oil tank and the battery. The carburetor, equivalent to the VM14, was housed in the right side engine case, giving it excellent noise and dust resistance but it was also easy to maintain. The carburetor placement was later inherited not only in the Birdy series, but also in the K series. The model name Super Free F50 was changed to Free 50 for the 1971 season, the model code F50 and all the specifications remaining the same. The model was discontinued in 1972 and was replaced by the similar, but somewhat modernized FR50.

The Suzuki Super Free 50 was available in two versions, with or without electric starter. The Deluxe model was also equipped with a chrome-plated rear carrier – and a chrome-plated carrier at the front. The recommended retail price in Japan was 58,000 yen for the standard Super Free 50, the price for the Deluxe model was 68,000 yen.

1969 Suzuki Super Free 50, standard model

1969 Suzuki Super Free 50 Overall Length: 1 815 mm (71.5 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 1 030 mm (40.5 in) Seat Height: 930 mm (36.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 180 mm (46.5 in) Ground Clearance: 135 mm (5.3 in) Dry Weight: 66.7 kg (147 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. Posi-force, reed valve. 4.5 hp (3.3 kW) @ 7 000 rpm, 5.1 Nm (0.52 kg-m) @ 5 000 rpm (Japan). Kick starter. Here's even larger picture.

1969 Suzuki Super Free 50 Deluxe Overall Length: 1 815 mm (71.5 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 1 030 mm (40.5 in) Seat Height: 930 mm (36.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 180 mm (46.5 in) Ground Clearance: 135 mm (5.3 in) Dry Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. Posi-force, reed valve. 4.5 hp (3.3 kW) @ 7 000 rpm, 5.1 Nm (0.52 kg-m) @ 5 000 rpm (Japan). Kick & electric starter. Here's even larger picture.

1969–1972 Suzuki (Super) Free 50 specifications (Japan) Model code: F50 Overall Length: 1 815 mm (71.5 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 1 030 mm (40.5 in) Seat Height: 930 mm (36.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 180 mm (46.5 in) Ground Clearance: 135 mm (5.3 in) Dry Weight: 66.7 kg (147 lbs) Deluxe: 70 kg (154 lbs) Maximum Speed: 80 km/h Engine code: F50 Engine type: Air-cooled 1-cylinder 2-stroke, rotary disc valve Cylinder displacement: 49 cc Bore x Stroke: 41 x 37.8 mm (1.614 x 1.488 in) Compression ratio: 6.9 :1 Peak power: 4.5 hp (3.3 kW) @ 7 000 rpm Maximum torque 15.1 Nm (0.52 kg-m) @ 5 000 rpmm Fuel economy: 90 km/l at 30 km/h Carburetor: VM14SC Starter method: Kick (Deluxe model = Kick and electric starter) Ignition method: Magnet ignition (Deluxe: Battery) Lubrication method: CCI (separate Lubrication) Lubricating oil amount: 1.2 L (1970 model and onwards 0.8 L) Fuel tank capacity: 3.5 liter Clutch type: Wet multi-plate, coil spring Transmission type: 3-speed rotary type, content mesh Gear ratios: 4.181 / 2.200 / 1.450 Primary reduction ratio: 3.842 (1971-1972: 3.380) Secondary reduction ratio: 2.461 (1971-1972: 2.769) Secondary drive type: Chain Frame type: Pressed steel plate, underbone Front brake type: Drum brake Rear brake type: Drum brake Front tire size: 2.25-17-4PR Rear tire size: 2.25-17-4PR Caster: 27°00' Trail: 69 mm (2.72 in) Steering angle: 43° Minimum turning radius: 1.8 m (5.91 feet) Recommended Super Free 50 / Free 50 price in Japan: 1969–1970: 58,000 Yen (Deluxe = 68,000 yen) 1970–1971: 63,000 yen (Deluxe = 70,000 yen) 1972: 66,000 yen (Deluxe = 73,000 yen)

The 1970 Suzuki Super Free 50 remained unchaged, except for the rear carrier, that was now chrome-plated in both standard and Deluxe models. The bike was still available in two versions, with or without electric starter and chrome-plated carrier at the front. The later models, the models that were called Free 50 looked the same and shared the same specifications, except for the final drive ratios (changed sprocket sizes) and the engin's maximum torque, that Suzuki declared to be slighty lower on the 1971–1972 models. The recommended retail price in Japan was 58,000 yen for the standard Super Free 50, the price for the Deluxe model was 68,000 yen.

1970 Suzuki Super Free 50 with chrome-plated rear carrier

1970 Suzuki Super Free 50 Overall Length: 1 815 mm (71.5 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 1 030 mm (40.5 in) Seat Height: 930 mm (36.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 180 mm (46.5 in) Ground Clearance: 135 mm (5.3 in) Dry Weight: 66.7 kg (147 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. Posi-force, reed valve. 4.5 hp (3.3 kW) @ 7 000 rpm, 5.1 Nm (0.52 kg-m) @ 5 000 rpm (Japan). Kick starter. Click on the image for larger format.

1970 Suzuki Super Free 50 Deluxe Overall Length: 1 815 mm (71.5 in) Overall Width: 650 mm (25.6 in) Overall Height: 1 030 mm (40.5 in) Seat Height: 930 mm (36.5 in) Wheelbase: 1 180 mm (46.5 in) Ground Clearance: 135 mm (5.3 in) Dry Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs) Engine: Air-cooled 49 cc 2-stroke. Posi-force, reed valve. 4.5 hp (3.3 kW) @ 7 000 rpm, 5.1 Nm (0.52 kg-m) @ 5 000 rpm (Japan). Kick & electric starter. Click on the image for larger format.

1971 Suzuki year code: R

Suzuki F50-III colors: Permanent Red (061), Tynny Blue (192), Sable Green (193) F 50 1 Cutlass / Super Free F50 190 1970 F50-100001 ~F50-146290 N/A F 50 2 R Cutlass / Super Free F50 190 1971 F50-146291 ~F50-207780 F50-200786 F 50 3 J Cutlass / Super Free F50 190 47-2 1972 F50-207781 ~F50-274838 F 50 4 K Cutlass / Super Free F50 190 1973 51-10 F50-274839 ~F50-358567 F 50 D 3 J F50 190 47-2 1972 F50-207781 ~F50-274838 F 50 D 4 K F50 190 1973 51-10 F50-274839 ~F50-358567 F 50 DG 1 F50 190 1970 F50-100001 ~F50-146290 F 50 DG 2 R F50 190 1971 F50-146291 ~F50-207780 F 50 G 1 F50 190 1970 F50-100001 ~F50-146290 F 50 G 2 R F50 190 1971 F50-146291 ~F50-207780 F 50 G 3 J F50 190 47-02 1972 F50-207781 ~F50-274838 F 50 G 4 K F50 190 1973 51-10 F50-274839 ~F50-358567

1972 Suzuki year code: J

This page is still under construction. More models and pictures are to come. Have patience.

More: Suzuki F & FR models

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