Thieves Stole 50cc Two-Strokes From This Museum Instead of More Expensive Bikes. But Why?

Thieves broke into the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum and stole two vintage 50cc two-stroke motorcycles. But the interesting thing is what they left behind.

Photo by: Norfolk Motorcycle Museum

By: Robbie Bacon

Apr 30, at 7:20am ET

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As reported on by Visordown, on the night of April 17, thieves broke into the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum in the UK and stole two classic two-stroke bikes. That alone is newsworthy, but what caught my attention was what models the thieves stole and why they neglected the other, more expensive, motorcycles in the museum.

A Facebook post from the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum reads, "BREAK IN ALERT!! We've had a break in at the Norfolk motorcycle museum between 1am and 2 am on Friday 17th to Saturday 18th. It looks to be a targeted theft of a Suzuki AP50 and a Honda SS50. Please let us know if anyone has any information! We are a charity, so losing these might belong to a patron of the museum."

The bikes that the thieves set their sights on were a Suzuki AP50 and a Honda SS50. These certainly aren't bikes I'd ever turn my nose up at because they were iconic models in their time. There was a two-stroke 50cc motorcycle boom in the UK during the 70s. Although Yamaha's FS1E, often referred to as the 'Fizzy', was arguably the most dominant, AP50s and SS50s held their own and likely still hold the hearts of many, and this could be the reason these were stolen.

In that same museum were plenty of other models that could fetch more than the bikes stolen, including a vintage BSA flat tanker from the early 1900s and a Henderson Four, which was only produced between 1912 and 1931. The BSA could fetch anywhere up to £12,500 ($16,895) for a fair example or more than triple that for one in pristine condition. And the Henderson could fetch much, much more, with one selling for $490,000 at the 26th Annual Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction in 2017. But even more moderately maintained examples are listed for $160,000 - 185,000.

The Suzuki AP50 and a Honda SS50 can both fetch between £5,000 - 10,000 ($6,758 - 13,516), which isn't bad but not as much as other bikes in the same museum. The rational might be just how popular these bikes were during their golden days, and the amount of disposable income folks who remember them from the 70s have to spend now. Anyone looking to live out their childhood dream of owning one of these bikes is more likely to have the disposable income available to actually buy one, or want an extra for spare parts.

The above paragraph is just my working theory, along with the fact that the bikes are extremely light and therefore easy to lift and take. If you have another theory, hit me with it, and if you come across any information related to the break-in, please email the museum owners at norfolkmcmuseum@tiscali.co.uk.

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