The very first Super Cub C100 was introduced back in 1958, when Honda was only 10 years old. The Cub was designed by Soichiro Honda and his long-time business partner Takeo Fujisawa with the very straightforward goal: ‘to provide the joy of playing a useful part in people’s lives.’
Fast-forward to 2017 – nearly 60 years later when the 100 millionth Super Cub rolled off the production line.
Up until now the latest model – the Super Cub C110 – has been available in Japan, where it’s proved popular with business users including the Japanese Post Office and in South East Asia, where it’s found a place in people’s homes as private transport. Aware of a demographic of urban riders Honda will now offer the Super Cub C125 to the Australian market.
That’s 100 million Super Cubs produced since 1958. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s the single most popular form of personal transport worldwide (since the horse). To mark the occasion Honda has revamped the Super Cub in both its 50cc and 110cc forms for 2018. At Tokyo it has also added a new version of the funky Cross Cub 110 to the line-up — all-new Postie, anyone? — and revealed a concept bike proposing a new Super Cub C125.
The Super Cub C125 is available in Pearl Niltava Blue.
ENGINE
Air-cooled two-valve fuel-injected SOHC 125cc.
Engine noise is kept to a minimum by the use of helical primary gears and higher precision crank journal bearings. Bearings have been added to the shift drum for a slicker gear change; rubber is employed on the shift arm (also to reduce noise) and optimised clutch damper rubber reduces shift shock.
Bore and stroke are set at 52.4 x 57.9mm, with compression ratio of 9.3:1. The gearbox is a 4 speed unit and – in classic Super Cub tradition – gear changes are operated via an automatic centrifugal clutch, without the need for a clutch lever.
CHASSIS/SUSPENSION
Rake and trail are set at 26.5°/71mm with wheelbase of 1245mm. Wet weight is 109kg. Front telescopic forks feature 100mm travel, the twin rear shocks 84mm to soak up bumps (10/19mm more than the C110) 17-inch cast aluminium wheels. Tubeless tyres are fitted, sized 70/90-17 front and 80/90-17 rear. A 220mm front disc brake and single-piston caliper is matched by a 130mm rear drum.