Most motorcycles either fizzle out as icons of their era or get watered down into “practical” motorcycles that only lend their name. But every now and then, one manages to stay true to its legacy while quietly slipping out of the spotlight. For Honda, that motorcycle is the Super Cub C125.
The Super Cub C125 is the direct descendant of the best-selling motorcycle vehicle of all time. Like the original, it remains a practical, simple, and economical city bike, built to be, as Honda puts it, “to provide the joy of playing a useful part in people’s lives.” Yet, despite its legendary status, in the US, the Super Cub is largely forgotten and overlooked, and here’s why.
Highest Selling Motor Vehicle Ever, Now Forgotten In The US
Starting Price: $3,899
The Honda Super Cub debuted in 1958, and by 1992, it had already sold 20 million units. By 2005, the figure had risen to 50 million, and by 2017, it had crossed the 100 million mark. For all we know, it could hit 200 million this year! That’s how iconic the Super Cub is; it has outsold every other motor vehicle ever made. Today, it’s still produced in 16 factories across 15 countries and sold in more than 160 markets.
The Super Cub remains especially popular in parts of Asia, where it serves as an all-purpose machine, or, as Honda calls it, a consumer appliance. It is used for family outings, food delivery, daily commuting, date nights, weekend adventures, and everything in between. It’s an economical, practical motorcycle built for the masses in places where larger motorcycles or cars are either impractical (due to traffic congestion) or simply too costly.
In developed markets like the US and Europe, that practicality works against it. Here, motorcycles are treated as lifestyle toys. In such a market, the Super Cub has become a niche product, picked for its nostalgia. Instead, its mini-moto siblings, the Grom and the Monkey, have taken the center stage. The result is that the Super Cub now exists in the background, overlooked despite its legendary status.
So Easy You Can Ride It With One Hand, As Mr Honda Intended
Seat Height: 30.7 in.
When the first Honda Cub was being designed, the design team had two guidelines: to create easy-to-operate things that fit in the hand and produce four horsepower. Reportedly, Soichiro Honda wanted a bike that delivery boys could ride with one hand while balancing soba noodle boxes on the other shoulder. While the new Super Cub makes twice as many horses, it remains a super easy motorcycle to ride, not just for motorcyclists, but for everyone.
The bike’s backbone, pun intended, is a step-through chassis, making it easy to get on and off without raising the leg too high. Pair that with a low seat height, and most riders can flat foot at a stop. The ergonomics are equally approachable, with an upright, relaxed riding triangle and naturally placed pegs and handlebars. Even the suspension is softly sprung to soak up road bumps.
The result is a motorcycle that is welcoming to everyone, whether you’re a first-time rider, a commuter who wants something straightforward, or a returning biker looking for something fun without much fuss. It’s no wonder that old Super Cub ad campaigns showed the bike being ridden by grandmothers, Santa Claus, delivery boys, and more. It is truly the bike for everyone.
Chassis And Dimensions Specs
|
Frame Type |
Steel mono-backbone frame |
|
Front Suspension |
26 mm fork, 3.9 in. travel |
|
Rear Suspension |
Twin shocks, 3.6 in. travel |
|
Wheelbase |
48.9 in. |
|
Fuel Capacity |
1 gallon |
|
Curb Weight |
238 LBS |
Bulletproof Engine That Makes A Gallon Run For 155+ Miles
Fuel Economy: 156.81 MPG (WMTC Mode)
The Honda Super Cub’s 124cc single-cylinder engine isn’t extraordinary on paper, but that’s precisely the point. It produces just enough power for city riding, with an approachable and smooth power delivery. Where it truly shines is how frugal it is to run. Honda claims 156.8 MPG, which means its tiny one-gallon tank can take you more than 155 miles before needing to refuel.
Fuel economy isn’t the only trick up its sleeve. This is also one of the most reliable and tried-and-tested Honda engines ever made. It combines the bottom end of the current Japanese market C110 with the SOHC two-valve cylinder head and the top end of the MSX Grom. You can run this combination of an engine every day for years with little more than basic maintenance. You’d have to really neglect it to make it a grenade itself — unless you’re just super unlucky.
Then, we come to the transmission, which keeps the original “ride with one hand” philosophy alive. The semi-automatic four-speed transmission features a heel-toe shifter, but lacks a clutch lever. Select the gear, twist the throttle, and the clutch engages automatically. While such performance and riding characteristics are ideal for city riding, they don’t necessarily scream fun in a market dominated by powerful motorcycles.
Honda Super Cub Features
- ABS
- Small LCD with an analog speedometer
- Small storage space for small essentials
- Smart key ignition (keyless ignition)
- Fuel injection
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Single-cylinder, air-cooled |
|
Displacement |
124cc |
|
Induction |
Programmed Fuel-Injection system (PFM-FI) |
|
Transmission |
Four-speed manual with wet multiplate and automatic centrifugal clutch |
|
Max Power |
9.7 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
7.7 LB-FT @ 6,250 RPM |
|
Top Speed |
59 MPH |
Timeless S-Shaped Design Defined By Universality
The Super Cub’s design is nothing short of iconic, instantly recognizable by its signature leg guards and neatly enclosed mechanical bits. Like the original, the modern Super Cub is designed on the principle of universality: something simple, approachable, and easy on the eyes for just about anyone. It isn’t exotic like a Ducati, nor laden in chrome like a Harley-Davidson. Instead, it’s clean and practical.
That understated design is what made the Super Cub loved across the world, but it’s also why it flies under the radar today in the US. For riders spoiled by Italian exotics, aggressive nakeds, or big, burly cruisers, the Cub’s design can feel a bit like reheated soup. It doesn’t scream style, though we’d argue it’s one of the best blank canvases for modifications, if performance is not something you’re after.
Design Highlights
- Frontal bodywork adds protection from the wind and road debris
- Machine-finished cast wheels are easier to clean than traditional spoke design wheels
- Front fork is partially hidden by the fairing and seamlessly combines with the upper bodywork
- Unit steering unifies the handlebars, forks, and leg shields
- Retro-style round headlight uses LED lights
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Honda Super Cub: Here’s What You Get For $4,000
From likable features to over 150 miles per gallon, the Super Cub has plenty to leave a lasting impression on you
Unforgettable Contribution To Motorcycling Worthy Of A Book (Or Two)
We can’t talk about the Super Cub without mentioning its legacy, which is so significant that entire books have been written about it. The Super Cub put Honda on the world map, but more importantly, it revolutionized transportation. For millions of people, especially in regions where villages were isolated, and city trips were rare, the Super Cub made it possible to visit the city and be back home for dinner. It made transport reliable, affordable, and accessible for many.
Six decades ago, motorcycling was a male-dominated activity, but the Super Cub helped make it more mainstream. Ads showed everyday people riding the Cub, including women (and even Santa Claus). Ads for the Super Cub even showed up in women’s magazines, and Honda framed the bike as a consumer appliance, rather than a motorcycle, making it appealing to everyone.
Then came the now-legendary “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” campaign, which not only changed the way people looked at motorcycles but continues to inspire lifestyle marketing even today. To forget the Honda Super Cub is to overlook the legacy of a motorcycle that democratized the two-wheeled experience. But the Super Cub is bigger than just one market. While it may be the underdog here, it is nothing short of a revolution in many countries.
