Honda releases the Super Cub, Monkey 125's

[Hersbird]

The more I think about it, the more I want to buy a new super cub and convert it to a CT style trail 125. In a way $3500 doesn't seem too bad as a clean (but far from new) trail 90 or 110 can bring $2000 around here. A clean ct 70 even more. I also wish they haven't gated off all the old roads that were available to riders back when the CTs were so popular. So more money, less places to ride.

[woodsrat]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

The more I think about it, the more I want to buy a new super cub and convert it to a CT style trail 125...

You can bet some entrepreneur is already laying plans to be the next Herb Uhl and turn the new Cub into a "trail bike".

[Daschicken]

Oh hell yes, its still going on! I should be able to make it on sunday, i'll bring my CBR 250R. You going to be there on Sunday?

Originally Posted by woodsrat

I can't believe it but they announced at the BBQ they hosted at the Smoky Mountain Crawl small bore gathering that the Monkey 125 and the Super Cub 125 would both be coming to the U. S.:

https://powersports.honda.com/street/minimoto.aspx

Your thoughts???

I think it was the next not exactly obvious step in the right direction. I wonder how it will affect the old 70s mini trail market. The super cub looks interesting, hope its at least a 4 speed. I'm eager for a dream 50 replacement. Seems lots of retro bikes are getting revived, I can hope for a CBX 1000...

[woodsrat]

Originally Posted by Daschicken

...The super cub looks interesting, hope its at least a 4 speed...

It is indeed with an automatic clutch. The three speed gearbox was the C-70's biggest liability.

[deluxx]

I like that Ruckus, looks perfect for me.

[samwichse]

It'd be nice if the Cub had a 1.5 gallon tank instead of the 1 gallon it has...

Also: what's the difference between the monkey and the grom? They look like two bikes with the same engine in the same segment???

[woodsrat]

It remains to be seen if there's any performance difference between the Monkey and the Grom.

As far as the Ruckus goes it's not even in the same class with any of the 125's. Possibly the most complicated carbureted motor vehicle on the planet it's so horribly slow that it's become a popular candidate to swap in a Chinese 150cc "GY6" drivetrain (a whole industry has been created to do this). I have one under construction as I write this and the Roketa 150 scooter recently given to me I'm riding this summer will serve as the donor for this transplant.

A typical Honda you can't wear a Ruckus out and folks have ridden them everywhere (but slowly). Where there is no power there is no wear...

[niky]

Crazy pricing.

Are all small bikes priced like Honda prices them over there? I see regular scooters, including the Ruckus, are $2.5k.

Here, you can get the Ruckus' successor, the Zoomer X, for just $1.7k. And that thing has a much bigger motor, fuel injection and a start-stop system to save fuel in traffic.

[woodsrat]

Ah, but the U. S. doesn't get the Zoomer, or at least the Honda version. All we get is a 49cc replica sold under the Tao-Tao name. (The Philippines do get all kinds of cool step-throughs similar to the Super Cub.)

It's an apples-to-oranges comparison, though. Even with more displacement the Zoomer is a scooter whereas the Super Cub is a true motorcycle regardless of it's underbone design.

Lots of folks say U. S. Honda pricing is through the roof. I blame at least part of this on all the EPA/DOT testing required to sell bikes in the U. S. along with the liability induced by ambulance-chasing attorneys.


I mentioned the KYMCO 125cc K-Pipe sold in the U. S. and that it's pricing adjusted to inflation is actually dead on to that of the original 49cc Cub. Add to that the simplicity of the K-Pipe (no F. I. or any of the bells-and-whistles of the Super Cub) and it actually out-Cubs the one that's been announced, the only thing lacking being the underbone-style frame. Definitely something to consider here.

(And no, I'm not a dealer or work for KYMCO, just a satisfied K-Pipe owner.)

[samwichse]

https://www.kymcousa.com/showroom/k-pipe-125/

That's the site for the K-pipe. 8hp 125cc... this year's grom has 125cc@9.7hp, so a bit less power, but almost half the price. Not bad if the quality is there. And a slightly bigger tank than the Cub's Tony 1 gallon.