Honda Super Cub C125: sixty years old and you can't hear it, it will also arrive in Italy [PHOTO]

Honda Motor Europe Ltd. Italy announced the launch of the new Honda Super Cub C125, an ultra-modern and highly refined version of the best-selling motor vehicle in the world, a milestone achieved in 2017 with over 100 million units produced since the birth of the first version in 1958. Maintaining all the characteristics of ease and resistance that have made it famous in the world, as well as the exclusive and timeless design that distinguishes it now benefits from a 125cc engine laid down by the high torque but always with 4-speed semi-automatic gearbox smooth and silent, a new robust frame, long travel suspension, full ‑ LED lights and practice Smart Key. The front disc brake is equipped with ABS. Availability at official Italian Honda dealers is scheduled for the end of September 2018 at a price that will be announced closer to marketing.

Honda Super Cub C125: a bit of history

The first Super Cub C100 was launched in 1958, marking Honda's 10th anniversary. Designed by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa, his longtime business partner, it had a simple goal: “the joy of playing a useful role in people's lives.” Almost 60 years later, in 2017, the 100 millionth Super Cub was built, making it the best-selling motor vehicle in the world. And throughout this time, the Super Cub has retained the simple attributes of style, reliability, efficiency and pure practicality, thus achieving exactly what Soichiro and Takeo wanted: to promote and ensure people's mobility. Even today, the latest model, the Super Cub C110, is available in Japan, where it is popular among professional users, such as Japanese postmen, and in Southeast Asia, where it is popular as a private means of transport.
Aware of the urban demographic landscape as a whole, made up of both young people and adults looking for a retro but at the same time reliable vehicle with an attractive style, Honda presents the new Super Cub C125, the latest evolution of the legendary Super Cub, designed for traffic of metropolises.

HONDA SUPER CUB C125

Honda Super Cub C125: the news

The Super Cub C125 writes a new page in the history of a vehicle with universal appeal, sold in over 160 countries, and characterized by a look so immediately recognizable that it has obtained registration as a three-dimensional trademark for the first time in Japan. While the aesthetics do not differ from that of the classic model, the increase in power and torque thanks to the 125 cc engine helps the Super Cub beat urban traffic; furthermore, the automatic centrifugal clutch has been reinforced to adapt it to the greater power and ensure ultra-smooth and silent gear changes. The steel frame has also been optimized with a rigidity balance in line with the appreciated usability of the Super Cub. The greater suspension travel, the 17-inch aluminum wheels and the front disc brake (with 1-channel ABS) guarantee agile and safe driving thanks to the high braking force. The full-LED lights add a modern touch, while the Smart-Key offers maximum convenience in everyday use. The pearly colors highlight the evocative design of the Super Cub C125, available in Italy in the following shades: Pearl Niltava Blue and Pearl Nebula Red.

Honda Super Cub C125: the engine

The Super Cub C125 engine is simple, robust, reliable, efficient and economical. The 125 cc, two-valve, air-cooled electronic injection single-cam unit has been cosmetically retouched, with a matte metal finish with chrome accents to give it a premium look. The internal modifications make the driving experience fun and very pleasant. Mechanical noise has been minimized through the use of helical primary gears and superior precision journal bearings. The gearbox drum is now equipped with bearings which ensure smoother gear changes for the automatic centrifugal clutch; rubber is used on the shift arm (to reduce noise) while a rubber shock absorber reduces gear changes. Maximum power is 9,7 HP at 7.500 rpm, with torque of 10,4 Nm at 5.000 rpm. The power and torque delivery curves are linear to make the engine always easily exploitable, with a healthy strengthening from medium to high rpm. The gearbox is 4-speed and as per tradition on the Super Cub the clutch is automatic centrifugal, therefore without a clutch lever on the handlebars. The Super CubC125 engine consumes 66,7 km/l in the average WMTC cycle, for a range of approximately 245 km thanks to the 3,7 liter capacity tank.

Honda Super Cub C125: crate in every detail

The Super Cub C125 was designed to be easy to use for a wide variety of people. A fundamental part of this mission is carried out by the elongated "S" profile, which goes from the footboard to the rear mudguard, to make getting on and off the Super Cub very simple. The look is clean, with an elegant balance between the bodywork parts. A key element in the design of the Super Cub, since the first model, is the harmonious front, which combines separate elements such as fork, handlebar and leg shield. The handlebars of the original model, shaped like the wings of a bird, met with considerable success among customers; the new Super Cub C125, with forged and tapered handlebars, wrapped in a curvilinear molded resin cover that incorporates the electrical blocks and instrumentation, recalls this unmistakable motif. The easy-to-grip knobs offer a natural grip and integrate perfectly with the upright riding position, which offers perfect visibility on the road and around the scooter. The saddle is comfortable, made with high-density polyurethane foam, thicker than that of the C110 sold in Japan, for greater comfort; furthermore, it is shaped laterally so that the rider can rest his feet on the ground more easily. The full-LED lights are modern and bright while the instrumentation highlights the depth of the design with two lenses separated by two chrome rings. The new Super Cub C125 is equipped with the very convenient Smart-Key to simply keep in your pocket to have your hands free and always be ready to go. It is also connected to an immobilizer and is equipped with an "answer-back" function for flashing the indicators, to make it easier to locate the scooter in crowded car parks.