MY20 Honda Super Cub arrives
Honda’s 2020 Super Cub C125 has arrived in Australia. The retro-look, small-capacity commuter was given a new burst of life when it reached the 100 million-unit milestone in 2017. To mark that unprecedented occasion, Honda released a modernised Super Cub - in colours inspired by the original Super Cub C100 from 1958 – that reached the Australian market at the start of last year.
With the appearance of a scooter, but lacking that type’s step-through characteristics, and the nimbleness of a moped, but with much larger capacity than 50cc, the Super Cub defies solid categorization. It’s a motorcycle for some, a scooter for others, but undeniably a legend in the world of motorcycling.
That legendary status meant the handful of special C125s released here last year were snapped up quickly, convincing Honda Australia to bring the Super Cub back in 2020, but this time in greater numbers and with a new colour scheme.
Red for the Road
The MY20 Super Cub C125 arrives in Pearl Nebula Red, which is new and the only colour available. This is complemented with stone/cream leg shields and side covers in a contrast to last year’s version that featured Pearl Niltava Blue paint with Sky Blue leg shields and side covers.
Where last year’s Super Cub C125 featured a distinctive red saddle, the 2020 version features a subtler two-tone grey saddle.
Most of the other styling features carry over unchanged, including the chromed mirrors and retro-look badges, body-coloured tops to the rear shocks, chrome 17-inch alloy wheels, circular headlight and a narrow vertical tail light.
Beyond the colour, the only noticeable style change is the deletion of the chrome tip on the front mudguard. While the images presented show no rear carry rack, Honda Australia say this will be a part of Australian-delivered models, along with a side stand. There will also be pillion footpegs on the units for the Australian market, even though there’s nowhere for a pillion to sit. A two-seat version is offered in Europe, so the standard rear footpegs suggests this may come as an option for local models in the future.
125 Power
Powering the Super Cub is an air-cooled two-valve fuel-injected SOHC 125cc single, the same engine that’s in Honda’s current Grom and Monkey. As such, the Super Cub C125 is LAMS legal.
Official performance figures for the Super Cub C125 are unavailable, but based on the Grom/Monkey numbers and overseas figures, expect maximums of around 7.5kW and 10.4Nm. Top speed is just over 100km/h, with a range of almost 170km from the 3.7-litre fuel tank.
Like the engine, the Super Cub’s 4-speed gearbox and chain final drive is also what you’d find on the Grom or Monkey, although the Super Cub features an automatic centrifugal clutch (no clutch lever, but there’s still a gear pedal), with a full chain guard in a nod to the original Super Cub.
A light 112kg kerb weight makes for easy handling, while the seat height is 780mm.
Modern Features
While the styling is unashamedly retro, there’s enough modern tech on the new Super Cub 125 to keep millennial riders happy.
There’s ABS on the 220mm front disc brake, all lighting is LED, instrumentation is a combination of analogue (speedo) and digital (gear position indicator, odometer, fuel gauge, trip meter, clock, etc.).Chrome detailing and badging is in the same style as last year’s model.eyless starting, via the Honda Smart Key, is another modern touch, with this compact fob also controlling the engine immobiliser as an additional theft deterrent.
While it has limited application in Australian conditions, the Smart Key also features an ‘answer back’ function that blinks the indicators and makes an audible noise at the press of a button to help you identify your bike in crowded parking areas.
Aus in Store
The first units of the 2020 Super Cub C125 started rolling into Honda dealerships in June. Unlike last year’s version, the new Super Cub won’t be limited in availability, so expect to see a unit or two in store next time you visit your Honda dealership.
List pricing of $6,199 (around $6,700 ride away) is an increase on the $6,099 ride away price of last year’s version.
See your Honda dealer for more details.
