Postie Bike is Back! Honda confirms CT125 for Australia

What started as a concept is now a reality. And it’s a reality that will be coming to Australia.

At last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Honda presented the ‘CT125 Concept’; a machine clearly reminiscent of the local hero CT110, but connected to a model even further back in Honda’s past. That model, of course, was the Cub.

Trail Origins, Aussie Legends

Launched in 1958, the Cub (later called Super Cub) was purely a roadgoing motorcycle, but it didn’t take Honda long to respond to demands for a hardier version, as well as one that tapped into the 1960s trend for street scramblers. The result was the CA100T ‘Trail 50’, released in 1961. Also known as the Trail Cub and Hunter Cub, the CA100T was billed as an off-road version of the Cub and defined against that model by its high-mount exhaust, leg shield delete, front mudguard delete, solo saddle and other changes.

In the years that followed, the Trail 50 evolved into the Trail 55, then the Trail 90 (with CT200, then CT90 designation from 1966) before arriving in 1980 at the Trail 110 – aka CT110 – that we’re all familiar with. In production until 2013, the CT110 enjoyed a long life, even in Honda terms. 

The CT110’s 105cc single-cylinder engine was reliable and part of an overall specification regarded as bulletproof by aficionados. Australia Post proved that durability with decades of postal delivery service, making the CT110 a local legend in the process. That legendary status has been heightened by adventurers riding ‘Postie Bikes’ all over Australia and even around the world.

In 2009, Honda’s decision to release the CT110 for public sale in Australia broadened its appeal and allowed aficionados, who could previously only buy well-used examples auctioned off by Australia Post, to get themselves a brand-new model.  

That release also tied into the growing custom motorcycle scene, and by the time the CT110 was being replaced by the similar NBC110 in Australia Post’s delivery fleet, there were plenty of custom Postie Bikes doing the rounds.

New Trails

Fast forward to 2018 and Honda had hit a popular vein of nostalgia with their modernized Super Cub and Monkey bikes, based on the engine and components of the Grom 125. The success of those models meant it wasn’t a stretch to expect a CA100T/CT110 revival to follow, but that’s only been made official recently.

At the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda presented the ‘CT125 Concept,’ which was confirmed for production this past March. The COVID-19 pandemic has made market release dates uncertain, but Honda Australia announced in July that the CT125 should be in Australia before the end of 2020.

The all-new CT125 will use the same 125cc fuel-injected SOHC single-cylinder engine from the Grom that also powers the Super Cub C125 and new Monkey. While capacity is the same, outputs will alter a little. Official figures haven’t been released by Honda Australia, but maximum power of 6.5kW at 7000rpm and maximum torque of 11Nm at 4500rpm has been quoted elsewhere. That’s less power but more torque than the Super Cub C125.

The CT125 has its own intake and exhaust system compared to the Super Cub C125, as well as that CT110-style high-mount silencer. There’s also a kick starter (that the Super Cub C125 doesn’t offer), while the centrifugal clutch and 4-speed semi-automatic transmission is the same as the C125.

Other changes include a larger fuel tank (5.3lt vs 3.7lt) and a disc rear brake that the Super Cub C125 doesn’t get. The CT125 also offers greatly improved ground clearance (165mm vs 125mm), but kerb weight is 8kg heavier at 120kg.

The overall configuration of the CT125 is very similar to the CT110 and, at first glance, some elements appear identical to the old model. That was a deliberate move, Honda says: “we took the best bits of the old CT series and brought them to life for what motorcyclists need today”.

Those “today” elements include repositioned indicators that are now LED, as are the head and tail lights. Other modern touches include standard ABS and a digital dash display.

Underpinning that classic style and modern tech is a steel frame that’s based on the Super Cub C125 but modified to adapt to a broad variety of riders and a broader variety of riding situation. The rear subframe has been extended to allow for the traditional CT110-style carry rack (measuring 409mm x 477mm), which equates to a slightly longer wheelbase than the Super Cub C125, with a higher seat and upswept handlebars, too.

To suit light off-road work, the front end uses full tele fork suspension, with travel increased to 110mm compared to the Super Cub C125’s 90mm.

Aus Arrival

Full specs and features of the CT125 are still to be released, but we do know the all-new model will be offered in a choice of Matte Fresco Brown and Glowing Red colours.

Pillion pegs and seat will be optional, as will a 190W charging socket.

No solid date has been set for the CT125’s arrival yet, but the price has. Honda Australia has confirmed list pricing of $6,999, which will likely translate to around $7,500 ride away. That compares to the $6,199 list price for the MY20 Super Cub C125 (approx. $6,700 ride away).