Honda’s Cross Cubs 110 and 50 Goes On Sale In Japan

Last year, Honda revealed their plan to build a prototype for their Cross Cub 110 at the Tokyo Motor Show. This year, the 110 and a smaller 50cc version will be on sale in Japan.

Honda has never passed the opportunity to remind the world how important the Cub series has been in its history, so this news of putting two Cross Cubs in the market is no surprise.

(Image: Honda)

 

The iconic Cub series will actually be turning 60 years old this 2018, and in October its cumulative production will reach the 100-million mark.Both bikes are full revamps on the previous Japanese-market Cross Cub. Like their predecessors they’re based on the Super Cub scooter – itself revamped for 2018 – but with a rugged, off-road-inspired edge.

(Image: Honda)

 

It’s a strange combination, but the Cross Cub actually manages to build upon the simple, utilitarian appeal of the Super Cub. It ditches its parent bike’s trademark leg fairings, valanced front mudguard and bar-mounted headlight in favour of a stripped-down look.

The new, low-mounted LED headlight is protected with a simple steel cage, the front mudguard is as basic as it could be and, on the 110cc version, the 17-inch wheels are fitted with semi-knobbly rubber.

The 50cc version looks near-identical, but its rugged looks are aimed at the rough-and-tumble of city life rather than having any off-road aspirations. The wheels are smaller 14-inchers, clad in road-only rubber, makes for lower gearing and nimbler low-speed turning.

(Images: Honda)

 

As with the new Super Cub 110 and 50, there’s no sign of these versions being sold in Europe, but Honda is understood to be bringing back the Cub to these shores.

It showed a Euro4-legal Super Cub 125 as a ‘concept’ last year, along with its 125cc Monkey bike concept, and both are believed to have a strong chance of production.

Should the Super Cub 125, with its disc brakes and cleaner, more powerful engine go on sale over here, it wouldn’t be a huge leap for Honda to strip it back to create a Cross Cub variant as well.