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Honda recently showed three new motorcycles, and one of them is heading for the U.S. market. Let’s take a closer look at Big Red’s latest.
2021 Honda CT125 Hunter Cub
Of these three bikes, the biggest news has to be the CT125 Hunter Cub, as it’s called in Japan. This EICMA concept just officially became a production model for the Japanese market. Seems the bike's destined for Europe, too. I reached out to American Honda to ask if the CT would be available in the United States, and although they couldn’t confirm anything, I have to think the CT will come here eventually. Honda's Trail models were adored by riders in this country for decades, and they still hold their value today.
The CT125 Hunter Cub is basically a Super Cub redesigned as a soft off-roader. It appears to share the Super Cub’s engine and semi-automatic transmission. (Note the lack of a clutch lever, just like the scooter.) Notably absent is the old CT's dual-range transmission; the displacement bump probably makes up for that. I especially like the Hunter Cub’s exhaust heat shield, square turn signals, and skid plate.
The CT125 weighs in at 265 pounds, and that’s a little heavier than the Super Cub. The extra weight likely comes from the steel front fender, larger exhaust, and extra 0.6 gallons of fuel capacity. Wire spoke wheels (front ABS is standard) and a rear luggage rack complete the Trail heritage. Japanese market pricing shows that Honda’s positioning the CT125 a little above the standard Super Cub, so I’d expect it to ring in around $3,800. (A relative bargain compared to what 40-year-old CTs are going for these days!)
2021 Honda ADV150
While the North American CT125 release isn’t official yet, Honda has announced the arrival of another ruggedized scooter: the ADV150. It’s an adventure-inspired take on the PCX150.
Common Tread’s readership might balk at Honda calling this an ADV machine, and I’m right with the doubters. There isn’t much adventure in this little bike outside of the styling. Better to approach this bike as an ADV-styled commuter, as Honda does. It’s currently available in Matte Black Metallic, with a fuel capacity of 2.1 gallons and a wet weight of 294 pounds. Fuel economy has not yet been released.
Notable features for the ADV150 include the two-position windscreen, 27-liter main storage area, and a two-liter front compartment with a built-in charging port. The ADV150 also boasts 5.1 inches of suspension travel in the front, and 4.7 inches in the rear, which makes it the class leader according to Honda. Base MSRP is $4,299.
Just for fun, I tried finding some knobbies in the ADV150’s 14/13 wheel combo using the ol’ RevZilla tire finder. No dice. If I can get an ADV150, a set of aggressive tires, and a Spurgeon Dunbar together, I’ll make sure to bring a camera.
CB-F Concept
The last new Honda I’ll present is the CB-F concept, which was supposed to debut at the now-cancelled Tokyo and Osaka motorcycle expos. (Virtual expo here.) Based mechanically on the current CB1000R, this concept borrows heavily from the CB900F roadster of the late 1970s and early 1980s. That iconic blue stripe paint job was made famous by Freddie Spencer in the golden days of superbike racing.
Man, I would be thrilled to see a CB900F-inspired standard from Honda. I’m not sure that there’s enough interest to merit full-scale production, though maybe Honda wants to take on the Kawasaki Z900RS and the Suzuki Katana in the reboot arena. Even better would be the red, white, and blue of the 1983 CB1100F.
While the ADV150 will be hitting showrooms in the near future, the CT125 and the CB-F remain unknowns. Honda, bring us the bikes!
