Motorcycles

Super Cub Concept leads Honda’s second Tokyo Motor Show charge

Super Cub Concept leads Honda’s second Tokyo Motor Show charge
The Honda Super Cub Concept mimics even the original color scheme of the 1958 model
The Honda Super Cub Concept mimics even the original color scheme of the 1958 model
View 18 Images
The Honda Super Cub Concept is a modern take on the venerable 1958 original
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The Honda Super Cub Concept is a modern take on the venerable 1958 original
The Honda Super Cub Concept mimics even the original color scheme of the 1958 model
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The Honda Super Cub Concept mimics even the original color scheme of the 1958 model
The round headlight of the Honda Super Cub Concept under the plastic-covered handlebars leaves no doubt as to the bike's identity
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The round headlight of the Honda Super Cub Concept under the plastic-covered handlebars leaves no doubt as to the bike's identity
A digital instrument reminds us that the Honda Super Cub Concept is a modern model
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A digital instrument reminds us that the Honda Super Cub Concept is a modern model
This is the original Super Cub as it was first introduced in 1958 by Honda
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This is the original Super Cub as it was first introduced in 1958 by Honda
The Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One looks the part with the off-road tires and the number plates
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The Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One looks the part with the off-road tires and the number plates
The classic round headlight of the Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One reminds us of the Monkey
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The classic round headlight of the Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One reminds us of the Monkey
A stylish and compact digital instrument is used in the Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One
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A stylish and compact digital instrument is used in the Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One
The Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-Tow opts for cleaner lines and earthier colors
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The Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-Tow opts for cleaner lines and earthier colors
A very modern LED headlight is used on the Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-Two
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A very modern LED headlight is used on the Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-Two
Honda's Grom50 Scrambler Concept-Two prefers less clutter on the handlebars
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Honda's Grom50 Scrambler Concept-Two prefers less clutter on the handlebars
The Honda CB1100 Custom Concept is probably a display case for special accessories
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The Honda CB1100 Custom Concept is probably a display case for special accessories
The Honda CB1100 Custom Concept in all-black color with the checkered flag decals and the special seat makes for a really beautiful race replica
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The Honda CB1100 Custom Concept in all-black color with the checkered flag decals and the special seat makes for a really beautiful race replica
The Honda CB1100 Concept appears to be a standard production model adorned with chrome cases for the headlight and the instruments
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The Honda CB1100 Concept appears to be a standard production model adorned with chrome cases for the headlight and the instruments
The Honda CB1300 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept seems to be nothing more than a color scheme with a special exhaust
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The Honda CB1300 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept seems to be nothing more than a color scheme with a special exhaust
This Mugen exhaust should help the Honda CB1300 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept growl convincingly
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This Mugen exhaust should help the Honda CB1300 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept growl convincingly
The Japan-only Honda CB400 is equally stunning in its Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept conversion
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The Japan-only Honda CB400 is equally stunning in its Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept conversion
The Honda CB400 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept is equipped with a Moriwaki exhaust can
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The Honda CB400 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept is equipped with a Moriwaki exhaust can
View gallery - 18 images

On the back of three concept bikes revealed in late September, Honda has announced a second wave of prototypes to complement its line-up for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. The headliner of this new prototype batch is without a doubt the Super Cub Concept, a modern take on the iconic 1958 moped that made Honda the giant it is today.

The biennial Tokyo exhibition traditionally provides the stage for Japanese automotive manufacturers to provide a peak at their future plans. Honda has made a strong effort to steal the spotlight by revealing no less than 10 prototype and custom concept models almost a month before the 44th Tokyo Motor Show opens its gates.

We’ve already been teased with the Neowing titling tricycle, the Light Weight Super Sport Concept and the re-emergence of the EV-Cub. Here's a look at the latest raft of interesting concepts to be previewed (details are scarce at this point, but the photo material is quite explicit):

Super Cub Concept

The Honda Super Cub Concept is a modern take on the venerable 1958 original
The Honda Super Cub Concept is a modern take on the venerable 1958 original

The prototype Honda Super Cub Concept is powered by a petrol engine of as yet undefined type and borrows heavily on the original 1958 Super Cub. The original became a worldwide commercial success, rose to cult status in southeastern Asian countries, was copied by practically every Asian motorcycle manufacturer and even powers an Underbone Grand Prix series. Honda’s Super Cub and its offspring have account for over 87 million bike sales worldwide until 2014, possibly making it the most popular two-wheeler ever.

The modern design faithfully replicates the original model down to the color scheme ... even to the choice of small drum brakes. Thankfully the leading link front setup has been replaced by a nice inverted fork to bringing functionality up to date somewhat, as does the modern digital instrument panel.

There is no further info to convey so far, apart from our guess that this must be a 50 cc engine – judging from the 60 km/h that marks the speedometer’s upper limit.

We’d expect Honda to have shown this a few years back, namely in 2008 when the Super Cub was celebrating its 50 year anniversary. Instead it introduced the EV-Cub, apparently with an identical design to this new prototype. Honda was then implying that we may see the electric Cub in production by 2010, something that didn’t happen. Still, it will be interesting to hear if there are any production plans for this concept. There’s no doubt it would prove to be very popular all over the world, especially if it were powered by a bigger engine. Honda currently has 110 and 125 cc Cub variants in production such as the Wave and the Supra-X.

Grom50 Scrambler Concepts

The Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One looks the part with the off-road tires and the number plates
The Honda Grom50 Scrambler Concept-One looks the part with the off-road tires and the number plates

The Grom (or MSX as it is known in Europe) is a medium sized motorcycle powered by a 125 cc single-cylinder engine derived from Honda’s Cub models. As the name suggests, Honda is hinting at a smaller 50 cc variant in the pipeline with the Grom50. The name is used for two concepts that are heading to Tokyo. The first is the Concept-One, which displays some styling cues that resembles a café racer more than a scrambler. Compared to the production model this concept sports a completely different petrol tank and the exhaust is shorter, following a higher route by the engine’s right side, as one would typically expect to see in a scrambler. Number plates, off-road tires, bar-end mirrors and a 1960’s café racer-type seat complete the design.

The second version of the little Grom, the Concept-Two, is more faithful to a scrambler design, featuring the same tank and plastics in an earthier green color and the engine in black finish. The handle bars are higher and the swing arm is thicker, while the rest of the motorcycle leans towards a clean design, as one would expect from an off-road oriented bike.

CB1100 Custom Concept

The Honda CB1100 Custom Concept is probably a display case for special accessories
The Honda CB1100 Custom Concept is probably a display case for special accessories

The modern classic CB1100 is one of those motorcycles that simply let its timeless, frugal design speak for itself. It's success is not based on technology or performance figures, yet it does hold a certain charm that Honda knows how to accentuate with just a few special parts.

A pair of Moriwaki Megaphone black exhausts, two Nitron shocks, a special seat and some decals is all it takes to transform a standard black CB1100 to a vintage race replica that stands out from the crowd.

This custom concept is probably just a display case for some special accessories from Honda’s catalogue. Indeed some of them are already on offer, like the Moriwaki exhausts.

The very same logic probably applies to the yellow CB1100 Concept, which appears to be a perfectly standard production model adorned with chrome cases for the headlight and the instruments, which are already available in the CB accessories catalog. On the other hand, the yellow tank is a new color option.

CB1300 / 400 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concepts

The Honda CB1300 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept seems to be nothing more than a color scheme with a special exhaust
The Honda CB1300 Super Bol D’ Or Custom Concept seems to be nothing more than a color scheme with a special exhaust

The Bol D’ Or (Golden Cup) is the name that Honda borrowed from the famous French Endurance race for the marketing of the 1979 CB900F and the 1983 CB1100F in Europe.

Although we can hardly consider the CB1300 to be a modern successor of the much sportier Bol D’ Or models, in 2013 Honda named the faired version of this four-cylinder behemoth as Super Bol D’ Or, and is now using this model to show off a new conceptual color scheme.

Practically the whole idea relies on an all-black CB, endowed with several red details. The same scheme is also applied to the CB400 Super Four, a smaller four-cylinder version that is available only in Japan.

Apart from the red touches, both bikes benefit from after-market exhausts, a Mugen for the CB1300 and a Moriwaki for the CB400.

Gizmag will be on the floor of the Tokyo motor show later this month to bring you further details.

Source: Honda

View gallery - 18 images
10 comments
10 comments
gizmowiz
Curiously missing are any electric bikes from Honda. It won't kill the goose that laid the golden egg which is it's lucrative parts business for gasoline engines. It's as simple as that. Will never see good electric bikes from ANY Japanese bike manufacturer for that simple reason alone. But that's good because Victory and HD make good bikes and eventually they will have no choice but to compete against upcoming new bike businesses. The Japanese can go to heck as far as I'm concerned. Their attempt to protect a monopoly is disgusting.
Bob Stuart
The "iconic 1958 moped" was a motorcycle, lacking pedals. I thought it had plenty of pep for city use, but suffered from the usual lack of streamlining on the freeways.
bhtooefr
gizmowiz: From the article: http://www.gizmag.com/honda-neowing-leaning-three-wheeled-concept-motorcycle/39654/pictures#5
So, they're showing an old EV concept too, alongside the Super Cub concept - it's not <i>nothing</i>.
Bob
I would like very much for the Super Cub style bike to come back on the market in the U.S. I hate the current 50cc scooters rough ride and instability with their tiny wheels.
Cyndy
We need less ICE's and more electric or at least E100 vehicles. You are part of the problem or part of the solution. I give this a big fat F.
pmshah
@Bob Stuart
Those 1958 Super Cub Concept were not meant for Freeway rides. They were just to get you around small town like a university campus towns at a very affordable price.
glorybe2
I wish the 400CC Honda was sold in the US. I enjoyed the heck out of my CB 400F in the eighties. I would also like a 500cc, one cylinder version of the Big Rukus with street tires.
Milford
That earlier version of the Super Cub was, at least by the mid-1960s, named Passport, a name that Honda also used when it bought the Rodeo from Isuzu and put their label on it before it manufactured its own equivalent vehicle. And of course with a 50 cc engine it was never meant to be a freeway vehicle. A bit later, they also made the Trail 90 using the same configuration. One of the plastic model kit makers even made the Passport available in miniature. I still have the model, but sold the real thing after a few years.
ProDigit
The super cub concept would make sense when it had a front disk brake, a 125cc motor, a luggage storage space, a front windshield large enough to push away the rain, and a rider back support.
I miss a 320cc Honda Touring bike like the CB300F, but then with a ~50cc higher displacement.
glorybe2
I used the 90CC version of the Cub on the Interstate every day for a year or so. It got me where I needed to go. That thing was nearly indestructible. I hauled my wife around on it a lot as well. I will say that highway speeds in heavy traffic were sort of frightful.