2022 Honda Super Cub 125 is revealed in Europe: EURO5 engine and revised suspension
Honda launched in Europe the 2022 Super Cub, which return to Honda’s European lineup with a new EURO5 compatible engine, as well as improved comfort due to mew suspension setup.
The Honda Super Cub is, according to the brand, the best-selling motor vehicle in the world – having sold more than 100 million units worldwide since 1958.
A little bit of Super Cub history
The very first Super Cub C100 was introduced in 1958, Honda’s 10th year of existence. Created by Soichiro Honda and his long-time business partner Takeo Fujisawa, its stated aim was straightforward: ‘to provide the joy of playing a useful part in people’s lives’.
Nearly 60 years later, in 2017, the 100 millionth Super Cub was built, cementing its status as the most popular motor vehicle the world has ever seen.
Along the way the Super Cub’s simple attributes of unique styling, reliability, frugality and sheer usability have never gone out of fashion.
And it has quietly achieved exactly what Soichiro and Takeo wanted: to get people mobile and keep them mobile.
Design
The Super Cub 125’s evocative styling – defined instantly by the leg-guards and fully enclosed mechanical parts – remains unchanged, and is a design with one word in mind: ‘universality’.
In other words, it has to be easy for a wide range of people to use. A key part of this ethos is the laid-forward ‘S-shaped silhouette’ which runs from the step-through space to rear mudguard, making access on and off easy.
New for the 2022 year model is the addition of a pillion seat and foot pegs as standard equipment.
Also instantly recognisable as Super Cub is the ‘unit’ steering, which unifies the separate elements – forks, handlebars and leg shields – into one cohesive whole.
On the original machine the handlebars, shaped to be like the wings of a bird, were a tactile and welcoming sales point and the modern day Super Cub C125 with its forged, tapered handlebar wrapped in curvaceous molded resin incorporating the switchgear and instruments, pays loyal homage to the original.
The grips are placed in a natural, easy-to-hold position and complement the straight-backed riding position, which gives excellent all-round visibility. Aiding comfort, the seat uses thick, high-density urethane foam. It is also cut back on both sides up front, helping ground reach.
The 2022 Honda Super Cub comes with a brand-new Mat Axis Grey Metallic colour scheme.
Engine and Gearbox
The 2022 Honda Super Cub comes with new 124cc air-cooled engine that combines the bottom-end (with re-designed crankcases) of the current Japanese-market C110 with the SOHC two-valve cylinder head and top-end of the latest MSX Grom.
It is capable of generating up to 7.2kW (9.66 HP) of maximum power at 7.500 rpm and 10.4Nm (1.1 kgfm) of torque at 6.250 rpm.
Smoothing airflow on the clean side, the new airbox, designed to match the new engine, is smaller and combines with the new connecting tube and new injector position to improve rideability.
The ECU has new programming to maximize performance and efficiency and the Alternating Current Generator (ACG) output increased.
The gearbox remains a 4-speed unit (with neutral at the bottom) and – in true Super Cub tradition – is operated via ‘automatic’ centrifugal clutch, without the need for a clutch lever.
The Super Cub C125 engine returns amazing fuel economy – 1.5L/100km (66.7km/L) (WMTC mode), giving a range of approx. 250km from the 3.7 liter fuel tank.
Chassis
The tubular steel ‘backbone’ frame has a rigidity balance carefully tuned around the headstock and between the engine mounting points, to optimize performance for the 124cc engine; the redesigned engine crankcases have new mounting hangers.
Both handlebars and seat are rubber mounted and the footpegs also feature rubber inserts.
The telescopic forks feature new springs improving control; the twin rear shocks also use new springs and bump-stop material for a smoother ride on bumpy roads.
In addition, the 17-inch die-cast aluminum wheels are equipped with tubeless tyres, sized 70/90-17 at the front and 80/90-17 at the rear.
Technology
All lighting is contemporary LED while the instruments highlight the depth of the overall design with two lenses separated by dual chrome rings. The outer ring houses the sweep of the analogue speedometer’s needle plus warning lights; the inner an understated digital display.
A modern finishing touch is the Honda Smart Key which also controls the immobilizer as an extra theft deterrent, and is equipped with an ‘answer back’ function whereby the indicators will ‘blink’ at the push of a button to make finding the vehicle easy in busy parking areas.
Price
The 2022 Honda Super Cub is sold in the UK for £3,499.00. For more information, visit the Honda UK motorcycle website.
