Honda makes cars, lawnmowers, marine engines, even jet aircraft. And yes, it makes motorcycles. Some of them are pretty big, too – like its Gold Wing tourers, Valkyrie six-cylinder cruiser, and CBR1000RR liter superbike. But these… these are smaller bikes altogether. And they look like they could be a whole lot of fun.
Joining the little Grom sport bike for 2019, Honda is bringing in the Monkey and the Super Cub – two of its hottest-selling model lines overseas – to America.
The Monkey takes the form of a classic motorbike, but downsized to tiny dimensions. The Super Cub is more like a Vespa-style scooter, but with bigger wheels. With over 100 million examples made, it’s the best-selling motorcycle in the world, and even inspired a Beach Boys song. Both pack tiny 125-cc single-cylinder engines and even ABS brakes in thoroughly old-school, even retro forms that are bound to please beginners and seasoned riders alike.
“With the 2019 Monkey and Super Cub C125, ‘The Power of Nice’ returns,” said Honda’s Lee Edmunds. “We’re continuing the tradition of offering American customers machines that are simultaneously nostalgic and up-to-date, and that beg to be ridden and personalized. We’re eager to see how our customers use these bikes to extend ‘The Power of Nice’ to the next generation.”
Want to get your hands on one? That’s the best part, because they’re cheap. The Monkey starts at $3,999 (add a couple hundred extra for the ABS version), and the Super Cub goes for just $3,599. The former reaches showrooms in October, with the latter joining in January.