Why shouldn't I get a super cub? (Honda C125)

[stinkwheel]

Looking to get the Mrs something easy to ride which requires minimal maintainance and is economical to run for a 12 mile each way commute. Her 2l diesel car is starting to get pricey to run and we don't have room for another car.

Commute is on a mix of rural roads, town running and a 5 mile A-road section which rarely gets over 55 during commuting time. She sometimes cycles it but it's a bit of a slog after a days work and you need to avoid the A-road section because it's a bit of a fucking bun fight at the best of times.

I'm actually thinking super cub. 180mpg. Well made, lots of inherant protection from long term road damage requiring a minimum of regular maintainance (enclosed chain, shrouded forks, high-end honda build quality).

Mrs stinkwheel has a full licence, IAM membership and a CBR600F but would find taking the CBR to work every day a bit of a rigmarole (and it would be a lot of wear and tear on the bike).

Seems to me it provides the weather protection and ease of use of a twist and go but with bigger wheels, proper suspension and normal motorcycle controls. Fit handlebar muffs, put on bit one-piece suit over work clothes, off you go. Maybe even one of those step-through poncho things for colder/wetter weather.

Main downside is price, they aren't cheap. Can pick up a low mileage used one for around £3k, closer to £3,600 new. I suspect they will hold their value quite well.

Thing is, I kind of want one, (or a Grom) and may be letting this colour my recommendation. So why would this be the wrong bike and what should I be getting instead?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

I really like those Supercubs but my reservation would be powah
For flitting about a busy city I reckon it would be a hoot but on
A roads?
I may be wrong but they seem to make all 125s restricted for
the perpetual CBT crowd and yoofs
After a while the 7.5KW max power of the motor may take the shine off especially when you've been riding much bigger bikes.

It may not who knows?
Its a tricky one because we only get to know any bike,
what we like what we dont, after spending time riding it
A quick ride around the block isnt really enough IMO.
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bikers smell of wee

[ThunderGuts]

They're great. If I was in a position where I needed to commute on a bike and very fast roads were not involved, I'd get one. As you said, enclosed chain means it stays clean and requires less lubing. Very efficient (not sure if you'll get 180mpg out of it in the real world if riding flat out), pretty comfy, some weather protection off those legshields, simple. Not cheap as you say, but they do probably hold value better than most 125s. LED headlight is probably better than the average big bike halogen.

Speed? I ride my C90 on fast roads occasionally and it'll climb up to 55mph; it's not the bike's preferred speed, but it'll do it. If there are alternative roads for when the weather is a bit ropey, I wouldn't worry too much about that. The C125 should be able to crack 65mph I imagine on a good day.

Things to think about (one of which I remember you telling me about when I was looking at C90s!); they are easy to steal as they're so light, not sure if the electrics will cope with heated grips (if she'll use it year round) and their range is pretty limited (I get around this by having a 3L jerry can in the topbox, doubling the range pretty much to 200 miles).

I'd go for it. They're fun, they're frugal and they're practical. If she finds in 6 months she doesn't like it, she'll probably still get most of the money back on it if she sells it. It should be a red one though . . .
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TG.

[blamski]

get it, and then do this to it

https://img.indianautosblog.com/2018/12/19/modified-honda-super-cub-k-storm-by-k-speed-custom-18ff.jpg

[Polarbear]

I like them too, who doesn't, but if it was wifie I'd suggest a decent maxi scoot. Comfy, good weather protection and plenty of carrying capacity. Way better in my view for commuting than a cub as much as it pains me to say.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Nobby the Bastard]

Bear in mind that step throughs typically have a large hole each side of the leg shield at just the right position specifically designed so that your ankles get soaked if you go through a deep puddle.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Prawny]

I think all of the kitch Honda 125s are pretty cool.

My only concern would be power on the open road, my old scoot started life with about 10bhp and it was great in town and it was fine on my old commute to Birmingham because the only high speed stretch went from 30 to 50 on a downhill in both directions and was pretty flat along the 50 stretch.

My new commute in the opposite direction is twistier and the scoot didn’t have the poke out of corners to stop me being hassled my cars.

I’ve not ridden the cub though, and I’d have thought with bigger wheels it’ll be a bit more comfortable through the corners than the 10inch wheels on my old Vity.

Has she got a license? Would a 250/300 Vespa or similar be a possibility?
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Yamaha Vity 125 (gone) Kawasaki ER6N(dead) 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (nicked) 2003 DL1000 V Strom

[stinkwheel]

Maybe just me but I've never really liked the concept of a motorcycle with the engine mounted on the swingarm rather than bolted to the frame, which is probably the main reason I'm looking away from the likes of the maxi-scoots. Not big on the concept of CVTs either. Again, probably more my prejudice.

I don't think speed is a big issue, she did her commute on her YB100 for a while which does 60 absolutely flat-out downhill with a wind behind it. It's nearly 40 years old now which kind of necessitated more regular maintainance and having occasional minor breakdowns which she's not best equipped to deal with. Not the bike to be racking up commuting miles on really.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Prawny]

In that case then sounds like it could be a goer. Route profile and the type of roads has a bigger effect on how suitable a low power bike is, I was really surprised at how much worse my scoot was for the new commute that the much longer old one.

I’d love a new monkey, but I have no time to do the sort of dicking about I’d want one for.
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Yamaha Vity 125 (gone) Kawasaki ER6N(dead) 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (nicked) 2003 DL1000 V Strom

[WD Forte]

I was going to suggest a scooty too but reckoned I might be accused of
gender bias cos of my recent transcooter gheyness.
Even this 20 year old YP250 of mine will easily keep up with traffic on Dual carriage ways without
it feeling like I'm caning it
Good weather protection, loadsa stowage, easy relaxed ride

New scoots are all EFI so should be pretty frugal
Honda Forza 300 Vespa do a 300 Suzuki do a 180 200 and 400 Burgervan
Yamaha do 250, 400 500 scoots
I hear Kymco ( Taiwan) aint bad

I do have some reservations about the Vespas though because they seem to be designed
for looking cool rather than practical riding.
Sod looking cool, you need a good screen and stowage capabilty IMO or its just an ornament
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bikers smell of wee

[A100man]

Sounds good to me, but to save cash couldn't you buy any old cub and stick a new 110 Lifan (or similar) in it?
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[ThunderGuts]

[Zen Dog]

[ThunderGuts]

[WD Forte]

If we're sticking with 125's because of cost, mpg, tax, insurance etc
The PCX 125 Zen Dog mentions would get serious consideration from me

Fuelly shows a regular 100+ mpg and as a regular all weather commuter would score over the Supercub
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bikers smell of wee

[Brava210]

[stinkwheel]

I was looking at Innovas but they have turned into pure rocking horse poop, I've been keeping an eye out for them and there's nothing but totally fucked moon-mileage courier hacks in London.

I'm watching a decent looking Wave on ebay.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Zen Dog]

[WD Forte]

Personally I wouldn't spend money on any 125
I'd be more interested in this

The MOT history of T825JDB indicates the low mileage is real

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224888032404?hash=item345c5f0c94:g:CcgAAOSw-QthS3ob
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bikers smell of wee

[slowasyoulike]

For me the C125 is too much money for what it is. The Innova/Wave is good (I had an early carbed one and it was surprisingly good), but thin on the ground as OP has found. The PCX is mega frugal but has a horrible dynastart thing that costs a fortune to replace when it goes wrong. Plus the one I rode had an awful rev limiter that you can hit hard and it's like someone putting the brakes on. Also they are scrote magnets.

An old skool Cub fitted with a Lifan is a fine idea, but limited by the cost that sellers will ask for a viable chassis these days... I did this, but it was about 10 years ago when a seized, rusty but complete C50 could cost £60. I did 11000 miles in 5 years of town riding/WOT A-road stuff commuting and it never missed a beat. The oil was black after 500 miles of this, but a £30 eBay oil cooler stopped it cooking the stuff. The weak point on those engines is the gearbox, particularly 3rd which can (and often does) fail without warning; it's pot luck really.

I know you don't like CVT/swingarm mounted engines, but I'm going to recommend one anyway cos that's what I'd go for - the Honda SH300i. Frugal, handles perfectly well on its big wheels, light and narrow - as good as a Cub in traffic with the poke to hold it's own on a dual carriageway if required. Depending on where you live scrotes could be a problem though...

[WD Forte]

Apart from the horribly expensive combined start/generator
I see the PCX125 has a crappy little screen
The SH300i has a more conventional generator
and looks more practical if uninspiring (IMO)
I know a guy with the 125 which I've worked on and the build quality is good but it has the dyno start thing
The step through underbone is perfick for the multiple drop pizza delivery he uses it for

An very important factor we haven't heard yet is what 'er indoors' wants as she's the one will be using it every day.

We know she has a full license and a 600 so what sort of small commuter can she live with?
leg over? step through? T&G? must it be a 125 or summat with a bit more powah?
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bikers smell of wee

[UncleFester]

Honda XADV.

No reason it has to be slow / dull.
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2017 Z1000SX

[stinkwheel]

[Zen Dog]

[stinkwheel]