Best scooter for NYC?
For short hops, tight parking and tiny running costs, this is spot on: 238 lb (108 kg) and no clutch lever. Plan on a backpack, because no luggage system is fitted.
Made for Austin · Los Angeles · Miami Beach / Miami
2022–2026 · Scooter · Buyer's Guide
Super Cub C 125 (MY2022)
City Life, Figured Out
The Machine's Character
The Super Cub C 125 is the simplest idea Honda sells: an air-cooled 125 cc single in an underbone frame, a four-speed semi-automatic gearbox with no clutch lever, and a retro step-through body with a round headlight, sculpted leg guards and chrome mirrors. It makes 10 hp and 8 lb-ft, and it weighs 238 lb (108 kg) wet. Those numbers tell you exactly where it sits. This isn't a performance machine: it's a tool for the city that happens to look lovely. ABS on the front disc, an LED headlight, a keyless system and a center stand are standard. That's the whole equipment list. Refreshingly honest!
It rides the way it looks: light, easy and unhurried. Running costs are about as low as motorcycling gets, reliability is rock solid, and nothing here will intimidate a new rider. As it ages, watch for a few things: the centrifugal clutch can slip under hard load once its shoes wear, fork seals can weep at high mileage, and a cold-start rattle from the cam chain tensioner may appear and fade as the engine warms. The honest caveat is range and pace. A 1.0 gal (3.7 L) tank and 10 hp keep you in town and on quiet back roads. Know that, and you'll love it.
Hard Numbers
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
Show full specs & equipment Hide specs & equipment
| Power | 10 hp (7 kW) @ 7,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 8 lb-ft (10 Nm) @ 6,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 125 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 4-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front brake | 220 mm |
| Front tire | 70/90-17 |
| Rear tire | 80/90-17 |
| Seat height | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Wet weight | 238 lb (108 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 1.0 gal (3.7 L) |
Equipment check
Connectivity
- Keyless System Standard
Lighting
- LED Headlight Standard
Safety
- ABS Standard
The Truth on the Street
I've spent years listening to Super Cub owners: in paddocks, at club nights, in parking-lot chats and in the emails and messages that land in my inbox. For the C 125 the pattern is steady. Riders talk about the looks and the ease first, and the complaints begin where the city ends.
The look that wins people over
Nothing comes up more often than the design. Owners keep telling me the classic silhouette carries Honda's heritage faithfully, while the cast wheels and LCD dash make it feel like a current machine and not a museum piece. Right behind that comes the gearbox. Riders consistently describe the four-speed semi-automatic with its centrifugal clutch and heel-toe shifter as effortless in city traffic, and beginners in particular say it takes the stress out of learning. Old shape, easy manners.
Cheap to feed, easy to hold
A recurring theme is how little the bike asks of you. Owners report excellent fuel economy, minimal maintenance and affordable insurance. Just as often they mention the low seat and low weight: riders of all sizes say it's manageable and that it gives them confidence in stop-and-go traffic. One owner also points to the passenger seat and folding footpegs, which make two-up trips around town more comfortable than on the earlier solo-only version.
Where the patience runs out
The most repeated gripe is pace on open roads. Riders say the Super Cub struggles to hold speed on inclines or into a headwind, and they call longer highway stretches an exercise in patience. The rest are individual voices, but you should hear them. Some owners mention that it costs more to buy than functionally equivalent scooters and small motorcycles. One describes it as slightly nervous above 50 mph (80 km/h) on rough surfaces or in crosswinds, where it wants active steering. Taller riders mention mirrors that show their elbows instead of the road behind. And one points out there's no lockable underseat compartment, which limits it for shopping or commuting. Know your roads!
Known issues
-
Automatic centrifugal clutch may slip under high loads
Worn shoes in the automatic centrifugal clutch can cause slipping during hard acceleration or uphill riding, felt as engine revs rising without matching drive. More likely on bikes used for sustained high-speed riding.
-
Potential battery drain leading to lockout
Some owners have reported issues where a discharged battery can prevent the keyless system from unlocking the bike, leaving the rider stranded. A trickle charger or occasional use is advised to keep the battery healthy.
-
Front fork seal leaks on high-mileage examples
Oil weeping from the front fork seals can appear on higher-mileage examples, typically because the seals have dried out and hardened or because road grit has worked past the dust wipers and scored the sealing lip. Symptoms are an oily film on the fork tubes and gradually reduced damping.
-
Cam chain tensioner may develop cold-start rattle
Some owners report a brief rattling noise on start-up when the engine is cold, typically from the cam chain tensioner. The noise fades once the engine has warmed up.
The Expert Benchmark
Where this Honda Super Cub C 125 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class
Head-to-head: Honda Super Cub C 125 vs. its rivals
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
The 'Should I Buy It?' Score
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Super Cub C 125 is actually built for.
Best motorcycle for Bay Area?
It's a rolling photo op and a brilliant city commuter. Be honest about the weekend, though: 10 hp on a twisty ridge road means cruising at your own pace, not keeping up with bigger bikes.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
What's new versus the previous generation
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2018–2021
Honda Super Cub C 125 (MY2018)
Icon Reborn for Daily Duty
Compare to the previous model →Alternatives to the Honda Super Cub C 125
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Honda Super Cub C 125. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
