The last of Honda's horizontal-engine moped models are about to be unveiled in Japan soon, as the company switches to new long-stroke engines, starting with the Grom. The CT125 Hunter Cub, which debuted in 2020, is a model that has not moved since the green was added in 2022. This will be the fourth year that it will undergo a major model change.
Fresh new matte silver color. The engine is now a long stroke specification
The CT125 Hunter Cub will be equipped with a new engine for the 2023 model year, its fourth year. The 2023 model was announced first in Thailand, the country of production, and this one is equipped with the new long-stroke engine.
As with the previous model, the clutch lever is not fitted, so it is safe to assume that a 4-speed transmission with an automatic centrifugal clutch will be used.
The gear ratios of first through fourth gears continue from the example of the Super Cub C125, which was equipped with the new engine prior to the new model. In addition, the new Cub C125 has a slight increase in maximum power output, so it is safe to assume that the new CT125 Hunter Cub will have the same or better dynamic performance.
Other than the engine, there are no major changes to the exterior, but photos of the Thai version show the addition of a new matte silver color. According to our information, the matte fresco brown color of the previous model has been discontinued, while the red and green colors will be continued on the new model. The popular model will continue to be sold in the future in compliance with the 2020 emission regulations, which expired in October of last year.
Photo of the CT125 Thailand-spec 2023 model. In Thailand, Hunter Cub is not used in the name of the vehicle and is sold as a single-seat version. The coloring is matte silver, matching the rugged style.
The engine of the new CT125 Hunter Cub is a four-speed version of the automatic centrifugal clutch version found in the new Super Cub C125 and Dax 125. It did not have a manual transmission like the Monkey 125.
This is the engine of the Dax 125. You can see that they are the same power unit. The maximum output of the Dax is 9.4 PS at 7000 rpm, while the new Cub C125 delivers 9.8 P at 7500 rpm, with varying output characteristics depending on the model.
This is the engine of the conventional CT125 Hunter Cub. It can be seen that the case cover, cylinder head, and other external features are different from the new model. The CT125 was designed for low to mid-range rpm with a low output of 8.8 PS/7000 rpm, and the new model will follow suit.
Honda moped two-cycle models are towed by AT small license-compatible vehicles.
The CT125 Hunter Cub, which exploded in popularity as soon as it was announced in 2020 and became a hot topic with a large backorder, remains one of the most popular motorcycles to this day. It is the best-selling Honda moped leisure bike, with an annual volume of 15,000 units, according to Honda Motorcycle Japan.
In addition, the CT125 Hunter Cub and the new Dax 125, including the CT125 Hunter Cub and the new Dax 125, are almost exclusively AT license-compliant models with automatic centrifugal clutches, and their popularity has led to a nearly threefold increase in the number of AT small licensees in the past five years.
Honda's share of the moped class is 64% in 2021. The best-selling model is the PCX scooter, but there are also significant sales of leisure models such as the CT125 Hunter Cub.
According to Honda, the number of people obtaining a Class 2 moped license is on the rise, with a particularly marked increase in the number of people obtaining an AT compact license. This is due in part to the expansion of the lineup of automatic centrifugal clutch models.
