Honda Cub A Dirt Scoot That's Not For Kids Only
Honda Cub A dirt scoot that’s not for kids only
QUICK RIDE
IF YOU’RE ONE OF THOSE WHO BElieves motorcycle design should continue its inexorable spiral towards new heights of sophistication and performance, you’d do well to take a look at one of the latest offerings from Honda. That new offering is the Cub, a toy-like twowheeler which proves that sometimes, simple is better.
The Cub is, well, a dirt scooter aimed at your kids. And the thing is so nicely designed, so well finished and so generally benign, that probably you could turn them loose on it with no more than normal supervision, and reasonably expect that they’d enjoy the experience, learn a bit about riding, and not bury you in orthopedic bills.
The Cub, introduced in March as a 1991 model, is powered by a 90cc oil-injected, reed-valve, twostroke engine which drives through a variableratio automatic transmission. At 192 pounds wet, it’s no lightweight; nevertheless, the Cub has enough user-friendliness on its side for it to place well up in the beginner-
bike sweepstakes.
Starting the Cub is dead simple for people old enough to ride it, and nicely difficult for kids who are just too little. The procedure goes like this: sidestand up, key on, hit the starter button, pull the rear brake lever (mounted on the left handlebar) all the way back. If your hand is big enough to pull the lever back past full brakes, the starter mechanism engages, and the willing engine quietly pop-pop-pops into life.
And what life. With about 4 inches of wheel travel at both ends, thanks to a telescopic fork and single-shock swingarm, the Cub romps across moderately rough ground, and there’s enough power on hand to thrill most kids. Indeed, there’s enough to pop the front tire off the ground when the twistgrip is cranked open from a standing stop.
Team CWs youthful testers liked the Cub and were especially grateful for the automatic transmission, though the most experienced of them complained of too little rearwheel travel, of too soft a rear spring, and of the minimal, 1-gallon fuel capacity.
Honda has equipped the Cub with several handy details our kiddie testers didn’t notice. For instance, there’s an emergency kickstart lever stowed under the Cub’s seat, should its battery ever go flat. Also, a pair of tie-down eyelets under the Cub’s handlebar make it easy to lash the bike into a trailer or pickup truck.
We suspect a nice percentage of the Cub’s $ 1498 list price covers the cost of its many plastic body panels, but these seem sturdy enough, though they are easily scuffed.
All in all, then, the Cub is a simple, sturdy, unintimidating piece that ought to be just the ticket for beginning riders, though its price tag puts it well beyond the category of a child’s toy. Parents will buy it, and if they’re smart, when their kids aren’t looking, ride it themselves.
Jon F. Thompson
