Cumulative worldwide production of Honda Cub motorcycles has passed the 60-million mark, just 5 months before than the 50th anniversary of the motorcycle that was the first motorised transport for millions of people.

The ‘Cub’ name was actually used before the motorcycles existed as there was a model of the same name Honda sold (in huge numbers) which had a small engine attached to the rear of what was essentially a bicycle. The Cub which the world knows today was first introduced in Japan in 1958 and it is said that the idea came from Takeo Fujisawa, Soichiro Honda’s partner who was in charge of sales and marketing. Fujisawa saw that the original Cub concept which had an engine attached to a bicycle was coming to the end of its life, especially when Japan’s economy was improving rapidly and people could afford better machines. The ‘moped’ which appeared in Europe at that time provided the basis for the modern Cub’s design.

As those who owned one will remember, the Cub was very easy to use because it an automatic clutch so changing of gears did not mastery of synchronising pulling at the clutch lever, twisting the accelerator grip to shut off the throttle, and changing gears. The simplicity was something Honda thought of when he considered how he should design his new machine to be easy to use by someone delivering soba (noodles).  He wanted to make it possible for the delivery boy to hold a tray of soba in one hand while operating the machine.

The 'Cub' name actually started with a model which was a bicycle that had an engine attached to the rear wheel (left) but most people remember the Cub as the motorcycle on the right.

Honda's advertising campaign in the US changed the image of the motorcyclist to a nice friendly one

For Honda to get people to buy its little motorcycle, it first had to change the image of motorcyclists and it did so by having advertisements that showed how ‘You meet the nicest people on a Honda’. These advertisements appeared in family-oriented magazines and had a tremendous impact on the Americans, making the brand and its products a household name very quickly.

When the Super Cub was originally launched, the 2-stroke engine was the mainstream powerplant for motorcycles. However, the first generation Super Cub C100 was equipped with an innovative and high-performance 50 cc 4-stroke engine which was highly economical and durable. Creative and unique designs included the low-floor backbone frame which enhanced the ease of getting on and off, a centrifugal clutch system which required no clutch operations, and the installation of a large plastic leg shield which reduced the amount of dirt splatter and wind experienced by the rider. Since the introduction of the first generation model, the basic concept has remained virtually unchanged, and the original style has been re-interpreted on the latest models.

In regions outside Japan,  the Cub series has evolved to accommodate the unique culture and diversifying customer needs in each country. Not surprisingly though, in Japan, the Cub has gained technological advancements that include the use of an electronically-controlled fuel injection system (Honda’s PGM-FI) which was first introduced last year.

The first Honda Cubs were sold in Malaysia in 1957 and were brought in by the late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew who had seen them when he was on holiday in Osaka, Japan. In the biography (The Life and Times of a Fire Dragon) which was commissioned by his daughter, Dato’ Loh Cheng Yean, it was said that he was impressed not only by the quality of the motorcycle but also the fact that it had a starter button. Believing that it would be popular in Malaysia, he went to the Honda factory and asked to become the dealer in Malaysia but Soichiro Honda was not convinced that the young Loh had the experience to run such a business. He was only prepared to sell 12 units as a start and Loh brought them back to Malaysia where they were sold almost immediately. After that, he kept sending orders for more and more and eventually, Honda Motor was convinced that he could represent them and appointed him as sole distributor. Malaysia was the first country in Southeast Asia which began selling Honda motorcycles and Tan Sri Loh and Mr Honda became lifelong friends and business associates.

According to the biography, Dato’ Loh also recalled that her father had a promotional technique to boost sales of the Cub in its early years. Those who were unable to pay the $100 for it could still take them first and pay later – on condition that they rode their motorcycles around the Esplanade in Penang to show them off. Tan Sri Loh’s generosity and trust was appreciated by these new owners who didn’t hesitate to recommend the motorcycles to others.

The first Honda Cub sold in Malaysia (left) and one of the many versions available today

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