#Minimoto

Honda announced a new scrambler model based on its 500 platform last November at EICMA, but there was no indication about whether the CL500 would be brought to America. That has now changed, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has certified the 2023 Honda CL500, and we expect an official announcement to come very soon. And it won't be alone, as the EPA has also certified the ADV160 and an updated Grom.

American Honda officially announced the XR150L dual-sport for the U.S., alongside the returning Navi and an expanded CRF300L lineup that now includes a new low-seat height variant.

We’ve known the XR150L and the low-seat CRF300LS were on the way, after the two dual sports were included on a list of motorcycles certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Both models add to Honda’s burgeoning small-displacement on- and off-road models, alongside the CRF300L and CRF300L Rally. Together with its miniMOTO lineup, which includes the Navi, Honda now offers nine street-legal motorcycles with engines displacing less than 286cc.

Honda announced a new 125cc Minimoto for Europe, reviving the Dax model name for a new generation of riders. The name was originally used in Europe in 1969 for Honda’s ST-series in 50 and 70cc models, and last produced from 1995 to 2003 in Japan. The name comes from “Dachshund”, as its distinctive T-shaped frame resembles the weiner dog breed, helping it stand out from Honda’s other minibikes like the Monkey and Cub.

Things get a little confusing in North America where the Dax was sold as the CT70 and, in 1973, when Honda offered the ST90 as the Trailsport. Today, Honda offers the Trail 125 in the U.S., but the new Dax is a very different vehicle.

If you believe the conventional wisdom of our forum moto-trolls, a motorcycle must be full-sized, fast AF, have the range of a WWII Dornier 217 medium bomber and price tag of a 1980 Suzuki GS850 to have any hope of success, much less being a sales leader. Based on that, what model do you think Öhlins suspension, the high-end, race-focused Swedish company, likely sell the most cartridge kits and shocks for? The GSX-R? Ninjas? Ducati Superbikes?

If you’ve been following the minimoto space, you’ve probably heard of the Ohvale name. The Italian company pumping out mini road racers has been a hot topic of conversation in trackday and racing circles. We all know that riding big bikes on a racetrack is a thrill unlike any other. But it’s also true that riding full-size sportbikes at trackdays can be pretty expensive – up the ante even more if you decide to go race. Beyond the cost of the bike itself, you’ve got trackday fees, fuel costs, and tire bills. The costs go up even more if you have to schlep it a long way from home and find lodging for a night or two.

Minimotos, and in this case Ohvale specifically, offer a much more affordable option while providing a lot of the same thrills as a big bike. Depending where you live, go-kart tracks are generally closer than big tracks, entry fees are tens of dollars rather than hundreds, tires last significantly longer, and it’s not uncommon to top off the gas tank at the start of the day and forget about it. All the while, the on-track experience mimics that of a sportbike – the dynamics and technique you use to go fast on a small bike all transfer over to the big ones, too.

Honda announced a redesigned Grom for Europe, with a new engine, a five-speed transmission, IMU-based ABS and a new, more utilitarian-looking styling. For those keeping track, this is the second redesign for the Grom since its introduction in the 2014 model year. Does the fact the Honda Grom is already on its third design make anyone feel old? I can’t be the only one, right?

With the new look comes a new name, at least for Europe. Formerly known as the MSX125, it will now be referred to as the MSX125 Grom by Europeans. We’ve always just called it the Grom in North America, and that’s likely to continue when the 2021 model is announced here. Regardless of the name, the Grom has been a success for Honda, with more than 750,000 units sold worldwide while kicking off a minimoto revival with the Monkey, Super Cub and CT125.

Honda officially confirmed the CT125 minibike is going into production as the CT125 Hunter Cub. At the moment, the 2021 Honda CT125 Hunter Cub has only been announced for the Japanese market, where it will be available for 440,000 yen (US$3952).

2021 Honda CT125 Production Model Revealed in Design Filings

The Hunter Cub was supposed to make its debut this week at the Osaka Motorcycle Show, but due to the coronavirus, Honda will instead showcase it as part of a “virtual motorcycle show” on March 27.

The CT125 shares much in common with the Super Cub C125, but with the chassis modified for better off-road use. The Hunter Cub’s front fork offers 4.3 inches of travel compared to the Super Cub’s 3.5 inches for better handling unpaved terrain. Further adding to its off-road capability are a high scrambler-style exhaust and a bash plate to protect the forward-pointing single cylinder. Honda claims 6.5 inches of ground clearance.

It was only seconds after hopping aboard the 2019 Honda C125 Super Cub that laughter started to erupt. Despite rainy weather and cool temperatures, we journos couldn’t help but smile on the new Super Cub, and we hadn’t even left the parking lot of 4077 Pico Blvd – the site of the original American Honda HQ. This is the effect the Super Cub has on people; even those whose job it is to test ride every motorcycle under the sun. It’s cute, it’s inviting, and it’s just fun. If you can’t have a laugh on it, you’re dead inside. In a world where digital media is stealing away everyone’s attention (including yours since you’re reading this), maybe the Honda Super Cub can reinvigorate motorcycling in America just as it did 57 years ago when the original Honda Super Cub (called the Honda 50 here in the States) arrived on these shores.

All I remember was walking down the street in Long Beach, CA, minding my own business when I heard it. Was that the sound of an irate primate? Living in Long Beach for a few years now, between the cacophonous flocks of bright green parrots and unmistakable roar of Indy cars once a year, the sound didn’t concern me, that was until I felt a heavy blow to the back of my head.

It’s finally happened. I bought a bike. For the first time in over a decade I own a motorcycle again. For all these years I never found the need to actually buy another bike, especially since I’ve got new ones to ride all the time, but the bug finally bit me. So what did I buy? A Suzuki RM85 converted to full supermoto trim.

Huh?

That’s right, I bought a children’s dirt bike, and a two-stroke at that – one of the few bikes we don’t generally get our hands on at Motorcycle.com. But this wasn’t a decision taken lightly. Despite the terrible time I had racing a modified Honda Grom, things started to turn when I later piloted the giggle-fest that was a Honda CRF150R. At that point I was fairly certain minimoto (as in, mini-supermoto, not to be confused with pocketbikes) was for me, but I had to narrow down what I would get. After many conversations with my mini-riding friends, along with test rides on a couple bikes, including, most recently, the lesson in patience that is the Kymco K-Pipe 125, the stars aligned and I became the owner of a 13 year-old Suzuki. Now it’s fair to say I’ve caught the minimoto bug. Here are 10 reasons why you should, too.

Whoever said size matters clearly doesn’t know what they are talking about. At least when it comes to motorcycles. The case in point is this Polini 910 Carena, the subject of this week’s Church of MO feature. Still in existence today, Polini is an Italian company making miniature sportbikes — commonly referred to as pocketbikes — that even Napoleon would feel cramped on. Although, despite their ergonomic challenges, people of all shapes and sizes have gravitated to these pocketbikes. Maybe it’s a raging curiosity rather than a burning desire that compels grown humans to contort themselves to ride such things, but in 1999 the old MO staff did exactly that. Read on to see what we thought.

It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for another Church of MO. This week’s sermon reaches back almost a full decade and comes courtesy of “Reverend” Eric Bass. The topic this week is sidecars — but not just any sidecars, but minimotos…with sidecars! Now imagine some grown adults (physically, not necessarily mentally) acting a fool on miniature sidecars, complete with both rider and side hack. The results are as comical as you could imagine. And be sure to click the link at the bottom for video evidence of some MO alum partaking in the most MOronic of evens. Here now, Reverend Bass…