Cub Series Motorcycles Reaches 60 Million Units (60 millionth Honda Super Cub built last month)

www.totalmotorcycle.com ^ | May 22, 2008 | No Byline

[angkor]

Cumulative Global Production of Cub Series Motorcycles Reaches 60 Million Units

Friday, May 23rd, 2008 - Honda Motorcycle Press Release -

Total Motorcycle - http://www.totalmotorcycle.com

TOKYO, Japan, May 21, 2008–Cumulative worldwide production of Honda Cub series motorcycles*1 reached the 60 million-unit milestone at the end of April 2008. Honda Super Cub C100, first introduced in Japan in 1958, has gained worldwide acceptance both as a business-use motorcycle and for daily transportation, and has been being enjoyed by customers in more than 160 countries around the world. This August will mark the 50th anniversary of launching of Honda Cub series.

Super Cub C100 (The first generation model in Japan 1958)

Super Cub 50 Standard (Japan 2007)

Wave 125i (Thailand 2006)

When Super Cub was originally launched, the 2-stroke engine was the mainstream power plant for motorcycles. However, the first generation Honda Super Cub C100 was equipped with an innovative and high-performance 50cc 4-stroke engine which was highly economical and durable. Super Cub C100 also achieved creative and unique designs including 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 design and concept have remained virtually unchanged, and the unique style has been passed on even to current models.

In regions outside of Japan, such as Asia, the Honda Cub series has evolved to accommodate the unique culture and diversifying customer needs in each country. In Japan, an electronically-controlled fuel injection system, Honda’s PGM-FI*2, was installed on Super Cub in 2007, enhancing the environmental performance of the model. Demonstrated by these examples, Honda Cub has been continuously advancing throughout the world. *1 Honda motorcycles which fulfill certain conditions including, 49cc-125cc 4-stroke single cylinder engine, engine type, frame (low-floor backbone frame), exterior (leg shield) and tire size lager than 14 inches, etc. *2 PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection) is a registered trade name of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Exports of Super Cub began in 1959 with the first destination being the U.S., and production in regions outside of Japan began in 1961 in Taiwan, with production based on component parts sets. Since that time, based on Honda’s long-standing commitment to “build products close to the customer,” local production began in many other countries. The Honda Cub series is currently being produced in 15 countries around the world.

Production Results of "CUB" series

As of April 30, 2008 Year Production Unit Cumulative Production 1958 (Jan-Dec) 24,195 24,195 1959 (Jan-Dec) 167,443 191,638 1960 (Jan-Dec) 564,365 756,003 1961 (Jan-Dec) 661,398 1,417,401 1962 (Jan-Dec) 790,012 2,207,413 1963 (Jan-Dec) 889,005 3,096,418 1964 (Jan-Dec) 822,719 3,919,137 1965 (Jan-Dec) 790,396 4,709,533 1966 (Jan-Dec) 700,296 5,409,829 1967 (Jan-Dec) 526,238 5,936,067 1968 (Jan-Dec) 660,482 6,596,549 1969 (Jan-Dec) 601,441 7,197,990 1970 (Jan-Dec) 735,065 7,933,055 1971 (Jan-Dec) 625,884 8,558,939 1972 (Jan-Dec) 537,867 9,096,806 1973 (Jan-Dec) 469,732 9,566,538 1974 (Jan-Dec) 634,942 10,201,480 1975 (Jan-Dec) 493,855 10,695,335 1976 (Jan-Dec) 472,212 11,167,547 1977 (Jan-Dec) 558,634 11,726,181 1978 (Jan-Dec) 600,147 12,326,328 1979 (Jan-Dec) 520,447 12,846,775 1980 (Jan-Dec) 652,239 13,499,014 1981 (Jan-Dec) 680,523 14,179,537 1982 (Jan-Dec) 749,955 14,929,492 1983 (Jan-Dec) 595,673 15,525,165 1984 (Jan-Dec) 431,302 15,956,467 1985 (Jan-Dec) 475,649 16,432,116 1986 (Jan-Dec) 469,077 16,901,193 Jan-Dec 1987 & Jan-Mar 1988* 573,352 17,474,545 FY 1989 (Apr 88-Mar 89) 504,066 17,978,611 FY 1990 (Apr 89-Mar 90) 595,611 18,574,222 FY 1991 (Apr 90-Mar 91) 734,460 19,308,682 FY 1992 (Apr 91-Mar 92) 730,887 20,039,569 FY 1993 (Apr 92-Mar 93) 721,701 20,761,270 FY 1994 (Apr 93-Mar 94) 1,106,160 21,867,430 FY 1995 (Apr 94-Mar 95) 1,142,531 23,009,961 FY 1996 (Apr 95-Mar 96) 1,379,099 24,389,060 FY 1997 (Apr 96-Mar 97) 1,523,897 25,912,957 FY 1998 (Apr 97-Mar 9Cool 1,550,872 27,463,829 FY 1999 (Apr 98-Mar 99) 886,407 28,350,236 FY 2000 (Apr 99-Mar 00) 1,230,443 29,580,679 FY 2001 (Apr 00-Mar 01) 1,269,734 30,850,413 FY 2002 (Apr 01-Mar 02) 2,272,227 33,122,640 FY 2003 (Apr 02-Mar 03) 3,604,815 36,727,455 FY 2004 (Apr 03-Mar 04) 3,636,067 40,363,522 FY 2005 (Apr 04-Mar 05) 4,808,979 45,172,501 FY 2006 (Apr 05-Mar 06) 5,370,285 50,542,786 FY 2007 (Apr 06-Mar 07) 4,588,614 55,131,400 FY 2008 (Apr 07-Mar 0Cool 4,725,048 59,856,448 FY 2009 (Apr 08 only) 506,142 60,362,590

*Fiscal year changed _________________

[angkor]

In Asia the Super Cub isn't just your average weekend put-put scooter. It's a day-after-day family car, pickup truck, farming vehicle, taxicab, and just about anything else you might think of.

Also Asia has a totally different perception of motorcycles than we have in the US. It's almost as if we have a literal cognitive blindspot for motorcycles, which makes them far more dangerous here than elsewhere.

[Liberty Valance]

Here's Honda's new Obamacycle

[Liberty Valance]

The Cub series

[snoringbear]

“It's almost as if we have a literal cognitive blindspot for motorcycles, which makes them far more dangerous here than elsewhere.”

Well, not to be argumentative, but having traveled extensively in Asia and having just finished a two year tour in China during which I rode a scooter almost daily in Shanghai traffic, I can tell you that there are plenty of scooter/bicycle vs car/truck accidents. The difference in Asia is that if one is involved in such an accident, folks just keep going and drive around the pile, leaving those injured to their own devices and perhaps the police to help if they should ever show up. Naturally, pedestrians love to collect around the victims and speculate and perhaps lay down a bet or two on their odds of living...

[martin_fierro]

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[martin_fierro]

Was in South America recently and saw a woman riding one of these on the highway, in a rainstorm.

The poor thing had one hand up to cover one eye so that she could still see and ride.

[nralife]

I'm hoping for scooter/motorcycle only lanes if the price of gas continues to go up. Probably won't happen, but it would be nice... lol

[To Hell With Poverty]

Oooooooooooh that’s purr-tay!

(I’m a scooter girl)

[To Hell With Poverty]

OH man, that would rock wouldn’t it? We’ve got HOV lanes here in Atlanta that allow motorcycles, but they’re on the far left lane and there’s no way in heck I’d be able to keep up without getting creamed.

[To Hell With Poverty]

From a Newsweak article I read while in a Dr's office...I tore the page out!

[Liberty Valance]

Very cool photo. ;o)

[chrisser]

I'm hoping for scooter/motorcycle only lanes if the price of gas continues to go up.

Be careful what you wish for.

Those same people currently driving cars who are so incompetent, would then be on a motorcycle/scooter.

Analagous to bike paths many cities have - the "professional" bicyclists avoid them and stay on the roads. They'd presumably rather take their chances with car traffic than inexperienced bikers.

[VeniVidiVici]

I saw some numnut here in Florida the other day riding his motorcycle without a helmet.... while yakking on his cellphone.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[GATOR NAVY]

I hated these little bastards when I lived in Japan. They think they are entitled to be in any space on the road they can fit but if I was to hit one no matter what the circumstances it would be my fault. I learned very quickly that if you wanted to make a left turn you pulled in as tight to the curb as possible beforehand so the a-holes couldn’t get inside you and into your blindspot.

[wardaddy]

Handsome devil he was...

[wardaddy]

These were the cats pajamas in the late 60s and very early 70s when I came of age. You could do a wheelie on a Cub50 or Cub90 and ride it down the street forever with feet dragging like an upright wheelie mobile.

Then the Mini-trail 50s and 70s came out and stole some of the thunder from the Cubs and the mini-bikes like Fox and Yazoo.

Honda’s first bigger bike was the Dream305.

My first bike was a 75 H2 Kawasaki 750 2stroke....a demon in it’s day and still almost competitive speed wise today but not handling wise.

Kids today have some mighty fast nimble bikes right out of the box

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

A knew a guy who had one (called Honda 50 in the US) in the 1960s, and he used it until it was worn out. He said that if he had purchased two, and kept the other one in careful storage, if he sold it today, he could probably buy a nice car.

But, he said, he wouldn’t sell it.

[Myrddin]

That looks like a variation of the popular "Trail 90". The "trail" version brings the exhaust pipe up to mid-frame for better ground clearance and dispenses with the "leg shield".

[Myrddin]

My first bike was the Honda CB175. It was a street bike, but plenty nimble enough to play in the dirt. My 2nd bike was a BSA 500 Single. Great hill climber and exceptionally good in the dirt. I sold it when I got married. All the great places I rode it in high school/college are covered with houses today.

I took my driving test on the CB175. The examiner was taken aback to see that I could ride inside the circles either direction at minimum speed. That was a consequence of playing with folks riding fancy trials bikes and showing that even a street bike could do many of those tricks.