The First Honda Cub Advertisement

This is the first advertisement in the USA for Honda motorcycles - featuring, naturally, the '58 Super Cub.

A Brand New Honda Cub for $245! (in 1965, that is)

That kid looking out the back window could have been me. I was 8 years old in 1965. In recent years I bought one of those hitch-mounted motorcycle carriers for hauling around my Super Cub, but it just didn't work: the suspension on my Outback wagon couldn't handle the weight. I guess I could have installed stiffer shocks, but I decided to go with a trailer instead, which worked fine.

"Little Honda" performed by "The Hondells" - 1964

I had never heard of the "Hondells" before I ran across this video on YouTube. Apparently, they were one of those fictitious groups formed by a producer (in this case, Gary Usher) using studio musicians. They recorded and released Brian Wilson's "Little Honda" in 1964, before the Beach Boys did, and it was a hit. It looks like they used four white C100's, brand-spanking-new! I would have preferred a bit less bouncing, but I guess they were trying to give the impression of youthful kinetic energy or something, within the constraints of a studio stage. Did they rehearse? Not much, apparently - they don't all seem to be together on the lip-synching or choreography. Who did the lighting? Terrible! Nice balancing, girls - sort of, well, not really. Oh, and, "CUT! Girl on bike no. 1, TAKE OFF THOSE GLASSES!"

If you'd like to read more about the Hondells - here's their Wikipedia page.

Commercial Photography - Can It Get Any Better Than This?

This is probably my favorite Super Cub advertisement of all time. What simple genius - to put the bike and riders in focus against a motion-blurred background! The photographer must have been riding on a vehicle that matched the speed of the bike. Wonderful. It creates a fascinating effect: the Super Cub seems to jump out from the page, like one of those old "3D" photos. An invisible (but visual) force anchors the viewer's eye on the graceful lines of the Cub and the attractive young couple as they happily zoom past it all.

Elegant Simplicity

Observe and enjoy for a moment the above advertisement from the mid-1960's. Can you imagine any other motorcycle underneath that stylish, intelligent-looking girl that would have the same effect? It's strange - the Super Cub is not very masculine but it is not feminine, either. It is something that very few, if any, other motorcycles can claim to be: handsome. The lines are elegant, the colors - red, white, and black - are simple yet bold and appealing. Elegant simplicity might be another good description. Put a cute co-ed on top (and note, one that looks elegantly simple herself - smartly dressed - pretty but with class and a pose that seems to say that she has brains in addition to good looks), and the combination is quite pleasing. Contrast this with other motorcycle ads that feature bikini-clad bimbos straddling or garishly posed on top of bikes where the message seems to be, "Get this bike and get laid". What a difference!

New Super Cub Video from Rob in Japan!

Rob is an American young man living in Japan. What makes him a one-of-a-kind among the human race is, in addition to his talents with a video camera and editing console, he has a heart for the Honda Super Cub! Naturally, as he resides in a country where the Cub is not only ubiquitous but is also still available brand new in Honda dealerships, he bought one a few years ago and has shared his happy experiences, often via video, on his "Adventures of a Super Cub" blog ever since. For this, his fellow American Super Cub lovers are eternally grateful (and jealous)! He recently posted the above short. Enjoy!

1970 Super Cub Engine Ready to Run!

We're getting to the good parts of this 1970 Super Cub restoration! Tariq at www.cttrailbikes.com sent me a new set of pictures from his shop that show the engine completely back together and looking as though it did when it rolled off the assembly line 39 years ago. He's going to run it for a while to make sure all is well, and then ship it back here for mounting on the frame, etc... This may be the first time ever that a C70M has been both increased to 90cc and had a 4-speed transmission upgrade (standard is 3-speed, like all early Super Cubs). I can't wait to open the crate and get to work!