Honda Feels the Green
(This is an unchanged new 90cc for comparison.)
Well, File this under the heading, 'Fixed when wasn't broken'. Honda has made some, in my opinion unsightly, and misguided changes to the Super Cub Standard and Press Cub and Little Cub.
My precious Super Cub Street is unchanged as of yet, thankfully. But I fear it's only a matter of time. Maybe next year's model?
Yes, that big bad monster known as Global Warming (® Trademark) has forced Honda to implement some design changes to the Cub making it less powerful, slower, and with lower fuel mileage ratings. Wonderful. Sounds great, doesn't it?
It now contains an electronic computerized fuel injection system called PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection System)
To achieve: "global environment-friendly for an even more dependable, more comfortable Cub series" "and the atmospheric conditions such as engine revolutions, the computer is always ideal fuel usage control. Optimal timing and amount of fuel supply, so the engine performance out efficiently."
Hogwash. In other words, performance is sacrified in the name of being green, so called. Here's an idea, why not just scrap the delivery bike all together, and go back to rickshaws and handcarts? You get green and in-shape at the same time.
Let't take a look at the new "improved" AA02E engine system:
Went from
POWER:
(kw[PS]/rpm) From 2.9 [4.0] /7,000 to 2.5 [3.4]/7,000
TORQUE:
(N・m[kg・m]/rpm) From 4.7[0.48]/4,500 to 3.8 [0.39]/5,000
FUEL MILEAGE:
(km/L) From 130.0 km/liter to 110.0 km/liter
FUEL CAPACITY:
(Liters) From 4.0 to 3.4
Now, that's progress! If that wasn't bad enough, and I'm not all a numbers guy, appearance is very important, so when they start messin' around withe the design, I take notice.
They've colored the engine black (why not green?) and added a cheap looking leg guard over the tailpipe to replace the bar type guard. The mount for the tailpipe is now a bumpy chrome, rather than black as it used to be.
Now, the bike looks more plastic and more like the Yamaha Mate.
And if that weren't enough, it's now more expensive than ever, breaking the 200,000yen mark for a basic barebones Cub. More for Custom, Deluxe, Press varieties.
Now, my bet is, this new bike will actually use and waste more fuel due to its lower power to weight ratio, and in the end contribute more to so called global warming than the previous model.
Soichiro would not be proud.
Links (note the cut off point in the pics on their splash pages. Clearly, they are using older photos that don't have the new black engine. What does that say?)
Super Cub Standard
Specs
Super Cub "Press Cub"
Specs
Little Cub
Specs
To be fair, the black engine with the black color scheme in the Little Cub matches well.
And the last holdout and UNCHANGED Super Cub:
Super Cub "Street" Type
Specs
Labels: 2008, 50cc, 90cc, anniversary, feels the green, fuel injection, green, honda, japan, little cub, street, super cub
posted by Robbie in Tokyo @ 10:44 AM
8 Comments:
i'm looking to import honda cubs from vietnam if any one is interested. tslc04@yahoo.com
Damn, I hope there is a revolution in the cycle shops and they make Honda fix the engine. There's no way that less power and less millage equals green. Fuel injection should enhance power and millage while cleaning up the exhaust.
I can only hope it gets better after people bitch about it.
Walter
Northern California
I couldn't agree with you more. But, if current trends are any indication, it can only get worse.
For example, look at bio fuels as a 'remedy'. Grain fuels are making food costs skyrocket as more and more cropland is dedicated to bio fuels instead of staple crops.
Why go the vietnam route? check out the Honda Wave that is being produced in Thailand. I rode one with fuel injection and it was great. The dollar is weak now but on the ground in bangkok it can be had for about $1100, thats fuel injection, super clean running with 120mpg.
I dont see why messing with a 50cc engine desined to carry one person doess anything in the environments favour, when we see people driving their 4x4 monstrosities on their own without passengers or luggage all over the world. dammit, leave the Gentsukis alone, their very existance is environmentally friendly!
P.s,
Seriously, where did you get the external fuel tank from!?
Not sure what you mean by Vietnam route.
The Wave is sold in Japan too. Don't care for it. It's just like the other dozen or so models offered up by Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki. No original style or powerplant engineering. It's indistinguishable from most of what's on the road. It's a twist and go. There's tons to choose from. 2 cycle and 4 cycle here in Japan. I know they're a big hit in SE Asia, and I know lots of folks love them and those types of scooters, but it's a different experience riding those and riding a Cub. Many of those bikes are manufactured for export or overseas builds, I I think due to the ease of obtaining plastic replacement parts as Honda gears up those body styles and drivetrain items for export, generally.
Check www.myspace.com/hombreenpolvo
It´s a movie about this bike.
Cheers.
hola soy de republica dominicana higuey y vendo piezas de super cub c90 usada original mi correo es motorepuestosjyr1@hotmail.com agregame y ablaremos mas sobre los super cub.
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