Evolving into Rust and Dust. New Super Cub Fails

(click on picture to enlarge)

Note the rusty screws. Note the rust and deposit on tailpipe under cover. One can only imagine the condition under there. It looks like, oil may be leaking from the spindle seal and dripping and cooking on the hot exhaust pipe. That's just a guess. 

Note the scrapes on the gloss black engine cover revealing the silver underneath. I'd guess in less than 1000kms, that's going to look hideous, partially black, partially silver, and appearing even more worn than it is.

Ok, as I 'splained' in a comment, I dislike the new Honda Global ad immensely. Does that make sense?

No, it doesn't Let me say that again in plain English.

I hate it. It sucks.

Here's what I said
(some repetition here with this post):

Ok, I just went to the site.

I Just watched the Ad. I'm not sure I like it. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm sure I don't like it.

I see the irony they are trying to present, the sarcasm that there is nothing better, but the overall message I get is, 'if we do our job well, better than we're doing now, the Super Cub is finished. It will be replaced.'

That's not exactly what I call a brilliant idea for an ad campaign. And I'd wager Soichiro wouldn't care for it either.

If they want to try harder, how about making a better Super Cub, not replacing it. Better as in, not shoddy. As in, stainless steel screws on the Yamaha copied exhaust on the new model. I took some pics of a new '08 model on the way to work. The screws are already rusty. My cub sits outside. Always. In any weather, except extreme wind and rain from typhoons. I want to get on it and go. I do. It's not rusted. It has almost 17,000kms on it. Hard kms, too. No rust. 2004 model. No rust. 2008 model, less than 500kms, less than 6 months old, rust.

Honda, make a better Super Cub, and a better ad while you're at it.

-- 

(second post)

And another thing. (he growled), why doesn't the special site ad start on the first kick? What's with that? Mine always does.

The point of the Super Cub, which whoever did this campaign seems to not understand, is the Cub is dependable. It shouldn't be seen as not starting on the first kick, when in reality it usually does. And what is this whole 'continues to evolve' nonsense? The beauty and the popularity of the bike is its non evolution for cripes sake. Otherwise, get a Wave.

Hmmm. (scratching my head) I'm convinced Honda is suffering from being stuck on stupid. Their management team, at least on the Global side, is interested in profits over quality. Not understanding that quality ensures profits. Oh, well. Just means our bikes are that much more rare.

(End of ranting and raving posts.)

But before I even watched that ad, I took these two pics of two different Super Cubs on the way to work the other day. Both cubs sit outside on the same street not even one block apart. Needless to say, they get the same weather treatment. But one has been getting it for much, much longer. 

One Cub is brand new '08 model, the other is quite old, a mid 90s Super Cub. (well, not old compared to Passports in the U.S. of course. But old for Tokyo)

Take a look at the brand new bike, with rust already on the screws and showing up on the kickstart spindle. Is that evolution? Is that what you call, 'evolving', Honda? No, that's what I call garbage. It's what I call shoddy workmanship, and poor quality materials.

And that's not even getting into the design which is a direct copy of, guess what, a YAMAHA Mate, if you can believe it!

So, Honda has this winning design, breaks all kinds of records, beloved the world over. Yamaha copies it, as does Suzuki.
Now, with newer management at Honda, Soichiro dead and buried and apparently a good portion of The Dream with him, the New Honda decides 'let's copy Yamaha's copy of our Super Cub. Yeah, that's a good idea. But we'll save even more money, because we'll use cheap screws that rust in less than 500km outside. Basically, one rainy season, and bang, rust. And they'll have to buy new ones! Yeah, that's the ticket."

Good grief. And note the already discolored leg guard inserts on the '08 model compared with the still matching white versions on the old cub.

And my own Cub, which sits outside 24/7, in all kinds of weather, rain, sleet, snow, you name it, actually gets more wear and tear on it than the postal cubs here (and they're stored inside!)
Yup, and mine is rust free. I don't baby it. I get on it and go. I cover it only during typhoons, and often times not even then.

I wanted an everyday bike, not a show bike. Yet, it looks like a show bike to many. Because I keep it clean and running well.
It pays me back with great love.

That's a 2004 bike with almost 17,000 kms on it.

Here's two more old cubs (not the two I described above. These are just more evidence of the quality of the older bikes over the '08 model, which is a drastic departure from all previous models in more ways than even Honda seems to admit.

These Cubs below have been outside for years. Compare them with the '08 model's already deteriorating condition. Note engine case, exhaust, leg guard covers.