Honda C50 Cub

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The short-sightedness of the British motorcycle industry was typified in 1965 by Edward Turner's statement that it was good for the British that the Japanese were making small motorcycles as this would introduce new riders who would then go on to buy the larger, superior products of the home market manufacturers.

The Honda Cub was introduced in 1958 and proved a revelation to riders of small motorcycles more used to British machines. A clean and tidy design with enclosed chain cases and leg shields to keep the muck and weather off the rider, it also possessed a punchy four-stroke motor that would give most British machines of more than twice the capacity a good run for their money.

Honda presented the C50 Cub as a consumer choice with the slogan "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". Rather than aiming it at the home mechanic or, worse still, the traditional ‘hairy biker’, Honda carefully targeted the Cub at the commuter market, stressing how much cheaper it was than public transport, how much more convenient and reliable it was, with no need for any mechanical know-how on the part of the rider.

The rest, as they say, is history. From such humble beginnings, this motorcycle went on to become the best selling machine in the world. In 1959 alone, only the second year of production, over 168,000 Honda Cubs were sold.

The Honda offered here is being sold at no reserve for spares or repair. Said to have had just one owner from new, no V5 is present although there is a tax disc which, used in conjunction with the DVLA's V765 scheme, could result in its original number, EJW 82C, being retained.

These little Hondas are getting increasingly sought after and, with some of them getting on for 50 years old, are eligible for VMCC and national autocycle events.