Honda’s reveal video for its newest adventure bike has it all: dramatic lighting, thumping music, quick cuts highlighting model features like a fully digital speedometer, LED lighting, a beefy rear luggage rack, a “powerful” engine, ABS and “adventure handlebars.”

Adventure handlebars? That’s a clue that this isn’t a new Africa Twin, CRF or even a (finally) modernized XR650L. This is something completely different, and for a lot of people, more exciting than any of the above. It’s the CT125 Hunter Cub, a much-anticipated spinoff of the street-oriented C125 Super Cub, and it takes Honda back to its CT90/110 Trail-series roots. Buyers by the millions loved the Trail-series’ simplicity, rugged design and go-anywhere ability. You can make a case that it was the original adventure bike.

Even if you’ve never heard of a Honda Trail 90 or its many variants, this is a cool video. The rider straps camping equipment to the rack, turns the key and “roars” into the woods. Cut to scenes of camping, tight trails, dirt roads, beaches, mountains, surfing, fishing, friends. Details about the bike pop up as the rider moves along: a 5.4-liter (1.4 gallon) fuel tank; 4.3 inches of front suspension travel, 2.75 inches rear; an upswept exhaust with a perforated heat shield that looks remarkably like that found on the original bike; disc brakes and 17″ spoked wheels wearing dual-sport tires.

Honda did more than simply strip the bodywork off the Super Cub. The two models share the same SOHC engine and semi-automatic transmission (four gears, no clutch), but they added more ground clearance, a skid plate and a kick starter. They also stretched the wheelbase and changed the air intake design to emphasize torque. The result is a mini-scrambler that can actually go places off-road thanks to its lightweight, simple design. The model is set to debut in Japan as a 2021. North America will receive the CT125 as a 2021 model arriving November of 2020 priced at $3,899 USD.

None of the CT125’s specs are terribly impressive in comparison with modern adventure bikes, but one-upmanship isn’t the point. Getting out into the world on a fun, light, competent, inexpensive, reliable bike is the point, just like the original. It’s a remarkably retro idea that really resonates in these times.

Honda CT125 Hunter Cub Specs

Author: Bob Whitby

Bob has been riding motorcycles since age 19 and working as a journalist since he was 24, which was a long time ago, let’s put it that way. He quit for the better part of a decade to raise a family, then rediscovered adventure, dual sport and enduro riding in the early 2000s. He lives in Arkansas, America’s best-kept secret when it comes to riding destinations, and travels far and wide in search of dirt roads and trails.