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ADV NewsHonda’s New CT125 Hunter Cub Trail Bike Gets Military Makeover

Honda’s New CT125 Hunter Cub Trail Bike Gets Military Makeover

K-Speed creates combat CT125 complete with a gatling gun exhaust.

Published on 08.03.2020

It’s only been a few months since Honda put the CT125 Hunter Cub into production, the first bikes are just arriving in showrooms in Asia, and already aftermarket customizers have their hands on Big Red’s newest “adventure” bike, turning it into something even cooler.

Can’t say we blame them. In case you hadn’t heard, the Hunter Cub is a scrambler/off-road version of Honda’s C125 Super Cub, which itself is the modern version of the bike that put millions of people on two wheels all over the world. The Hunter Cub’s  got more ground clearance, a skid plate, a kick starter, spoke wheels, a bigger fuel tank and a bunch of other off-road savvy stuff. We’re waiting very impatiently for it to show up in North America.

Here is what Thailand builder K-Speed came up with: a combat-themed CT125 with a stretched swingarm, beefier wheels, upgraded suspension and a Gatling gun-style exhaust … more on that later. The company built the bike in only 10 days as a showcase for their expanding parts catalog, quite remarkable considering how new the CT125 is.


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First and foremost, they added a custom swingarm that’s two-inches longer than stock to allow for a bigger, fatter rear tire. It’s still a 17-incher, but the added height and width really give the bike an off-road stance. Up front, a high fender clears space for a beefy 90/100-17 knobby that should really improve the little bike’s bite.

Higher up, K-Speed added a set of their own Diablo enduro-style handlebars mounted on a custom triple clamp and risers, a new LED headlight wrapped in a custom grill, and new grips, switches, mirrors and throttle. They also moved the stock instrument cluster to the left-side crash bar.

The seat was fancied up with what K-Speed calls their “mixed pattern” Diablo unit, retaining the cush of the original with possibly more grip. Other touches from the company catalog include a lightened chain guard, LED taillights and turn signals, a larger bash plate, wider footpegs, a larger footprint for the side stand, and finned engine covers. 

Out back, upgraded Diablo shocks mounted on that longer swingarm add 1.5 inches of suspension lift that should go a long way toward making the Hunter Cub more capable in the dirt. K-Speed ditched the stock mudguard to make way for the bigger rear tire, mounting a smaller replacement higher for clearance. One of the stock CT125’s most useful features is its roomy rear rack for tying on whatever gear or groceries you need on your adventure. K-Speed came up with their own version of the rack, topped with a military-looking toolbox to keep your belongings in place when the road runs out.

The whole thing is treated to a black-and-white camo paint job. And then there’s that Gatlin gun-style exhaust, topped by a fully functional, rotating cap that spins faster as you rev the bike. It looks like something you’d find on a Bond Aston Martin, not a 125cc Honda, but you can bet your neighbor doesn’t have one.

For more custom projects from K-Speed go to their Instagram or visit their website.

Source: BikeExif | Photos by Hipmotography

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.

Author: Bob Whitby
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5 thoughts on “Honda’s New CT125 Hunter Cub Trail Bike Gets Military Makeover

  1. I think it looks better than the original, BUT less is more. First: a simple black paint. Second: that ”Gatlin Gun” style exhaust is simply bad taste. The original looks horribly oversized, but a rotating exhaust? Seriously? And then of course I am asking myself why Homda didn’t tune the engine to get those 15 horses that are legal here in EU. 8 seem quite boring, a cyclist will accelerate faster!

  2. I left a 500 $ deposit at the dealer at rapid city and was 6 in line . Am told i may not have mine come in untill next year. ? Possibly the yellow i wanted by then

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