The most famous minibike in history returns to the catalog of the Tokyo brand, the Honda ST125 Dax 2023, which complements the well-known Monkey and Grom.
It had been 41 years since the European market had been able to buy a Dax, one of the best-known and most emblematic minibike models in history. Yes, the MSX 125 Grom and the Monkey are similar, but they are not like the Dax.
Born in 1969 to complement the small Honda Monkey, it began its commercial life in the United States, a great devourer of anything with a motorized two-wheel drive.
Aesthetically, it remains faithful to the original model, although it has adopted new solutions in the cycle part and the engine has been adapted to Euro 5.
Thus, it maintains the T-shaped central single-beam chassis made of stamped sheet steel, from which hangs a simple single-cylinder 4T cycle engine -air, 2V, SOHC, PGM-FI-.
Speaking of the engine, this is the same as the Honda Cub, with 124 cc and 9 hp, with a four-speed gearbox and a centrifugal clutch that does not require a clutch lever.
The Honda ST125 Dax was born in 1969 and ceased to be manufactured in 2003
As in the Honda Cub, at a standstill, the driver selects the gear with the foot lever and, when opening the throttle, the clutch engages automatically, and so on in any gear.
It consumes so little that with its 3.8 liter tank -within the stamped sheet metal chassis-, it is capable of traveling 240 kilometres.
Which means a consumption of 1.56 liters per 100 km.
It is a cool and cute motorcycle, with an exhaust with a raised side outlet and a chrome protector that provides a kitsch touch of the seventies. Attached to 12” wheels with stubby asphalt tires.
And it’s equipped with a modern 31mm inverted fork and a pair of classic rear shocks, for a total weight of 1,207kg.
Its single-cylinder 4T and 124 cc engine delivers 9 CV and consumes 1.56 l/100 km
For braking it uses a 220mm front disc brake and a 190mm rear disc brake. It mounts a two-piston caliper and brakes with sensitive ABS in curves -it equips an IMU-.
A generously foamed bench seat -at 775 mm-, a raised U-shaped handlebar, full LED lighting and digital instrumentation with a circular LCD screen, are the details that finish off a nice set.
The circular headlight is finished off with the turn signals and the taillight also circular, with chrome casings, which give it a very successful retro seventies air.
Available in red or pearl gray colors, it will be on sale shortly – although it is a 2023 model – at an unspecified price.
By the way, its name derives from the breed of Dachshund or sausage dogs. And it is that its aesthetic is reminiscent of that of this motorcycle, small, low and elongated, a breed that is colloquially known as Dax.