Honda Japan reveals Cross Cub Kumamon edition

Second Honda and Kumamon collaboration

Kumamon, the world-famous black bear mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, loves to ride. That’s probably why Honda loves collaborating with him. In June this year, Honda Japan is releasing a Kumamon version of the 2019 Cross Cub 50 and 110 along with other updated colors for the popular underbone.

If the Super Cub is considered utilitarian around the world, the Cross Cub is even more so. The dual-sport underbone is stripped down, loses the leg shield, and adopts more rugged components and design cues. The Cross Cub was made for leisurely, adventurous pursuits like soft-roading, camping, fishing, and touring rural Japan. The Cross Cub CC50 rolls on 14-inch wheels and its 49 cc single-cylinder makes 3.7 PS at 7,500 rpm and 3.8 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. Meanwhile the 109 cc Cross Cub CC110 gets larger 17-inch wheels and makes 8 PS at 7,500 rpm and 8.5 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm.

A new Kumamon version will be available for both the Cross Cub 50 and the Cross Cub 110. The Kumamon-edition Cross Cub gives riders an aggressive Graphite Black and Red color scheme, special emblems and keys, a badge featuring the bear’s adorable likeness, and a seat with red piping and a subtle camouflage pattern. The Cross Cub 50 Kumamon version will be sold for a retail price of ¥302,400, while the larger-displacement Cross Cub 110 Kumamon version will be sold for ¥345,600.

Kumamon has enjoyed a good relationship with Honda. When the Honda Monkey celebrated its 50th anniversary back in 2017, Honda gave the Z50 a Kumamon version as well. After all, Kumamon is well known as a riding enthusiast in Japan. In 2016, he even took a dedicated HRC NSF100 race bike for a spin during his visit to the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race.