Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Honda produced a handful of thoroughly iconic mini bikes and small-displacement motorcycles like the Z50 and the Super Cub. With countless riders having begun their two-wheeled careers aboard these micro-displacement tiddlers, Honda’s minimotos still hold a special place in the hearts of legions of bikers. Well aware of this reality, the Japanese marque has been cashing in the motorcycling public’s nostalgia for these mini models by producing modern-day versions of their diminutive little runners. And after previously bringing back the Monkey and Super Cub in recent years, Big Red has now opted to revive yet another small-displacement classic with the new ST125 Dax.
Staying remarkably true to the original 1969 design, the new Dax is constructed around a modernized version of the ST Series’ iconic T-shaped pressed steel frame that’s been paired with a 31mm USD fork and an old-school dual rear shock setup. Like the original model, the new Dax’s chassis also houses the bike’s fuel cell. Borrowing its engine from the Honda Grom, the ST125 is kicked along by an air-cooled 124cc single overhead cam engine that’s mated to a four-speed rotary gearbox and a centrifugal clutch and is good for 9.25hp and 8ft-lbs of torque. The Dax also borrows the Grom’s wheels, which are now blacked out and come shod in oversized balloon-style tires.
Reentering production after a roughly two-decade hiatus, the ST125 has also been outfitted with a modern sportbike-style front fender, a retro-style chromed rear mudguard, a chrome passenger grab-rail, a circular LED headlight, a circular LED taillight and indicator, hydraulic disc brakes with single-channel ABS, a circular LCD, a two-up-friendly banana-inspired saddle that sits at an approachable 30.5”, and a high-mount, heat-shielded exhaust — just like on the original late ’60s ST. Weighing 235lbs wet, the Dax’s short 40.15” wheelbase and svelte curb weight give it ultra-nimble handling, too.
As of the time of writing, Honda has yet to reveal any specifics on pricing or an official release date for the revived model. Available in Pearl Nebula Red or Pearl Cadet Gray, the 2023 Honda ST125 Dax will initially be reserved for the European market, and there’s been no word yet on whether the new ST Series model is also destined for U.S. shores.
