2023 Honda ST125 Dax Announced for Europe
Mon, 14 Mar 2022
Another friendly little retro Minimoto from Honda
Honda announced a new 125cc Minimoto for Europe, reviving the Dax model name for a new generation of riders. The name was originally used in Europe in 1969 for Honda’s ST-series in 50 and 70cc models, and last produced from 1995 to 2003 in Japan. The name comes from “Dachshund”, as its distinctive T-shaped frame resembles the weiner dog breed, helping it stand out from Honda’s other minibikes like the Monkey and Cub.
Things get a little confusing in North America where the Dax was sold as the CT70 and, in 1973, when Honda offered the ST90 as the Trailsport. Today, Honda offers the Trail 125 in the U.S., but the new Dax is a very different vehicle.
The modern Dax brings back the original’s design with a T-shaped pressed steel frame, thick seat, and tall handlebars. The original Dax ran on 10-inch rims, but the new model shares its five-spoke 12-inch wheels with the Grom. The high muffler design was first introduced in the 1973 Nauty Dax and brought back in the 1995 Dax.
The 2023 Dax is powered by a 124cc air-cooled SOHC Single inherited from the Super Cub. Honda claims a peak output of 9.3 hp at 7,000 rpm and 8.0 lb-ft. at 5,000 rpm, which it says should be enough to reach 55 mph even with a passenger. The engine is mated to a four-speed transmission with an automatic centrifugal clutch.
The backbone frame pulls double duty, serving as the chassis and housing the 1.0 gallon fuel tank. That’s a tiny tank, and at a claimed curb weight of 240 pounds, the ST125 Dax is relatively porky compared to the Monkey which claims 231 pounds with a full 1.5 gallon tank. Still, Honda claims the Dax can reach nearly 150 miles on that single gallon of gas.
A 31mm inverted fork provides 3.9 inches of travel, while twin shocks provide 4.7-inches of rear axle travel. The braking system is comprised of a single two-piston caliper and 220mm disc up front with a single-piston caliper and 190mm disc equipped on the rear wheel. An IMU-based anti-lock braking system comes standard.
Other features include a 30.5-inch seat height, round instrument cluster with a negative LCD display, LED lighting, chrome fender, and chrome passenger grabrail.
The 2023 Honda ST125 Dax will be offered Pearl Nebula Red or Pearl Cadet Grey. We await word on U.S. availability.
2023 Honda ST125 Dax Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Air-cooled SOHC 4-stroke 2-valve |
| Displacement | 124cc |
| Bore x Stroke | 50.0 x 63.1mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 |
| Max. Power Output | 9.3 hp at 7,000 rpm (claimed) |
| Max. Torque | 8.0 lb-ft. at 5,000 rpm (claimed) |
| Oil Capacity | 0.3 gallons |
| Carburation | PGM-FI electronic fuel injection |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 1 gallon |
| Fuel Consumption | 149.8 mpg (claimed) |
| Battery | 12V 3.5Ah |
| Clutch Type | Wet Multiplate and Automatic Centrifugal Clutch |
| Transmission Type | 4 speed rotary |
| Type | Press backbone frame |
| Length | 69.3 inches |
| Width | 29.9 inches |
| Height | 40.2 inches |
| Wheelbase | 40.2 inches |
| Rake | 24.9° |
| Trail | 3.3 inches |
| Seat Height | 30.5 inches |
| Ground Clearance | 7.1 inches |
| Turning radius | 6.7 feet |
| Curb Weight | 240.3 pounds (claimed) |
| Front Suspension | Telescopic 31mm USD fork, 3.9 inches of axle travel |
| Rear Suspension | Twin shock, 4.7 inches of axle travel |
| Front Wheel | 5-spoke cast aluminum |
| Rear Wheel | 5-spoke cast aluminum |
| Front Tire | 120/70-12M/C 51L |
| Rear Tire | 130/70-12M/C 56L |
| Front Brake | Single 220mm hydraulic disc with IMU-based ABS |
| Rear Brake | Single 190mm hydraulic disc |
| ABS Type | Single Channel ABS |
| Instruments | LCD |
| Headlight | LED |
| Taillight | LED |
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
More by Dennis Chung
What I find interesting is @TroySiahaan:disqus's perspective as he noted in his excellent review of the Super Cub.
Honda's various minibikes use the same engine, but different transmissions. Troy felt the Super Cub, with its four-speed semi-automatic, seemed peppier. Cool, that's the bike I prefer. Same goes for this Dax.
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Imtoomuch on Mar 15, 2022
They all have simple Honda engines that share parts. You can convert any of the first gen (4-speed) engines to auto-clutches or vice versa. I assume you'll be able to do the same for the current gen (5-speed) version. That does obviously add cost and labor.
The Dax looks cool. A heel-toe shifter and enclosed chain would make it about perfect with me. I wonder if the shifter from the cub would work? They need to sell this in the U.S. I would pick the cub but I go offroad and it just doesn't fit that environment that well.
I wonder if the enclosed chain guard would fit on a trail?
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