The Paragraph from "Zen and" is just excellent. I remember experiencing something like this when I was only 17 and riding a smaller 500CC Honda CB street bike for the first time actually on the streets for an extended period of time. I think when the quote refers to "The Frame is removed or not there" as well as the asphalt being there but not as it once was yet you could feel it and see it but not the way you usually do when walking on it. To me when I first was riding the bike I felt almost naked. Or even like the world was immediately and constantly "In my personal space" Or perhaps I was in it's. Everything felt closer. Everything was as though it could reach me and there was no separation between myself and the rest of everything. As though anything could just reach out a touch me at any time and Visa Versa. Maybe I'm way off on what that Paragraph meant but it seemed to me like the experience I had back then was exactly it. Thanks for the great videos and the new bikes are perfect additions IMHO.

Looking forward to seeing the progress on these two :)

He's back guys

my dad bought a red (any other colors?) step-through honda 50 back in the '60s. at about twenty years of age, i ended up with it and used it to commute to the garage where i was employed for a couple of years. helmet laws had just been enacted and i wore one, of course. my roommate, who was fashion conscious, told me i looked like a dweeb. i have no doubt i did. :) my dad eventually took the honda back. he had a camper/pickup and made a front bumper mount for it. and one summer with my mother in tow and the honda firmly mounted up front they set off for a few days in toronto. i remember him telling me the story about him and my mother accidently merging into toronto rush-hour intercity freeway traffic. he said he was never so terrified in his life. cars whizzing past them at 70 and 18 wheelers at 65 with my mother seated behind him screaming as they were crawling along at 35 or 40 :) i believe him, it only went about 50 MPH at the best of times when i drove it! :0

Hi Jethro - About the fuel tank: the valve is open when it is parallel to the hose. The other two positions are either closed or reserve. This engine is very reliable if you maintain it a little, you just have to pay attention to the timing chain tensioner (a simple roller...) and the oil level. I had three of them when I was a student and I have unforgettable memories. All the best with these new projects 🤓

I’m in Vietnam and those Cubs are still the favored transport of market ladies and farmers across the country. My dream bike is a Honda Sport 90(64-69) looks like a mini cafe racer.

Believe me when I say these bikes will put a big smile on your face. Looking forward to the tale.

"I'm stupid...please help." LIKED!!

You should watch 'Itchy Boots', then. Has recently completed a tour of South Afirca and is currently somewhere up North of Brandberg in Namibia. Good luck with the project bikes.

Great episode, Jethro, in your usual great style - thank you! The quote you chose is so apt. I remember several years ago being at a friend’s place for dinner. Afterwards he wheeled out an old Honda he’d been restoring. I’m not a bike guy so couldn’t tell you what it was but it had the classic lines of your 250 in a slightly larger size. He said “you’ve got to try this,” and with that he plopped his helmet on my head, gave me the briefest lesson on shifting, and pushed me off down the drive. After a lap of the street, wobbling and weaving along I began to get the feel and soon it was bloody magic. Just as Pirsig said, the entire world is just right THERE all around, coming up at you and whooshing by. I doubt I broke 60 km/h but I’ll never forget it. One day I’m getting one. 😎

the image of the spinning super cub with the text over lay "I'm stupid.. please help" is destined to be a reaction gif

I haven't even watched the video yet and I already love it! "What do you do when you have more projects that you can handle, buy two more motorcycles of course" I couldn't agree more

Welcome back, been missing your videos and skills.

Morning Jethro. From 4 wheels to two wheels lol 😆 I did it the other way round 🤣 I had a Honda cub 50 as my very first venture into motor vehicles in 1974 and I loved it 👍🏻 The sense of speed coming from a bicycle to a machine was incredibly 😊 looking forward to seeing you fix the up. Cheers Stevie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I have one c50 Honda 40 years since i wass student in the university. I maintain it using Haynes manual, very easy to do the job, very reliable and tough, don't worry about spare parts you can find on the super market of your neighborhood,at least that happens in Greece, there are plenty of them . Good luck you will enjoy it.

Feels like growing up in my rural small town near Thai/Malaysia border in mid 80s where the Alfa Romeo was a cop car and sold off to the public and the super cup is used to carry sack of rice and rubber from Harvard , Guthrie plantation to awaiting truck.

So nice to hear Robert M. Parsig quoted! A seminal book for me, good luck.

A man can never have enough projects :)

James is right i had one i used it for work for 5 years that super cub never let me down apart for a puncture

The Top-Gear trio are great. Love the idea of tackling something you know nothing about. Of course, I wanna see Alfas.

Honda Cub are very popular, here ( NZ ) they sell for almost double the price of other small bikes. The CB are very popular too, partly because Honda,s are well made and last. Search online for parts i am sure Cub parts are still readily available, repair/rebuild as much as possible OEM is best, at least the CB runs. Good luck with the cars, Alfas do like too rust, then electrics do not work properly because NEG earth runs thru the body.

Self effacing and laugh out loud funny- Spot on Jethro!

You are not stupid and you don’t need help. Well done sir.

The passion you have is infectious and inspirational. Thank you for the content and beautiful imagery.

Yes. Simply amazing. My youth just took a revival pill!

I've always enjoyed riding 'bikes, even if I'm not really into them, for the same reasons you exposed in this video. It's a more "physical" experience compared to any car, it brings a sense of adventure to any trip. Look forward to your future Honda restorations and, of course, I'm happy the Alfas will be back too :)

Health issues forced me off of my BMW K1600gtl and onto a 1983 Honda C70 Passport (aka Super Cub everywhere but the USA due to copyright law). It's amazing the things I've noticed riding around in my home town on a motorcycle that won't go over 40 mph (64 kph). I can't take the freeway (Motorway) so I ride on the surface streets. "When did they build that?" "Look at the architecture in this neighborhood." "I've never noticed that side street before." All these things I keep telling myself as I rediscover my home town. No longer am I transfixed looking out a windshield at the car ahead of me. You'll enjoy the head turning and thumbs up your Super Cub gets too. Those little Honda engines are the definition of "bulletproof". You'll have it running very quickly. Parts are readily available from international sources such as the UK, Thailand or The Philippines. The only upgrade I'd make to your vintage Super Cub is to replace the ancient rectifier with a modern one, and replace all the brake shoes regardless of wear because they probably still contain asbestos. Enjoy your new toy...welcome to the club.

You look good on the CB200 looking forward to see the restoration. Cheers

@8:42 ah, yes, the handy ability to push start these small displacement motorcycles!

Honda moved the production of the Super Cub to China, so parts wouldn't necessarily be a problem, though I don't know if the parts of all the make-years are interchangeable. But that also means that there are a lot of clone engines available in a lot of different sizes, and because they have been making them for so long (long before the production officially moved) those clones are also bullet-proof. This might be good to know.

I bought a used US version Honda 50 in 1966. Used it to commute to school. Aside from extended uphill grades it was a great little bike. The kick starter broke off at the shaft but it still jump started. Also the rear axle shifted and all the rubber pieces the drive sprocket connected to fell out. I replaced them and kept riding. Eventually gave it away to my cousin.

I've been in love with Italian machinery since before i knew they were Italian. Alfa's {Gulia super my personal favorite, Ducatis and Aermacchis, but I have to agree with James May about the little Honda. When you've been exposed to them in there natural element you realize what a game changer they were for literally million of people. They stepped in for all sorts of industrial vehicles and excelled, so many time stepping over the ' that can't be done' line and ignoring the ' impossible ' A worthy restoration project!

I know the feeling. I have a CBX 1000 that just looks cool in the corner of the garage. Slowly but surely and they will never go down in value. Plus they don't take up as much room in the shop so that's one less reason to sell them. Love the Cub.

Good to see you again Jethro.

Oh boy, this should be fun!

So stoked for this Jethro!

I am in total agreement with you and James May!

There is a anime called "Super Cub" it's in a slice of life style, but what cool about that anime that it was written with Honda supervision to make sure that all info and looks are 100% accurate about the bike.

Keep at it Jethro, always awesome to see what you're up to! Stay safe bro.

That’s gonna be fun. 😀

I just bought one today , a brand new 2020 Super Cub C125. Took the long way home from the dealership, an 18 mile ride.

Great episode Jethro! Great to see some humour in it too 😊

Excellent! Orders of magnitude easier than Alfa, on it's best day. Utterly unskilled people have been rebuilding little Hondas for decades, with few tools, and no shop but a piece of street. Sometimes not even a piece of street! Kits are available, pretty much everywhere, and cheap. Super Cubs can be rebuilt, engine and gearbox, in a day. And those little Brenlys are pretty sweet, too! Looking forward to this!

I can relate! Should be fun!

Great video by touching on the history of this bike I’m very excited to be getting mines soon.

Great to see you back 👍🏻

so much enjoyed this one. like any of your videos :)

Looking forward to your next instalments both on two wheels and four. Love your channel. Hi from Sydney Australia.

Awesome additions to your collection! I have had (And still have) many bikes in my own collection. Here in the States, I'm in Seattle, we actually race vintage Honda CB/CL175's. They're a blast, and the knowledge of building, racing, and intimately knowing the bikes we ride/race is something that can't be put into words. I think you'll enjoy the process as much as riding them. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Cheers!

Great vid. Looking forward to the progress

My first bike was a grey C90 that I bought for £13, 47 years ago when I was 13, If I realised it was going to be such a classic I would have kept it, good luck with the build.

Honda projects sound good too . The worlds largest engine company 😎

Finally the bikes get some screentime 🤩

I bought a Honda Super Cub C70 about a month back. It is truly is something special. I’m looking forward to more Honda videos!

Looking forward to seeing more on the old hondas!

As a fellow Alfa lover and past motorcycle owner I can say you're going to really love it. Cars were my first love but I had a brief dalliance with two wheels and there's a lot to love about it, especially in a warm country like SA. I live in the UK, so I don't ride any more sadly! There's a lot to learn and quite a lot more to un-learn, coming from cars, but you'll enjoy how easy they are to work on and how simple everything is to access and fix. Removing an entire engine with my hands and lifting it up by myself was an amazing experience having never removed a car engine. Best of luck, can't wait to see more videos on these two. Also you really seem to be working the KZfaq algorithm better now, the video title and the presentation are much more flashy, great work!

It really is one of the best, most simple machines made!

Well what can I say new subscriber here love what you are doing outstanding will follow with great interest having owned a c70 two c90 now a new super cub plus a zillion other 70s bikes I know exactly where you are with these! All the best from Arizona USA

The frame disappearing is only part of the zen of it. The sudden increase in height, being able to see over hedges, walls and cars is also transformative. Growing up in the U.K. and biking there, you get a full onslaught of smells, sounds and g-forces. But the thing that always stays with me is temperature changes at night between the cold countryside and warmer towns and cities. Enjoy the experience.

Looking forward to the future video's 👍

Welcome to our world 👍🏻🏍

Hi Jethro The beach boys one looks like a ct110, the off road one. Used I'm Australia and NZ as "posties". Used to deliver mail. Sold in the US as well.lots of them had a two range gearbox. Closer to you, they were sold to Tanzanian Aid organisations but also to the government to use as rural service providers. They are available in those countries. I worked on a farm in the bush in Tz and they are bullet proof. Sometimes available in Japan but at wholesalers. Why do I know, I'm looking for one. There have been several documented trips from Australia to The UK

Awesome!!! I've always wanted a CD200. Can't wait to follow the process.

There were LOTS of cubs in south africa, I had a honda 50, a yamaha 250, I have quite a few bikes still,there were CB77,s on every street corner,I have three in various stages rebuild,but they are very hard to find,there were honda cubs,Itoms Garreli etc al.

Please keep up the great work !!!

welcome to two wheel adventures. Started last year with a Simson s50 B2 restauration scrambler style. sold it when it run 20 Hours without any issues. Then I got an vespa PK50 - tuneup and sold. (loose interest when everything works out fine) Next I will participate an 50cc competition in the famous Schwarzwald in two weeks. My latest project I bought an 1985 vespa Pk80 largeframe I work these days to get it ready for the event. Also would love to have an seventies 2 cylinder 125cc honda or an 125xl...maybe next winter project. cheers

Thanks man you got our legend super cub🇯🇵

Always loved the look of the CD200, Keen to see you get it sorted, good luck with the bikes amigo !

Great video as always thanks from JDS in AZ usa. It's a bit like poetry

Very true on losing the frame…I’m rediscovering my local countryside on a bicycle and seeing lots of new things.

Love the video, Jethro! Looking to get my first bike too!

I bought a 1955 zundapp Bella back in the 90s , did full concourse resto, ended up laying in the garage for 25 years never ridden sharing place with a 67 Guilia Super and 71 1750 GTV right off. Anyway sold both Alfa’s and part traded the Bella for a 1960 Mk Jaguar. Funny how tastes change when you get older.

Awesome - thats pretty much how my first bike/ride went as well. Yamaha sr500 i bought sight unseen as my first bike, never having ridden a motorcycle before haha. You re gonna be fine with these two!

Yes... As Trussedmetal says your Back ... and welcome to the world of two wheelers Jethro . Funny how you are chasing the same goals and all . My second bike was a 1970 Honda CB350 k1 very similar to yours, I still wish I had it..! Currently I do have a Honda dominator 650 and Xt500 and others . Collecting MC is like converting superannuation to something tangible. Eventually someone see’s the value in it and it’s a good investment hey..! Great story... Cheers

Again, good to see you again Jethro. It's funny that you have a Honda bike. I like cars and ended up getting a bike. A HONDA. It's a 83 Nighthawk 650. It hasn't run in 10+ years and I'm sure the carbs will need a rebuild. I haven't been to motivated to get on this, but I'll get it running and sell it. I don't trust myself or others on a motorcycle. Hope all is well!

The Honda super cub is a legendary motorcycle...probably the mother of half the motorcycle riders in the world...

Good luck. Both interesting projects.

Good luck with the bikes. Hondas are well made and has good parts availability so very restorable. Cmsnl has many parts ( and is a good part number source). Local honda dealers can often order the parts if they have the part number. Davidsilverspares in the uk have most parts. I restored a ct90 and other Hondas and it’s great fun. Enjoy

It's my favorite channel with the upload oh boy oh boy!

Brilliant film Jethro, a lot I can relate to. I've also got a nagging obsession for these cubs that has been persisting since my teenage years. Started with James May's various segments and reading zen last year was another box ticked. The fact that I'm just a bit younger than you makes me feel like I'm just a few years off the same fate... Great delivery as always.

My day just got a whole lot better.

My brother had a super Cub. He had painted it purple, tyres included and wrote "I hate purple" on it. Strange chap. Still is actually. I rode it occasionally and it was lots of fun, except when I had an accident with it which threw me off to land on a traffic sign pole.

Nice to see someone else who saw that episode and was influenced by it many years later. You know that part when they're on Hải Vân Pass, set to a Hendrix track, and they stop to look out over that amazing view? I was travelling through Vietnam in 2013 and realised that Hội An, where I wanted to stop for a couple of days, was quite close to Hải Vân Pass. So I rented a little scooter and took myself off up the coast. Had never ridden a motorbike before aside from 45 seconds on a friend's pit bike in a muddy field, had no maps or anything, just wrote down a bunch of directions and took off. I found that exact spot, and it truly is magnificent. I have some pictures of me sitting there, admiring the same view that Clarkson, Hammond and May did. Brilliant memories, even down to the idiotic sunburn I got despite heavy cloud cover all day. That really was a brilliant episode, possibly the high point of the trio.

I am about to pick up C50 in few days. I look forward to your adventure.

Love it!

If two bikes are parked next to each other. one needing a lot of tlc, and the other in a good running order, you will pick the one needing tlc, methinks.

My first experience on a bike was a CB175 Honda very similar to yours. Loads of fun. Be careful the plugs strip out easily!!!!!!!!! :-)

Impeccable taste, Jethro!

Amazing collection you have....love from Pakistan dear.😊❤

The little Honda should be fun. Although the cub is mechanically simpler, easier to source parts etc. Depending on distances traffic etc the 200 will be easier to get comfortable riding. I can't imagine not having a little Honda in the garage.

Jethro I swear you got some different project cars in your shop. Looking forward to this build series. You have a few builds going on! Good luck!

Nice small projects but definitely fun! I am rebuilding a 1974 Honda CB360 as a scrambler/cafe something I can ride to school for my last 2 years of college.

Hi Jethro, just found your channel today and have enjoyed watching your videos. That 200cc Honda is really easy to work on and you will enjoy doing that engine. The kickstarter is always a problem on all Hondas of that era. Some used to weld them on - just enough to be able to grind them off when needed. I used to have Alfas and now Jags. If you havent seen Ivan's Shed - check that out - the best videos like yours on KZfaq and 80 years old - you can learn a lot from Ivan. Only a few videos to watch there and every one a classic. Best wishes from UK.

Excellent

Nice to see you back :) I went looking at a Alfasud Sprint the other day as a project for my channel... I could almost hear your voice in my head.... It was to expensive unfortunately.. I never owned a Alfa! Its almost criminal by now...

I love that top gear, but recently I found a MotorWorld with Jeremy from 1995, when he was young, before top gear, where he was in Vietnam, talking about how expensive cars are, and then he rides a Honda cub around.... (the Botswana/Lancia/Merc/Oliver one is still my favorite)

Wow, as much as I dislike motorcycles, I am quite exited for these projects! The closest thing I have been to motorcycle restoration, is helping my dad prep and paint his old KZ900. Anyways, great work as always Jethro!

for the honda c-50 part..you could look into south east asia or china..there still alot of this model here and part are easy to find...

I have a honda ct110 postie version, miles of smiles.

Oh boy!