The Honda Cub is, and always will be, the king of underbones. It’s the best-selling motorcycle in history, has been around since 1958, and has a reputation so bulletproof you could probably ride one through a war zone and come out the other side unscathed.
Over the years, Honda has evolved the Cub family, spawning everything from the retro-styled Super Cub 125 to the rugged Hunter Cub (CT125), which lets you live out your explorer fantasies—provided your idea of adventure includes 9 horsepower and a semi-auto transmission.
And then there’s this: the Kamax Cub X, yet another Chinese brand trying to muscle in on the Cub’s legacy. At this point, they’re not just copying Honda—they’re remixing it, blending the commuter-friendly Super Cub with the off-road-leaning Hunter Cub and ending up with something that looks oddly familiar yet just different enough to avoid a lawsuit. It’s the motorcycle equivalent of a fake Rolex with a see-through case back and a name like “Relox.”
Now, if you’ve never heard of Kamax, don’t feel bad. They’re a Chinese manufacturer cranking out motorcycles, dirt bikes, and scooters, supplying both their own brand and various OEM clients. They claim to be a global leader, operating in over 80 countries, which sounds impressive until you realize that “global presence” in the motorcycle world often translates to “we sell cheap bikes in a lot of developing markets.” But to their credit, Kamax isn’t just making clones anymore—they’re trying to outdo the original.
On paper, the Cub X actually has some serious firepower. It’s got a 147.5cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine making 6.8 kW (9.1 hp) at 7,500 rpm and 10.5 Nm (about eight-ish pound-feet) of torque at 5,000 rpm—not groundbreaking, but notably more than what Honda offers in the 125cc Cubs.
It comes with electronic fuel injection, meets Euro 5+ emission standards, and features a 4-speed cyclic transmission with a multi-plate oil-immersed clutch, which should make for smoother shifts. But where it really flexes on Honda is in the features department.
Honda’s Super Cub and Hunter Cub both rock drum brakes in some markets, but the Cub X gets disc brakes front and rear, complete with ABS. The aluminum alloy swingarm and 7075 aerospace-grade aluminum wheels sound fancy, even if most riders won’t care. It’s got LED lights all around, an LCD instrument panel, and a smart keyless start system, because apparently, pressing a button is cooler than using a key these days.
It even throws in a high-mounted muffler for better ground clearance and a custom rear cargo rack, just in case you want to haul groceries on your pseudo-adventure bike.
All this for an expected price below RM10,000 (approximately $2,100 USD) when it launches in Malaysia later this year. That’s significantly cheaper than a Honda Super Cub 125, and on paper, it even beats the OG in some areas. But here’s the thing—Chinese bikes have always been great on paper. The real question is how will it hold up after 10,000 miles? Will the electronics still work? Will the welds hold up? Will you be able to find parts when something inevitably breaks?
Chinese motorcycles are improving, no doubt about it. They’re offering better designs, better features, and better value than ever before. I mean, just look at CFMoto, QJ Motor, and yes, some BMW models. But for every well-built machine, there’s another that falls apart faster than a cheap eBay fairing kit. If you’re willing to roll the dice, the Kamax Cub X might be a fun, budget-friendly alternative to Honda’s increasingly expensive Cubs.
However, if proven reliability, strong resale value, and actual dealer support are what you’re looking for, well, you already know who the real king of underbones is.
Source: Kamax
