2023 Honda ST125 Dax: The Retro Mini-Bike Is Back!

For the uninitiated, the Honda Dax story began in 1969 with the original ST50 and ST70 Dax. The name comes from the bike’s passing resemblance to a Dachshund (sausage dog) and the model plate on the side of the bike features a picture of said hound. The 2023 Honda Dax is a 1970s icon reinvented for the 21st century as a stylish 125cc motorcycle. All the Dax style is there 12in wheels, chunky tyres, T-shaped frame and high swooping bars, but now benefits from the largest capacity engine in the model’s history. The modern version is great fun to ride and cheap to buy and run brilliant alternative to a conventional scooter. Several versions of the model existed through the ‘70s before the model was retired for over 30 years. The 124cc air-cooled SOHC 4-stroke 2-valve engine is the biggest aver fitted to a Dax but it’s very quiet and smooth. A meagre 9 hp power output means a very low state of tune for a 125 so reliability should be excellent plus Honda have made millions of small capacity engines by this point. The 4-speed gearbox is easy to use there’s no clutch lever, it’s a centrifugal set up, with a toe-heel lever to go up and down the box. First generation Daxs feature spindly suspension and tiny drum brakes whereas the ST125 comes with 31mm USD forks (non-adjustable), a box-section swingarm and twin shocks, it weighs just 107kg fully fueled. The front is a 220mm disc gripped by an ABS equipped twin-pot caliper, the rear a 190mm disc with a single-pot caliper. Ride...