Motorcycles AFS Custom Bikes’ Unique Take On A Honda CubThe Tainan City builder stretches a scooter with Cub DNA.

Words Wesley Reyneke
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Few bikes can claim the cult status of the iconic Honda Cub. The adorable under-bone scooter has been in constant production since 1958, with over 100 million units made, and its design has been cloned countless times. This custom scooter from Taiwan contains Cub DNA, but you’d never guess because it’s stretched to its breaking point. It’s the latest build from AFS Custom Bikes of Tainan City and uses the engine from a Cub clone made by SYM.

It’s a reincarnation of the classic Cub vibe, six decades later and from an alternate universe. “The Honda Cub was released over half a century ago and has never gone out of style,” says the shop’s founder, who also goes by AFS. “I think that’s really cool. I wanted to keep those basic lines, but maybe add a little bit more modern style to it.” From there, the concept evolved into something a little more slammed and stretched, because the shop’s customer is a hot rod fanatic. There’s no suspension, just one brake, and nothing to make it street legal, but that’s not a problem; style was always going to trump practicality on this project.

It’s a remarkably cohesive and fluid design — particularly the single-sided fork and rigid rear end. Both ends curve tightly around the tires and converge at the axles.

The headline feature here is the scooter’s handmade chassis. It’s been built from steel tubing, with the main backbone doubling up as a fuel tank. AFS built a makeshift fuel gauge on the left side and a tidy knurled aluminum gas cap up top. It’s a remarkably cohesive and fluid design — particularly the single-sided fork and rigid rear end. Both ends curve tightly around the tires and converge at the axles. The front end is neat, too, running seamlessly into a narrow set of bars. There’s nothing in the cockpit except a pair of grips and an internal throttle.

The 17-inch disc wheels are custom as well, but they weren’t totally built from scratch; AFS started with a pair of automotive spare wheels, then cut out and redesigned the center sections. They’re wrapped in Bridgestone slicks, and there’s a single disc brake at the back: a Brembo caliper operated by a Frando master cylinder that AFS built-in behind the rear sprocket, leaving the right side of the wheel completely clear. The scooter’s 90cc motor has three gears and no clutch, which meant AFS could simplify the design even further. There’s just a rear brake lever on the right and a hand shifter down low on the left.

AFS built the custom air intake and the stainless steel exhaust, an interesting design that loops down to the rear wheel and exhales via a pair of holes in the side of its muffler. With blacked-out finishes and gold wheels, AFS has nailed the hot rod vibe here. The final piece of the puzzle is the bobber-inspired seat, which was hand-shaped from aluminum. With the lack of suspension, it’s sure to be a harsh ride, but given that the fuel tank holds less than half a gallon of fuel — and the scooter isn’t even remotely street legal — you won’t be going very far anyway.