The Firefly – Deus Custom Honda Super Cub Racer
Over 60 million Honda Super Cubs have been sold world wide. The Discovery Channel named it ‘the greatest motorcycle ever. One in the over 60 million units was destine to be transformed into the race machina, The Firefly.
Matthew Roberts, Deus Ex Machina’s Japan Director of Motorcycle Operations, selected a 1961 first series Honda Super Cub for the makeover.
Transformation would be a better choice of word, the Firefly looks galaxies apart from the original Cub. In fact one would be hard pressed to know the Firefly’s origins.
Every nut, bolt, bearing and bushing, engine components to front suspension internals, were re-engineered and redesigned using the original factory blue prints.
Furthermore, the Super Cub was originally designed as an economical and easy to ride motorcycle, Roberts has turned it into a racer.
Of course, when not devouring the racetrack, the bike will draw attention as it attractively navigates city streets during the daily commute.
With the Firefly, Roberts created a scintillating tribute to the small capacity GP and TT steeds of the 1950’s and ’60’s.
Designed and built by Roberts, the modified frame along with the epoxy composite monocoque body saved weight and gave the Firefly a striking silhouette. The light weight and slender epoxy composite monocoque, ‘the backbone’, neatly houses a fuel cell, battery, coil and the bikes electronics.
The original headlight was installed vertically and a small bespoke circular rear light at the back end. The subdued illumination allows you to race the Firefly on Sunday and ride it to work Monday morning.
Custom hand-made parts include, the alloy top bridge, stop light, rear set foot controls, fully adjustable alloy race shocks and the externally mounted front fork unit. Original C105 hubs were refurbished then fitted with custom alloy rims and spokes.
The Firefly lines run uninterrupted from headlight to tail section except for the custom hand stitched Oxblood red riders seat.
The original C105 speedometer was kept and installed into the bikes horizontal epoxy composite monocoque ‘backbone’. Which also neatly houses a fuel cell, battery, coil and the bikes electronics.
“We doubt Soichiro Honda’s original team would have ever imagined their humble first series Super Cub transformed into a pole-position-ready racer over half a century later … though we do know they would be proud.” Deus
The half century old single overhead valve engine was over-sized and tuned to race series regulation, with a 20% maximum increase.
Every nut, bolt, bearing and bushing was re-engineered and redesigned using the original blue prints.
More info: Dues Ex Machina
Photos: Deus Ex Machina
