L’ EZ-9 “easy – nine” (facile 9) viene presentato in Giappone al Salone di Tokyo nel 1990 con i colori “ufficiali” Honda Bianco-Rosso-Blu.

L’anno successivo sempre al Salone di Tokyo, viene presentato un kit comprendente uno sci da montare al posto della ruota anteriore e un cingolo da utilizzare al posto di quella posteriore per riuscire ad utilizzare lo scooter anche sulla neve.

E’ risultato uno scooter anticonvenzionale al 100% infatti no ha un uso ben specificato, in quanto non avendo possibilità di omologazione (ad eccezione dell’Italia), e non potendo partecipare a nessun tipo di competizione .

In Italia comunque fu organizzato un trofeo parallelo allo Scooter Cross dedicato al CUB (nome con cui veniva commercializzato in Italia e negli U.S.A. da dove proviene il termine che significa “piccolo cucciolo di orso”), ma ebbe successo soltanto per 2-3 anni.

E’ difficile dare una spiegazione al progetto HONDA EZ-9, forse il colosso giapponese aveva soltanto l’intenzione di stravolgere e stupire come ci ha abituato con altri progetti (NR oval piston).

Sicuramente è il difficile risultato di ridurre gli ingombri utilizzando una linea innovativa unica, infatti ogni particolare raccolto intorno al telaio e anche i lavori di manutenzioni risultano più impegnativi di un normale scooter.

In Giappone non ha riscosso molto successo, mentre è stato esportato in U.S.A. - Canada e Argentina con il nome CUB dove ha avuto un buon successo ed è stato utilizzato per spostarsi nei paddock delle competizioni di cross e quelle automobilistiche.

Come al solito noi italiani dovevamo distinguerci!!

I CUB venivano importati dagli U.S.A. da una ditta che riusciva forse grazie a delle conoscenze ad immatricolarli come 50cc, ed aggiungendo fari e specchietto erano pronti a circolare su strada.

Il gioco però non è durato molto, ma ha fatto si che in Italia tutt’oggi ci sono centinaia di CUB legali e non.

Scoperta la truffa, le forze dell’ordine hanno iniziato una vera e propria caccia al CUB (io che ne avevo uno venivo tempestato di telefonate dalla polizia che voleva sequestrarmelo!!).

Molti esemplari finirono per essere pressati altrimenti in Italia oggi ce ne sarebbero stati molti di più.

Dopo provò un’altra azienda italiana ad importarli, costruendo un gruppo termico che facesse risultare la cilindrata di 50cc, ma i prezzi diventarono esagerati (nell’ultimo listino che ho c’è riportato £. 7.560.000 circa £. 3.000.000 in più del prezzo dell’azienda precedente).

Oltre i pochi esemplari rimasti in Italia è rimasta la domanda che gli appassionati si pongono ancora oggi : Moto o Scooter?

Ognuno ha la sua risposta………

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Ecco la descrizione che si trova in internet dei vari modelli divisi per anno.

The Honda EZ series was called a Cub and was sold from 1990 to 1996. It had a "futuristic" look with the swing arm acting as the rear shock. For 1991, three colors were available: Shasta White, Pure Flandre Blue, and Fighting Red. The saddle, fork boots, front mudguards, and handle grips were blue. The "Cub" logo and stripe were red. The skid plate was metallic silver. The engine was a 2-stroke 90cc single cylinder with a reed valve. It had an automatic transmission. The serial number began JH2HE060*MK100001.

The Honda EZ series was called a Cub and was sold from 1991 to 1996. It had a "futuristic" look with the swing arm acting as the rear shock. For 1991, three colors were available: Shasta White, Pure Flandre Blue, and Fighting Red. The saddle, fork boots, front mudguards, and handle grips were blue. The "Cub" logo and stripe were red. The skid plate was metallic silver. The engine was a 2-stroke 90cc single cylinder with a reed valve. It had an automatic transmission. The serial number began JH2HE060*MK200001.

The Honda EZ90'92 Cub was sold in 1992. It had a "futuristic" look with the swing arm acting as the rear shock. For 1992, the same three colors were available: Shasta White, Pure Flandre Blue, and Fighting Red. The saddle, fork boots, front mudguards, and handle grips were blue. The "Cub" logo and stripe were red. The skid plate was metallic silver. The engine was a 2-stroke 90cc single cylinder with a reed valve. It had an automatic transmission. Thus there was no visible changes from the 1991 model. The serial number began JH2HE060*NK300001.

The Honda EZ90'93 Cub was sold in 1993. It continued with this "futuristic" look with the swing arm acting as the rear shock. For 1993, just two colors were available: Shasta White and Fighting Red. The saddle was now red along with the front mudguards and handle covers. The body work was red and white. The rear fender changed from white to red. The "Cub" logo and stripe were red. The skid plate was metallic silver. The engine was a 2-stroke 90cc single cylinder with a reed valve. It had an automatic transmission. The serial number began JH2HE060*PK400001.

The Honda EZ90'94 Cub was sold in 1994. There was no visible change from the 1993 model. It continued with this "futuristic" look with the swing arm acting as the rear shock. For 1993, just two colors were available: Shasta White and Fighting Red. The saddle was now red along with the front mudguards and handle covers. The body work was red and white. The rear fender changed from white to red. The "Cub" logo and stripe were red. The skid plate was metallic silver. The engine was a 2-stroke 90cc single cylinder with a reed valve. It had an automatic transmission. The serial number began JH2HE060*RK500001.

The Honda EZ90'95 Cub was sold in 1995. There was no visible change from the 1993 model. It continued with this "futuristic" look with the swing arm acting as the rear shock. For 1993, just two colors were available: Shasta White and Fighting Red. The saddle was now red along with the front mudguards and handle covers. The body work was red and white. The rear fender changed from white to red. The "Cub" logo and stripe were red. The skid plate was metallic silver. The engine was a 2-stroke 90cc single cylinder with a reed valve. It had an automatic transmission. The serial number began JH2HE060*SK600504.

The Honda EZ90'96 Cub was sold in 1996. There was no visible change from the 1993 model. It continued with this "futuristic" look with the swing arm acting as the rear shock. For 1993, just two colors were available: Shasta White and Fighting Red. The saddle was now red along with the front mudguards and handle covers. The body work was red and white. The rear fender changed from white to red. The "Cub" logo and stripe were red. The skid plate was metallic silver. The engine was a 2-stroke 90cc single cylinder with a reed valve. It had an automatic transmission. The serial number began JH2HE060*TK700001.