On April 1, 2025, a new category, “New Standard Moped,” will be added to the Class 1 moped category. New standard moped models are scheduled to appear from November 2025 onwards.
New global exhaust gas regulations will come into effect in November 2025. This means that production of current vehicles under 50cc that cannot meet the exhaust gas regulations will effectively end at the end of October 2025.
Exhaust gas regulations are becoming stricter every year, but the new exhaust gas regulations (4th edition) coming into effect in November 2025 will be the strictest yet, and major improvements will be required in various parts to meet them while maintaining an engine displacement of 50cc.
Generally, stricter exhaust gas regulations apply to 50cc bikes than to 125cc bikes. In other words, the smaller the engine displacement, the greater the cost to meet the regulations, leading to a price hike of “500,000 yen per 50cc bike,” far exceeding that of a 125cc bike.
If this were to happen, ordinary people would no longer be able to buy 50cc bikes, which are their means of transportation. As a result, motorcycle manufacturers would no longer be able to make a profit by producing 50cc bikes.
In order to break this vicious cycle bound by existing laws, a new category, “new standard mopeds,” was “added” to the Class 1 moped category through a revision of the law on April 1, 2025.
The “new standard moped” that replaces the 50cc is a vehicle with an engine displacement of over 50cc and up to 125cc (110cc class or 125cc class) and a maximum output of 4.0kW (5.4ps) or less. Just like the 50cc, it can be driven with a moped license. See the page below for more details!
Domestic production of 50cc models will end on October 31, 2025. What kind of bikes are the new 125cc class “new standard mopeds”? Will the 30km/h speed limit, two-stage right turn, and two-seater bans continue? | Motor-Fan [Motor Fan] A media platform that distributes automotive-related articlesA new category, “New Standard Moped,” will be added to the Class 1 Moped category. Starting in November 2025, new emissions regulations will be applied to motorized bicycles (Class 1 Mopeds) with an engine displacement of 50cc or less. This effectively means that production of current vehicles under 50cc that cannot meet the emissions regulations will cease in 2025.
As long as it meets the “Road Transport Vehicle Safety Standards,” 50cc vehicles will be allowed to be driven on public roads after November 2025, regardless of the model year.
On October 31, 2025, production of 50cc Class 1 moped models for use on public roads will end in Japan. The question that comes to mind is, “Will 50cc mopeds produced before October 31, 2025 be able to be used on public roads after November 2025?”
In conclusion, even if the motorcycle is a 50cc produced before October 31, 2025, it can generally be ridden on public roads as long as it is equipped with safety parts, has a license plate, and has compulsory automobile liability insurance.
The new exhaust gas regulations, which will come into effect in November 2025, will only apply to models produced after November 1, 2025. It is important to note that 50cc models produced before October 31, 2025 will not be subject to the regulations.
Shortly after the war, bicycle motorcycles with auxiliary engines, nicknamed “batabata,” appeared. These vehicles were equipped with OHV engines, such as the early Super Cub “C100,” which was released in 1958. Even vehicles equipped with full-power 2-stroke engines with a 7.2 horsepower limit imposed by manufacturers that appeared in the 1990s were not problematic as long as they met the “Road Transport Vehicle Safety Standards.”
Please note that vehicles that do not meet the “Safety Standards for Road Transport Vehicles” (such as some older cars and custom cars) are subject to “poor maintenance” and are likely to be arrested, even if they are current models.
Road Transport Vehicle Safety Standards (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_fr7_000092.html
The Honda NSR50 is equipped with a water-cooled, 2-stroke, 49cc engine with a maximum output of 7.2ps. The photo shows the final model, released in 1999. Good condition examples are available for over 1 million yen.
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At the Cub event “Cafe Cub Meeting” held at Honda’s Tokyo headquarters (Welcome Plaza Aoyama) in 2013. The photo shows a licensed Honda Cub F that rode itself to the venue. The Honda Cub F was released as an auxiliary engine for commercially available bicycles.
What is “N Chibi”? The NSR50/80 is a 3/4 size replica of the Honda NSR500. | All commercially available models featured | Motor-Fan Bikes“3/4 (Three Quarter Works)” and “HRC Sport Spirit” were the development concepts behind the NSR50/80. The NSR50/80 undoubtedly inherited technology directly linked to the NSR500 (500cc) World GP500 racer, the most powerful road racing machine of the time. REPORT ● KITA Hideaki
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A two-stroke Cub?! Combined with a bicycle?! We rode the rare “Cub F”! | Motor-Fan BikesThe first Super Cub C100 was released in 1958 (Showa 33). Six years earlier, in 1952 (Showa 27), Honda released the Cub F, nicknamed “Batabata,” which could be ridden by people of all ages and genders. In fact, the “Cub” existed before the Super Cub C100 was released. REPORT ● Kita Hideaki (KITA Hideaki) RIDING IMPRESSION ● Chikata Shigeru (CHIKATA Shigeru) Photography cooperation ● Honda Collection Hall / Honda Motorcycle Japan PHOTO ● Honda Motorcycle Japan / Chikata Shigeru
50cc models will continue to be sold in the used car market as usual after November 2025.
Photo is for illustrative purposes only.
As of October 31, 2025, production of 50cc Class 1 mopeds for use on public roads will end in Japan, but 50cc Class 1 mopeds will continue to be sold in the used car market as before.
With the emergence of the new standard mopeds, new 50cc models produced before October 31, 2025 will be released on the market. Will they be sold at a discount? Or will they be released at the regular price? There are many points to keep an eye on.
Those currently considering purchasing a Class 1 moped will want to keep an eye on future developments.
Popular models and cars that are attracting attention are likely to fetch a premium!
Another thing worth noting is that some of the 50cc models that will be discontinued will command a premium that exceeds the price of a new car. To give some existing examples…
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Good quality vehicles such as the Monkey 50 (especially vintage models, limited models, and final models) are sold at prices far exceeding the new car price of the Monkey 125.
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Equipped with a powerful 2-stroke 7.2 horsepower engine, the NSR50. Good condition models are sold for over 1 million yen. In general, vehicles equipped with a 2-stroke 7.2 horsepower engine are released at high prices.
◎Super Cub 50
The Super Cub 50 from the era of OHV engines is extremely valuable and highly prized. The early model C100 is respected as the “Cub of Cubs.”
Of the above, as of October 10, 2025, the only 50cc model currently in the lineup is the Super Cub 50. The current Super Cub 50, including the Final Edition below, is likely to command a premium as the “last 50cc Super Cub model.” If you want one, you might want to get one soon!
The Super Cub 50 Final Edition, “the last 50cc Super Cub model,” will be available for pre-order only from Friday, November 8, 2024 to Sunday, November 24, 2024. As of October 10, 2025, it is available at many dealerships for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of 297,000 yen (tax included). If you want one, hurry!
“Moped Licenses Up to 125cc” | National Police Agency Considers | Domestic Moped Reform Finally Begins | Motor-Fan [Motor Fan] Media Platform Delivering Automotive-Related ArticlesThe current limit for motorcycle engine displacement that can be ridden with a moped (motorized bicycle) license is 50cc or less. The National Police Agency has now announced that this limit will be raised to 125cc or less (drivers will need a standard small-sized motorcycle license or higher). However, the maximum power output will be limited to 4kW (5.4ps).
[Update] Honda Ends Production of 50cc Class 1 Mopeds (Zero Handlebars). New “Class 1 Mopeds (with maximum power limit)” are born, with engine displacements increased from 50cc to 125cc. | Motor-Fan, a media platform focused on automotive-related articles.Why the Class 1 Moped Class will be raised from 50cc or less to 125cc or less (New Class 1 Moped Class) “Raising the displacement of Class 1 Moped Class from 50cc or less to 125cc or less” This argument comes as stricter exhaust gas regulations have forced small-displacement motorcycle engines to be upgraded from 2-stroke to […]
