Honda Cub F

{{Infobox Motorcycle

| name = Honda Cub F

| image = Image:Cub-f.JPG

|caption = The Honda Cub F engine, introduced in 1952, mounted on a bicycle at the Toyota Automobile Museum in October, 2005.

| aka = Type F

| manufacturer = Honda Motor Company

| parent_company =

| production = 1952-1954

| predecessor =

| successor = Honda Cub

| class = Motorized bicycle power unit

| engine = {{convert|50|cc|abbr=on}} air-cooled, two-stroke
single-cylinder

|bore_stroke = {{convert|40|x|39.8|mm|abbr=on}}

| top_speed = {{convert|35|km/h|abbr=on}}

| power = {{convert|1|hp|abbr=on}} @ 3,600 rpm {{cite web|url=http://www.honda.co.jp/collection-hall/2r/201.html|title=Honda Collection Hall page|publisher=Honda|access-date=2008-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311024623/http://www.honda.co.jp/collection-hall/2r/201.html|archive-date=2005-03-11}}

| torque = {{convert|0.20|kgm|abbr=on}} @ 3,000 rpm

|ignition = Magneto

|transmission = Variable 1-speed

| suspension =

| brakes =

| tires =

| rake_trail =

| wheelbase =

| length =

| width =

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| dry_weight = {{convert|7|kg|abbr=on}} (without bicycle)

| wet_weight =

|fuel_capacity = {{convert|3.2|L|abbr=on}}

| oil_capacity =

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| turning_radius =

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}}

The Honda Cub F is a motorized bicycle, sometimes also categorized as a moped, introduced by Honda in 1952. It was a "clip-on" gasoline engine kit for bicycles produced by other manufacturers, identified by the slogan {{Nihongo|the white tank and the red engine|白いタンクに赤いエンジン}} and popular for a design that prevented the two-stroke engine exhaust and oil from hitting the rider. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan {{in lang|ja}}, includes the 1952 Honda Cub F as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.{{cite web|title=Honda Cub F|url=http://www.jsae.or.jp/autotech/data_e/4-10e.html|work=240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology|publisher=Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc.|access-date=12 August 2013|quote=Honda's establishment of dealerships was also unique, and explosive sales of this motorcycle were achieved by sending the direct mailings to 55,000 bicycle shops all over Japan, thereby expanding the sales network in a single stroke.|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206225113/http://www.jsae.or.jp/autotech/data_e/4-10e.html }}

This product was a formative success for the new company, establishing their first nationwide independent dealer network. Managing director Takeo Fujisawa initiated a direct-mail campaign to the country's 50,000 bicycle dealers, generating about 30,000 replies, from which 13,000 dealers were chosen.{{Citation |last= Brown |first= Roland |title=Honda: the complete story |publisher=Crowood |year= 1991 |ISBN= 1-85223-544-6 |page=17–18 }} He also instigated a hire-purchase scheme to allow customers to spread payments across 12 months. Honda shipped 6,000 Cub F units in October 1952, and 9,000 in December.{{cite web|url=http://world.honda.com/history/limitlessdreams/ftype/text/01.html|title=Initial success - Using Direct Mail to Develop Sales Outlets for the Cub F-Type (1952) |publisher=Honda|access-date=2008-02-21|archive-date=2006-05-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504041206/http://world.honda.com/history/limitlessdreams/ftype/text/01.html }}

Production ceased in 1954, with the company citing consumer demand shifting to better products as Japan's postwar economy improved, and quality problems with the bicycle components that Honda had no control over.{{cite web |url=http://world.honda.com/history/limitlessdreams/friendship/text/01.html|title=Production ceases - "Mutual Trust and Friendship" Communication from the Heart Sustained Honda (1954)|publisher=Honda|access-date=2008-02-21|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231144235/http://world.honda.com/history/limitlessdreams/friendship/text/01.html }}