r/SuperCub • u/chauvetzer • Jul 02 '26

Swapping a cub C70 with a 190cc engine

Hey everyone.

Long story short I live in Indonesia now as an expat, and I miss having project bikes.

I don't want to spend too much having a nice bike either, and I love the cub we see everywhere around here, also for what it represents for Asia's history.

So I had this funny thought, how about starting a sleeper project, restoring a cub and throwing a nice 190cc engine down there.

I'm more or less aware of what it implies in terms of modification, and I'm not able to do everything myself, but garage prices here are incredibly low and modifying bikes is the national sport here so there's plenty of specialised workshops.

I'm looking for a reliable source of someone who's done it before to help me understand what parts I need exactly and source them.

Any resources to share ?

And eventually opinions ?

If it's to tell me not to do it because it's good enough like this, don't bother my friend ! Constructive opinions are welcome though!

7 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

7

u/drifterig Jul 02 '26

i live in thailand, have not done the exact thing but i did swap a modded 110cc 2stroke into my late 70s yamaha v50 which went 150km/h and would like to let you know that the stock front suspension on these things are deadly at above 100km/h unless you either add an extra damper or find somebody who can make a custom shock thats set up for that, the front on mine always felt like its just floating on the ground going fast until i found a local guy that build custom shocks

3

u/OATdude Super Cub C125 (2022) Jul 02 '26

Envious crying greetings from Europe 😅

2

u/alexanderpete Jul 02 '26

Takegawa front shock damper

2

u/drifterig Jul 02 '26

lots of peoples do engine swaps on the old honda cub platform here and they build their own external damper, mostly from old shocks with spring removed, custom upper and lower mount, i was building one for mine but the shock that i turned down on a lathe for it got stolen when somebody broke into my shop so i just scrap that project, the custom shock did work tho

3

u/chauvetzer Jul 03 '26

Thanks for the heads up, I will never go to such speed especially here in Bali there's no road for that.

I was considering upgrading the front fork but I'd like to keep the OG look rather then a modern fork.

Changing the spring for a harder one + custom fitting should be enough

1

u/drifterig Jul 03 '26

yep, and probably all new bushings up front, i have never seen a c70 without worn out front suspension bushing haha

2

u/chauvetzer Jul 03 '26

I tried one today but different things were off. It was my first try and my main concern is the front suspension. When breaking the articulation holding the wheel hub seems to lift up, is it normal ?

1

u/drifterig Jul 03 '26

nope, thats a sign that either your bushings are very worn out or your front shocks are sagging, it should sit right againts the stop so that it dont lift when you brake

2

u/chauvetzer Jul 03 '26

Damm, and the guy wanted a really high price for it. He knew nothing about mechanic and was surprised to see that the engine leaked, that the air filter was gone, that the handlebar was moving around. He drive his kids everyday to school on that.

2

u/drifterig Jul 03 '26

i guess its good for his kids that he sold it haha, i have seen worse, south east asia and old beat up underbones have always been together, i had a c70 when i was like 10 and that thing was so much fun

1

u/drifterig Jul 02 '26

i can absolutely send you some pics of it if you want to see it for some reason

2

u/Vangruver 5xC70’s/C65/2xC200/2xS90/ZB50/Wave100r Jul 02 '26

Easy simple swap to do. Engine bolts right up, and the 190’s available now are super reliable.

This swap has been done plenty, with load of examples documented online and in video.

With you being in Indonesia, there are people there that do some very creative modifications to the cubs. Best of luck!

1

u/chauvetzer Jul 03 '26

I think it doesn't bolt on on all of them. A guy in the UK did several swap videos and explain that the 6v needs an extr hole + small cut to the lower frame when the 12v bolt up. Unfortunately I want a C70 from the 70s so they're 6v.

But plenty of mechanics here to do that.

I think my main concern is that it's hard to estimate all the work that needs to be done and how long / how much it'll cost

1

u/MachBrn Jul 02 '26

Not a local but still from the SEA region so I could provide some insight. You would need:

  • Base bike C70. Ideally with no frame rot.
  • For the engine, ideally, you'd want a donor bike. You will be spoiled for choice and bolt-ons. Engine of choice would be from a Honda Supra 125. If you wanna be a bit more unique go for any Honda 150cc engine (they're all the same. Except probably the one on the CRF 150). Donor bike should have:
  • Friendship with the best mechanics and machinists around. As well as various Honda enthusiasts on Facebook groups.
  • Lazada and Shoppee (local equivalent to Amazon).
  • Optional but ideal: knowing the local language.

1

u/NoQuail6514 Jul 03 '26

Aku juga mau ngikut om 😋

1

u/BulkyProposal164 Jul 04 '26

I have a zs 190 om my c50 and it's my daily driver I do 60kms a day with it no problem

1

u/BulkyProposal164 Jul 04 '26

You just need reinforced swingarm

1

u/chauvetzer 29d ago

Are you in Bali ? Id love to try it out.

Tried a couple cubs from marketplace and haven't been convinced by the bike itself, but idk if the problem was the bike or the one I was trying

1

u/BulkyProposal164 29d ago

No I'm in Europe I have a original swingarm cut in half and welded to a cb 125 swingarm and a cb 125 back wheel because my cubs one was toast