The CT90 Trail 90, which could be easily ridden in the field, gained steady popularity not only for leisure but also for commercial use by ranchers and farmers, mainly in the U.S.
In Japan, the Hunter Cub 55, based on the export model CA105H Trail 55, was launched in 1961, but it was only sold for a short period. The C100H was also displayed as an export model at the 1963 All Japan Auto Show, but it was not sold in Japan.
At the time, the economy was booming, and the Super Cub was perceived only as a business bike, its demand continued to grow rapidly, and in 1965, reached a cumulative production of 4.7 million units. In addition, it was also the lead-up period before the fully-revamped model would arrive with a new OHC engine, and Honda may have refrained from increasing the number of Super Cub derivative models.
Perhaps because of this, trail models based on the Super Cub have not appeared in Japan since the Hunter Cub 55.
In 1968, when Japan’s GNP (Gross National Product) became the second-largest in the world, the leisure boom arrived along with the high economic growth.
Following this new trend, the CT50 was finally launched in Japan. The first CT series model to be launched in Japan in seven years since 1961, the CT50 was a 50 cc version of the CT90 Trail 90 (K0), a late version export model. It was designed not only for leisure, but also for deliveries and patrols in mountainous areas and rough terrain. It featured an upward tilting muffler, upright handlebars, and frame covers, and was the first motorcycle for the Japanese market to adopt an auxiliary gearbox. The three-stage automatic centrifugal clutch, the same as that of the Super Cub, was combined with two additional stages (low and high), allowing the rider to use the high range for normal riding and the low range for riding on rough terrain or hills.
Optional parts for a wide range of applications were also available. Because of the strong image of the first-generation Hunter Cub, this model was sometimes called the Hunter Cub, but its official name was the Honda CT50, without the Hunter Cub moniker.