Low-cost model that has captivated customers for more than 28 years has just been updated even with more technological competitors in the market
The Honda Biz was launched in 1998 and now, with 28 years on the market, it has just been updated to the 2027 year/model variant. Few models remain on the market for so many decades and, in the case of the small cub, a threat grows more and more: scooters.
However, even in the midst of this situation, the Honda Biz remains unbeatable, selling more in Brazil than any other direct, indirect, more technological and even cheaper rival. Why is it that Brazilians still bet on this simple, rustic and systematic little motorcycle?
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According to Honda itself, in a statement, the Biz is “the preferred vehicle for families who want a practical, economical and robust means of locomotion, ideal for short trips, but which does not disdain longer journeys on roads that are often unpaved.”
The proof of this is in the numbers. The Honda Biz is the second best-selling motorcycle in Brazil, second only to the Honda CG, and last year sold 267,052 units, representing 12.57% of all motorcycle registrations in the country in 2025.
As the brand stated, the whole set can explain this success. In addition to being a classic motorcycle, derived from the motorcycle that sold the most in history, the Honda Cub, the Biz has a simple, practical and efficient set.
The manufacturer’s 125 engine is already classic and well-known in the market, after all it has been around since the early 2000s. Reliability goes hand in hand with the model, which also has parts accessible in case of maintenance.
But the biggest highlights are the gearbox and the luggage compartment. As a good scooter aspirant, the motorcycle was the first Japanese motorcycle in Brazil to have a luggage rack under the seat, which attracted the public that wanted a motorcycle and had the need to carry objects. When it comes to changing gears, there is one less activity, since the 4-speed rotary gearbox does not need the clutch lever and the driver needs to shift gears only with his feet.
In addition, to this day the Honda Biz is one of the cheapest motorcycles in the country, finding itself in 5th place overall for its R$ 13.505.
For two-wheeled specialist Marcelo Barros, from Motordomundo, the Biz is practical for a population that needs it.
The Biz is mechanically simpler, because it does not have the CVT, it is easier to change the rear tire, brake shoe and other components”, said Marcelo. “This makes her sell more.”
The success of the model, however, is not only due to positivity.
This simplicity with which the model is associated also has its downside. For Marcelo, the practicality of the model is linked to the purchasing power of Brazilians.
“Brazil is a complex country. There are many ‘countries’ within one and Honda knows how to read this like no one else. Whether the most fervent motorcyclists like it or not, initiatives such as CG, Bros, Pop and Biz make many people mobile and have a better quality of life. There is a range of purchasing power where there is simply not the remote possibility of having a ‘premium’ motorcycle. Whether for the purchase price, parts price, or simply because the brand has the store closest to it, 500 km away. So, what’s around the corner from him? The Honda store”, he stressed.
There is no shortage of more efficient and technological models on the market. The Japanese company itself has the Honda Elite, a small 125 scooter that, by character, has a 100% automatic transmission, in addition to more complete and modern lines, lights and components. Today the variant costs a little more than the Biz, but not even when it was more affordable did it surpass the cub in sales.
The point is that, even though it costs less and is more modern, the complexity of maintaining an advanced model can weigh on the pocket of Brazilians. Trusting a simple and common motorcycle seems to be the way out even more sought after by the citizen.
Barros concludes by stating that it is not possible to judge the brand for still providing a simple model like this, since adherence is still high.
In questioning, Honda responded to AutoPapo stating that the Biz continues to have a robustness superior to the needs of Brazilians.
“Honda continues to invest in the Biz125 because the model consistently brings together characteristics highly valued in the Brazilian market and by the user of this motorcycle, such as excellent durability and resistance for daily use regardless of driving conditions, low maintenance cost, simple mechanics in addition to the credibility consolidated in these almost 30 years in the market. Currently it serves motorcyclists who prioritize economy, durability and practicality in a product with robust characteristics and great penetration in the interior. Scooters, on the other hand, even if more technological, cannot fully replace the Biz 125 because they have a higher maintenance cost (CVT transmission, fairings, electronics) when we talk about the user’s purchasing power and have a more urban and refined proposal, more comfortable use for conditions in large centers and capitals”, said the brand.
