'54 Juno KA - the first Honda scooter (Honda Museum, Japan)

Honda Juno 1954-64

Honda's first scooter was the Juno KA in 1954. This was a 189cc model with an overhead-valve engine with 65x57mm bore & stroke, producing 5hp at 4800rpm. The rear drive was by enclosed chain and it was only available in a metallic green color. Two padded seats were standard, as were enclosed handlebars, headlamp on the upper legshield, front and rear turn signals and some highly unusual styling.


metallic green '56 Juno JB, white '63 Juno M85

Next came the Juno JB in 1955, replacing the KA model. This new scooter had a 220cc engine with 70x57mm bore & stroke, producing 9hp at 5500rpm. The wheels were now 5.00x9in and the styling had become even more outlandish.


'55 Juno JB - second Honda scooter

In 1960, this was in turn replaced by the Juno M80 with a 125cc flat twin engine, each cylinder 43x43mm bore & stroke, together producing 10hp at 9000rpm. The M80 came standard with turn signals, electric starter, gas gauge, glovebox and two-tone paint.


'62 Juno M85 (Honda Museum, Japan)

In 1962, the M80 was replaced by the M85 and it's 168.9cc overhead-valve flat twin engine of 50x43mm bore & stroke, producing 12hp at 7600rpm on 10 inch wheels. The body styling of the M80 and M85 very almost identical. At least two Juno M85s were brought to the USA to show off to potential dealers, though none were actually signed-up. Mechanically, the M85 represented Honda's best effort at a scooter to that point, but it was not enough.


'63 Juno M85 on display in Japan

The Juno M85 was still unable to compete with the Fuji Rabbit and Mitsubishi Pigeon scooters sold by their main Japanese competitors, because the M85 was extremely expensive as scooters went in a market still looking at the vehicles as basic transportation. Therefore, Honda discontinued the Juno scooter line in 1964 and instead concentrated on marketing the 50cc Cub moped and their new auto line. It would not be for quite some time until Honda got involved in scooters again.


Juno headset, unknown model or year


return to:
Honda Scooterist