Introducing Seiko's Latest Limited Edition Tributes Honda's Quirky, Miniature Motocompo Motorbike

Seiko is no stranger to left-of-centre collaborations. A sushi-themed collab with Evisen Skateboards? Check. What about an Australian limited edition inspired by a whisky cocktail? Sure. A digital Final Fantasy bangle watch? It would be rude not to. But how about a field watch that pays homage to a miniature Honda motorbike from the 1980s? That might seem niche, but that's exactly what makes Seiko's latest limited edition so fun.

The 1980s and 1990s were a period of intense experimentation and success for the Japanese car industry. Before the asset price bubble burst in the mid-90s and brought Japan's booming economy to a halt, the country's big auto makers produced some of the most audacious and iconic vehicles in motoring history, including (but certainly not limited to) the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 "Godzilla", the first-generation Mazda MX-5, the Toyota Corolla Sprinter Trueno AE86 and the legendary Honda NSX.

But Honda isn't just remembered for its sports cars from this era. The Motocompo was a folding scooter sold by Honda between 1981 and 1983 as a factory add-on only in Japan, and was designed explicitly to fit inside the boots of their subcompact cars, including the Honda Today and Honda City. The City's boot was actually specifically developed around the Motocompo. The thought was that, particularly in congestion-choked Japan, you could drive most of your commute in a fuel-efficient small car like the City and then finish the last bit on an even more fuel-efficient scooter. Honda even promoted the City and Motocompo with ads starring British ska band Madness. Because of course they did. This Hagerty article is worth a read if you want to dive further into the Motocompo's history.

While the City has proven to be a success for Honda and is now in its seventh generation, the Motocompo was a commercial failure. But like many memorable vehicles from this era, the Motocompo has now become a cult icon - thanks in no small part to 21st-century enthusiasts like Australia's very own Mighty Car Mods introducing new audiences to this silly yet fun little motorbike. It's kitsch, it's colourful, it's very Japanese, and it works surprisingly well as the basis for a watch.

So, what about the watch? The Seiko 5 Sports x MOTOCOMPO Limited Edition HBD010, despite its HBD reference number, is based on the SRP range of 5 Sports field watches, meaning it sports a 36.4mm case and is powered by the ubiquitous 4R36 movement, and offers all the specs we've come to expect of the 5 Sports series, including 100 metres of water resistance and a day-date display. Where it starts to deviate with form is with its case finish, which is a black PVD that matches the Motocompo's fold-out handlebars.

Then, we continue on to the HBD010's dial, which is decked out in a bold yellow - the Motocompo's signature colour - bisected by a grey stripe with a Honda logo at 9 o'clock and "Automatic" text at 6 o'clock in the same dot-matrix font found on the Motocompo's sides. That Motocompo text also snakes down the nylon NATO strap, which has keepers that read "Carrying Point" and a tip that reads "Insertion Point", riffing on the attachment point text found on the Motocompo used to secure it in the boot of a Honda City or Today.

There are so many fun little Motocompo details: the crown is engraved with "Turn," inspired by the design of the Motocompo's fuel cock; the caseback is tinted red (another signature Motocompo colour) and depicts the scooter in silhouette, and the watch even comes presented in a special box designed to resemble the cardboard cartons used to ship the Motocompo back in the 80s. It retails for A$575 and is a limited edition of 8,000 pieces worldwide.

When Seiko shared a preview of this watch with the team and I earlier this year, I must admit, my colleagues didn't really get it - but as a massive motoring enthusiast, I immediately recognised what Seiko was tributing with this LE, and thought it was brilliant. As Japan's pre-eminent watchmaker, I think Seiko is at its best when it authentically embraces Japanese culture, and the Honda Motocompo is a distinctly Japanese cultural artefact.

I appreciate how Seiko has gone beyond simply slapping a different dial on a 5 Sports field watch and calling it a day: the custom NATO strap is particularly genius in the way it calls back to the Motocompo's tie-down system, as well as its distinct iconography. This certainly isn't a Seiko for everyone - both thanks to its bold appearance and admittedly obscure inspiration - but for JDM car and bike lovers, this'll be horological catnip.

Brand: Seiko
Model: 5 Sports x MOTOCOMPO Limited Edition
Reference Number: HDB010K
Diameter: 36.4mm
Thickness: 12.5mm
Lug-to-Lug: 44.4mm
Case Material: Black DLC stainless steel
Crystal: Hardlex
Caseback: Red-tinted Hardlex with Honda Motocompo graphic
Dial Colour: Yellow
Indexes: Applied numerals
Lume: Lumibright-filled plots above numerals
Water Resistance: 100 meters (10 bar)
Strap/Bracelet: Motocompo-themed nylon NATO strap with black DLC keepers

Calibre: 4R36, in-house
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Winding: Automatic
Jewels: 24
Frequency: 3 Hz
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Hacking seconds

Price: A$575
Availability: From September 2026
Limited Edition: Yes, 8,000 pieces

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