Honda, what the hell are you thinking?

[FilthyLuka]

eww

http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/2...360/index.html

680cc in a bike that big... lame

Lack of gear shifter and clutch, ultra lame

[Freakshow]

I don't get what it is trying to be? Were they trying to make a sports bike or a cruiser, or something else like a long scooter sort of thing? And would it be right to assume it is one of those rubberband scooter gearboxes, that would explain the small engine.

[paturoa]

CVT tranny is nothing new for scoots.

I couldn't find out what it weighs, it just looks heavy.

With the integrated fairing, tank etc one tiny drop would = write off!

[RantyDave]

I get it, kinda. It's like a fast burgman, innit. A mercedes burgman, for want of a better word. Clearly it's not *for* me. Dunno who it is for, to be honest, but Honda's marketing department probably have a very good idea.

Dave

[FilthyLuka]

I get it, kinda. It's like a fast burgman, innit. A mercedes burgman, for want of a better word. Clearly it's not *for* me. Dunno who it is for, to be honest, but Honda's marketing department probably have a very good idea.

Dave

you mean the same marketing department that came up with the Valkyrie rune?

[blue eyed savage]

F**K me thats UGLY.
bet it rides like a peace of crap.

[owner]

I like the looks, looks like its from the future! bring on the jetsons age

[discotex]

If I lived in the US I'd consider it for a commuter and have a real bike for the weekends. It'd be perfect for long straight roads and highway riding 2-up. Presumably that's who it's aimed at.

[disenfranchised]

I expect it's a trial to showcase their new transmission

Been out/coming for a while now
http://www.diseno-art.com/encycloped...nda_DN-01.html

It's probably trying to be a baby goldwing

[AllanB]

Surprising I don't mind it - it is a SPORT SCOOTER! Beats the heck out of the TURDMAN Suzuki.

[Hitcher]

It's not a scroter. It has a frame-mounted engine. It's definitely in a class of its own.

[Jiminy]

Hum, I'd love to try the beast. Looks like my ideal bike (after the kawa meanstreak special, of course!).

I especially like the CVT. Would change the feeling of a ride, but looks promising on paper: more acceleration, less complexity (= more reliability), more power efficient (= less stop to the gas station), etc. Have a read: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt.htm

Note that the bike is semi-automatic: you can operate it with gears-like selection at your thumb (no clutch, no gear lever).

I think it's also not as big as it looks, but quite long and low, kind of a sporty cruiser. Looks quite comfy, too. It sure is in a class of its own and will get a lot of love/hate comments (apparently more hate than love here )

It was a 2005 concept car, now going into production. I wouldn't mind a test ride. Does anyone know how much they will go for?

[Jiminy]

Hey, just noticed that it will have a conventional brake pedal instead of two break levers, giving it a more 'motorbike' feel. Not sure if it's good or not...

[miSTa]

Tis a little different, then again its not; there's a lot of design ideas from all types of bikes in that. If we didn't have design engineers pushing boundaries then we would all be still riding 1970's UJMs. The Katana would never have been, now that would be a loss.

[pritch]

That's presumably the same engine as used in the Transalp and the Deauville both of which have been around for a while now.

Not sure about the styling.

It may be that Honda were getting nervous about the current FJR automatic clutch option (or whatever) and thought they needed something in case such ideas got traction?