Interesting New Honda

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:01 pm

Nitro wrote:

yuk..but then again, its a bike option for scooter lovers..

Has it been determined that this is a bike? Or is it a scooter?

Maybe a combo of the two....

A Bi-cooter Laughing

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:04 pm

a Booter...

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:20 pm

I think this has got to be one of the uglyist motorcycles/scooters that I have ever seen. It looks very uncomfortable to ride and what the hell is with that muffler?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:41 pm

Lowblues wrote:

Nitro wrote:

yuk..but then again, its a bike option for scooter lovers..

Has it been determined that this is a bike? Or is it a scooter?

Maybe a combo of the two....

A Bi-cooter Laughing

No, that's not it. I know what a bi-cooter is. I've seen the video! Twisted Evil

Hawk Joined: Dec 03, 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Madison, WI

Finally, a bike for the everyday american who doesn't like to pull levers and click foot pedals. This is just a result of the high fuel prices we had. People started wanting to drive motorcycles more to get better gas mileage. This bike is for the ones who were turned away when they found out they would either have to LEARN TO DRIVE ONE or get a large scooter.

Personally, I can't wait for electric motorcycles and if I can ever figure out a way to get enough Lion batteries for it, I'll be changing my F bike over.

Hawk Joined: Dec 03, 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Madison, WI

On another note, despite being stupid for a motorcycle, this is a great transmission idea that has only been implemented in a couple of cars (I think Nissan has one). Instead of having alot of moving gears or discs and powering it with hydraulics, this transmission is made of two drums which can change diameter connected by a large belt (probably kevlar). The idea is, you never have to change engine speed (gaining enormous economy) in order to change the speed of your car. The drums in the transmission simply change size at equal but inverse rates, thus having infinitely variable gear ratio.

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:07 pm

slvr7f wrote:

Its different, can't say I like it but can't say I don't like it. Whats the deal with automatic, I like to shift.

Just read a quick blurb about the transmission in Jan CycleWorld.

It's a"continuously variable hydromechanical system that uses a hydraulic pump and motor to provide an near - infinite range of gear ratios. It's compact and has NO maintenance requirements" It was developed for the Honda Foreman and that sounds like the vehicle I'd like to have it in.

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:35 am

Its the 21st century & Honda clearly have their corporate head stuck up their own ass,
Soichiro must be turning in his grave....

I hate to ride feet forward, gutless bikes or scooters, but understand some peeps like that.....especially where theres lots of straight roads....

generally it's pig ugly, but it's a good concept bike never the less, but.....fitted with a woefully weedy engine ? Laughing

Honda tell us we want ABS, CBS, Variable Valve Technology, Variable Cylinder Technology, that cuts the engine & power,
& we don't want the new CB1100R Evil or Very Mad

Well NOT ME.....the new CB1100R is the ONLY Honda I'd consider (apart from a certain CB900FA i used to own or a CB1100RC/D),
otherwise my next bike is going to be another 3 cylinder Triumph ! Very Happy

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:25 pm

I'm pretty sure Mr. Honda is resting comfortably and smiling broadly as well. Think back to what most motorcyclist thought of his machines when there were first imported and you'll understand why.... Cool

Myself I dont quite understand the market for big heavy scooters, I certainly loved blasting around key west on a little one! If I lived in a big city and had a scooter that was fairly quick (quicker than cabs) I'd consider it perfect transportation and a great picker upper, as in.. ...hey.... want a ride? Wink

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:51 pm

larryg wrote:

If I lived in a big city and had a scooter that was fairly quick (quicker than cabs) I'd consider it perfect transportation and a great picker upper, as in.. ...hey.... want a ride? Wink

I've never ridden one but I suspect that a Supermoto would fulfill my idea of the perfect city bike. Once I get past this economic downturn I'm zeroing my sights on a KTM 950 Supermoto. Right after I get myself an early Katana to mod the crap out of 1135R Yosh style. Which of course will come after I find a mint Silver 1982 CB750F to make a 7/11 out of...............

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:09 pm

towerguy wrote:

larryg wrote:

If I lived in a big city and had a scooter that was fairly quick (quicker than cabs) I'd consider it perfect transportation and a great picker upper, as in.. ...hey.... want a ride? Wink

I've never ridden one but I suspect that a Supermoto would fulfill my idea of the perfect city bike. Once I get past this economic downturn I'm zeroing my sights on a KTM 950 Supermoto. Right after I get myself an early Katana to mod the crap out of 1135R Yosh style. Which of course will come after I find a mint Silver 1982 CB750F to make a 7/11 out of...............

I'm with you. My next new bike will be a supermoto with premium components out of the box.

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:16 am

I still think it's ugly.... fugley... whatever!!!

Oh, and don't forget.... real men like to shift! Very Happy

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:21 pm

The transmission sounds like what is used on most snowmobiles. Still that thing should be taken out back and shot to put it out of our misery. Do we really need something that will allow scooter riders to ride a "real" bike. I think giving people without a true appreciation for motorcycling the ability to ride is a piss poor idea. We already have enough middle aged posers who go out and buy a bike without any clue how to ride or what riding means to those of us who grew up with a bike between our legs.

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:44 pm

CVT is cool, rest of that bike does nothing for me.

KTM SM is a sweet bike for the $. So are the newer Buells, which I think I'd take over the sportster R. Don't know why HD just doesn't use the Buell 1200's in the sportster. Same motor, more HP, TQ, MPG in the Buell. Sportster R is a pretty cool retro dual-shock bike tho. If I was after that I'd just pick up a cheap 883, build away, and end up with a lot more bike for less $ (minus the injection).

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:00 pm

The design for the trans is called a "salisbury drive",but Honda probably reinvented it.

It is the same basic idea used on a Bridgeport milling machine.

It was also used many years ago on a Rokon off road bike.

It is an absolute piss poor transmission. Belt gets wet you stop moving. The Brideport fails in use,the basic design with stepped pulleys is more reliable/desirable.

There is another design with no belts. It uses a planetary gear set,with power in the sun and out the planets. The ring gear is fixed to get "low" ratio and allowed to "move" to make top gear,ie 1-1. The control is a simple positive displacement hydraulic pump fixed to the ring gear. By adjusting the flow through the pump,ie just recyling the oil,lock it off stops the ring and full open allows to spin.

By adjusting the diameter of the gears you can achieve 4-1 to 1-1 range of speeds all by mechanical drive.

I first saw this design as a bicycle gear set and patented over 30 yrs ago,but never saw a production version.

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:35 am

sonicrete wrote:

The design for the trans is called a "salisbury drive",but Honda probably reinvented it.

It is the same basic idea used on a Bridgeport milling machine.

It was also used many years ago on a Rokon off road bike.

It is an absolute piss poor transmission. Belt gets wet you stop moving. The Brideport fails in use,the basic design with stepped pulleys is more reliable/desirable.

There is another design with no belts. It uses a planetary gear set,with power in the sun and out the planets. The ring gear is fixed to get "low" ratio and allowed to "move" to make top gear,ie 1-1. The control is a simple positive displacement hydraulic pump fixed to the ring gear. By adjusting the flow through the pump,ie just recyling the oil,lock it off stops the ring and full open allows to spin.

By adjusting the diameter of the gears you can achieve 4-1 to 1-1 range of speeds all by mechanical drive.

I first saw this design as a bicycle gear set and patented over 30 yrs ago,but never saw a production version.

Story I saw said no belts or maintenance so it's not the belt drive design.

Cycleworld wrote:

"continuously variable hydromechanical system that uses a hydraulic pump and motor to provide an near - infinite range of gear ratios. It's compact and has NO maintenance requirements"

Also said it has a manual shift six speed feature.