Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127755
I_____-'---__ SHOWS' _ __'___ '1 --=--~ ___J , The 31st Tokyo Motor Show • (Left) Naked was In for the 1995 edition of the Tokyo Motor Show, as evidenced by Honda's 644 Super Mono. (Right) The rear view of Honda's Zodia concept bike. Note the "silent chain" rear drive and the oval rear shock. (Below) The Honda Zodla. (Bottom) The Yamaha TT250R Raid. By Tracy Hagen he contrasts could not have been greater: Three weeks earlier in Paris the four major Japanese manufacturers displayed their latest aerodynamic offerings for the speed freaks of Europe; now, half a world away in Tokyo, only one of the Big Four had a new, fully faired racer replica sport bike for their own market. This does not at all mean that the Tokyo Motor Show was an insignificant event, nor that the Big Four are giving up on sport bikes. No new motocross bikes were introduced in Tokyo either, which cannot be extrapolated to mean that motocross is dead. The displays, the videos, the music behind the new cruisers and naked bikes introduced in Tokyo were to emphasize the relaxing aspects of motorcycling, rather then the physical and mental challenges motorcycling has to offer. It has been a tough year for the country of Japan: first the Kobe earthquake, then the sarin gas attacks by crazed cult leader Asahara, all while the yen and the domestic economy struggle for recovery. In these times, who can blame the Big Four for pitching to their own people the simple, easy lifestyle for the owner of a cruiser bike? 7 It) 0\ 0\ ~ Lt) ~ I-< Q) "S ~ z 20 HONDA As ever, Honda had the most ambitious display agenda at the Tokyo Motor Show. Honda elects to call these displays "exhibition models," bikes that have the look and finish of a production model, but have yet to be officially announced as being available for sale. Starting from the bottom, the ratest in Honda 50cc motorcycles featured one exhibition bike with an appeal that reaches straight to the heart of any diehard road racing fan: the Dream 50. Styled directly after the CRllO Cub Racing model of 1962, the Dream 50 features an all new 50cc four-stroke engine, with a single, upright cylinder. Like the CRllO, the Dream 50 has four valves per cylinder, a centrally located spark plug. and gear-driven, dual overhead cams. The Dream 50 has a classier exhaust system, however, with dual, chrome-plated pipes tapering into megaphone mufflers. After the engine, the main styling cue is the extended fuel tank held down by a cloth strap, a faithful reproduction of the CRllO's, as are the suede-like seat, true clip-on handlebars, 18-inch wire wheels, and a bright red frame. Since the Dream 50 is a street bike, it has lighting equipment in place of the oval white number plates of the CRllO. The Dream 50 also has, thankfully, hydraulic disk brakes front and rear, rather than the cableactuated drum brakes of the CRllO. No horsepower figures were released on the Dream 50, but chances are that it will measure up quite closely to the 8.5 horsepower that Honda claimed for the CRllO back in 1962. The other eye-catching Honda 50 (also with origins back in the 196Os) on display in Tokyo was the "Gold Monkey." A long-time top-se1Jing model, the Monkey (better known to Americans as the Mini Trail) has been a favorite for the Japanese customizing industry (everything from Baja racers to Eddie Lawson replica mini-superbikes). The Gold Monkey is in classic mini-trail form, but with a gold-plated gas tank, muffler shield, and fenders set on top of a blackened engine proof that there will always be a market for conspicuous consumption. In Japan, the next signiiicant displacement level after the fabulous 50s is the 250cc two-stroke and four-stroke streetbikes. In Tokyo, Honda brought out the Hornet, a model that was stated to be in the model line for 1996. The Hornet deserved a good looking over, for it is a naked bike with a good deal of original styling. The four-cylinder, Hquid-cooled engine is hung off the frame, thereby presenting the greatest visual impact possible. The four-in to-one exhaust is routed in front and under the engine, and then up through the swingarm to a muffler on the right side of the bike, just under the seat, to further add to the distin.ctive look. Oean Jines must have been in the design brief right from the start, as the speedometer drive is off the countershaft sprocket rather than the front wheel, thus giving the front fork an uncluttered look. Similar comments can be made about the rear of the Hornet as Honda saw to it to fit an aerodynamic underseat panel to the rear subframe which hides the various wires and whatno't that are usually stuffed into this space. The Hornet's tire fitment 130/170-16 front, 180/55-17 rear - indicates that the little 250 is capable of being a sport bike when the need arises. If the Hornet theme works, don't be surprised to see Honda leverage it into bigger naked bikes.