Honda has surprised and mystified with a strange off-road-styled scooter called the City Adventure Concept at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.
They say the aggressive-looking scooter with knobby tyres and chain drive ”offers a totally new interpretation of the idea of motorcycling adventure”. We’re not really sure what that means or where this would fit in the market.
Is there really a need for an off-road scooter for the city?
“It brings that spirit of adventure to the heart of the city and underlines Honda’s commitment to researching new ways of creating unique technology to enhance and enrich its customers’ lifestyles,” their release says.
Honda fired most of its salvos at the Tokyo Motor Show last month including the updated 2016 CB500X and NC750X adventure bikes and three concept bikes: a Light Weight Super Sports, the Neowing three-wheeled tilting hybrid scooter and the EV-Cub electric Cub scooter.
For Milan, Honda unveiled the rest of the 500cc fleet with significant updates.
The naked CB500F, CBR500R sports bike and crossover CB500X now come with LED head and taillights, adjustable pre-load front suspension, adjustable brake levers, larger fuel tanks with new hinged fuel cap and “wave” style ignition keys.
As well, the CB500F gets a makeover and three new colour options; the R and F have shorter exhausts; and the X has a 100mm taller, adjustable windscreen and distinctive new graphics and colours with a larger tank for more than 500km of range.
Honda hinted at the Africa Twin with a concept model disguised with mud at last year’s EICMA and this year showed the production bike for the first time in Europe.
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin in CRF Rally coloursMeanwhile, the VFR1200X Crosstourer now comes in a new two-tone red Special Edition with an easily-adjustable windscreen and Dual-Clutch semi-automatic transmission.