The Honda EVO6, introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show was a hit with many of you but the images we had previously were a little smaller and less detailed. Thanks to the contributions of Horacio Kanashiro, we have a lot of great photos from the show which we’ll sort out and bring to you soon but I thought I would start out with these closeups of the Honda EVO6.
This is a nice looking bike! I especially like the 6 into 6 exhaust but it looks like it could be ready for the showroom in short order. I wonder if Honda will give it a go.
Thanks for the photos Horacio!
Larger size photos below:
All photos: Horacio Kanashiro
PigIron says
Finally, a shock reservoir with a blue lens. I don’t know how we have been getting along without them for so long. Just goes to show that you can’t beat Honda engineering!
Buzzman says
I kinda dig the spider eyes headlight… The exhaust looks tiddy as well. All the shiney bits on bars seem out of place. Pretty cool bike, nicely done Honda
kneeslider says
PigIron, sounds like you wouldn’t buy one.
Blue lens or whatever on the shock, looks like a little concept bike bling, not a production necessity.
Heavy exhaust? Did you mistake this for a race bike? If that engine moves a Gold Wing around as well as it does and you remove all of the fairings and trunks and luggage and plush seats, I bet a few extra pounds on the exhaust won’t make a bit of difference and where would it matter, anyway?
This looks like an original unfaired GL1000 Gold Wing brought up to date for the 21st century.
Richard says
Very nice!
todd says
I see that it has what looks like a radiator. Where does the air go after it goes through it? I also don’t think it’s a good idea to shroud the exhaust right after it comes out of the head. The bike would also need tome items like a catalytic converter, charcoal cannister, and what-nots.
I don’t think it’s near production the least bit, especially with a plastic engine…
-todd (with little-to-no imagination)
greer says
this is the freshest design to come from japan since the nas, yeah the wheels are a little fancy and who knows why it has chrome grips, hey its a showbike. a really really nice looking showbike
Greybeard says
Nice idea for the muscle cruiser genre but as implied previously it’s nowhere near ready for production.
The exhaust is impossible, how DOES air flow through the machine and direct the heat away from the rider and do you suppose there’s enough room for fuel above the airbox?
The 1100R and even the F look doable now and with a ready market of nostalgia driven buyers.
You’ll meet the nicest old git’s on a Honda!
kneeslider says
todd, I have no idea where the air goes after it passes across the radiator, it depends what they have behind it, which is invisible in these photos. That shrouding you’re talking about, if that small bit of plastic in front of the lead pipe is what you’re referring to, could be part of a system to help direct airflow after it passes the radiator to flow across the pipes. Besides, what do you call the pipes on the average inline 4 sportbike hidden completely behind all of the fairings and everything else? Now THAT’S shrouding.
It would also seem a very small leap from a plastic engine in a concept, that just happens to be the same size and shape as a current engine, to a real engine in a real bike.
Catalytic converters and such? Sure those, or something performing that function, would be needed, but is that a multi year undertaking? I wouldn’t think so.
Tim says
Meh. It just doesnt spin my wheels. It looks like a behemoth.
Yes, I am a nostalgia driven old git that wants a CB1100R.
Aaron says
I know the early CB750 four-cylinder bikes also had 4-into-4 and have heard that those were chosen to emphasize the fact that it had 4 cylinders… is this the same deal?
In other words, is there an advantage of having six outlets for the exhaust? Doesn’t it just mean you need six mufflers?
seattle says
The Rune lacked the GWs bodywork, gadgets, and baggage but still weighed an anti-svelt 770-lbs.
The EVO6 concept features the HFT transmission (note the lack of a clutch in the photos). But don’t worry, the 1995 Zodia Concept with auto-tranny became the manual-tranny Rune.
About the HFT; reportedly the 65-HP Deauville/Transalp engine has been slugified down to 55-HP in the DN-01. Is this because the HFT hydraulic system can’t handle more torque/horsepower?
Blair says
shrouding header pipes is quite common, if you keep the gases hot the volume is higher than if the gases cool down, more volume through the same diameter means more gas velocity which should help the engine to breathe better. I like the look of the exhaust but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a production version of this move to a 3 into 1 setup per side. It just seems more workable to me.
I think this bike is great, it could do without some of the shiny bits but as stated before, this is just the show bike. I also think the headlight is a vast improvement over the single head light bug-eye look that most of the naked bikes run, makes the bike a little more different too which is great.
Chris says
Yep, still looks weird. Still not interested. And still waiting to be able to put a deposit down on a CB1100R.
cl
shiftless says
I’m liking this bike a lot. It’s very unique, different in a very cool way and not a weird or off-beat way that some makers tend toward in order to differentiate themselves from the other makes.
Except for the chrome grips (lose them please) and maybe also the bit over-the-top wheels, it’s a very clean design, no tacked on plastic or CF or unecessary bling for blings sake. I liked it from the start and like it more the more I look at it.
Don’t much like the idea of an auto-transmission though (I’m lazy but not that lazy).
Kind of curious as to what the instrument cluster looks like.
JR says
Very cool!
FiremanBob says
I like it. The doubled wheel spokes would be a PITA to keep clean (as the owner of an old Sabre with similar spokes, I know). Better to simplify them. Otherwise, tone down the bling, offer a sport-touring type fairing and I’d buy it.
seattle says
I would buy the EVO6 even if it were in the Rune price range. I also like the idea of the hydraulic automatic transmission. Thus, I suppose I’m the target market for a bike like this. My hesitation on a purchase would be [1] what is the weight [2] what is the seat height [3] what is the engine horsepower [4] is the hydraulic transmission responsive?
If they offered a smaller version (same basic design and auto-tranny) with the 750cc flat-four engine from the 2003 Griffon Concept, sub 30-inch seat height, sub 200-kg dry weight, and a small integrated bug-shield it would pretty much be the perfect urban bike for me.
PigIron says
How about one styled like this?:
http://tinyurl.com/yugwll
seattle says
PigIron Says: “How about one styled like this?”
Nope. Old styling is old styling. However, I am very open to future-retro styled bikes such as the Yamaha Sakura Concept – I would buy that bike in a second if it came with the YCCS system.
greer says
How does an original goldwing’s form follow function any better than the evo6? all the same basic parts are present, just styled differently. if you want to ride bikes that look like they were designed in the 50s or 60s, not only are there a bunch of new bikes that have the classic style, but there are tons of actual classic bikes available as well. if this bikes not for you, then don’t buy it. obviously a decent amount of people think its a cool looking bike, why worry so much about it?
greer says
Well i guess ive been told, suppose ill just never make the mistake liking something new and different again.
rjw says
It won’t sell anyway. It is an answer to a question no one is asking, like the MT01.
jp says
So who’ll be first to strip a GL1800 and make their own concept like this? 🙂
OTTO MANN says
DEAR SANTA, PLEASE GIVE ME ONE . ALSO A 2009 VMAX,AND THE HARLEY TRIKE DUE IN JULY 08?.