This winter will mark 8 years since the “New American Sports†(NAS) concept was started by Tony Schroeder, HRA senior designer. Will the concept make it to production in 2 years to commemorate the 10th anniversary? Thousands of fellow motorcyclists could only hope.
Celebrate a 10th anniversary of a design concept? Yes. It is that good in function potential and aesthetics.
First, function potential. HRA wanted to build a sport bike with performance oriented towards the street rather than the race track. Schroeder said:
We wanted to set a new direction for sports bikes, but back to the street rather than toward the racetrack. The market for racer-style bikes is obviously strong, but we envisioned a different group of riders searching for a new category of sport machine
To this end, a liquid-cooled, 1000cc 90-degree v-twin was chosen, in part, for its better torque characteristics. (A dry clutch was intended for this concept. A dry clutch rattle emanating from a modern Honda? Cool!)
Additional performance potential was added by stressing mass centralization around the engine. A single perimeter front-brake, innovative front suspension, and under-engine exhaust system contribute to removing weight from the ends of the motorcycle. Weight was removed from the ends of the motorcycle by relocating components and using light weight material. For example, the front arm connecting to the mono shock is made of aluminum and carbon fiber.
The innovative mono front shock not only reduced un-sprung weight from the front wheel, but HRA also added the ability to adjust trail by using an eccentric cam around the axle. Adjusting the trail without changing the entire front-end pre-dates the Moto Czysz mono shock front-end.
Second, aesthetics were equally emphasized along with performance for the New American Sports. Front-to-back, this concept oozes with impressive styling, executed with attractive materials & machining. The wheels were designed by HRA from billet aluminum. Note the integrated, aluminum reservoirs, the minimal aluminum frame, shapely exhaust system, and sculpted aluminum single-sided swingarm. The details and overall balance are tremendous. HRA did not leave any component on the table.
So, when will Honda produce this bike? There are a couple of items that could be a challenge for production: stricter EPA guidelines may require changes to the shape of the exhaust system. In addition, the single radiator under the rear cowling may not be sufficiently fed by the one intake duct.
Some may cite use of billet aluminum, carbon fiber, unique castings, & radical technology as factors that will stop this bike from reaching production. Good points until you consider the company behind this concept and the amount of people willing to make the financial stretch to buy this motorcycle. Honda, a company involved in everything from aerospace to your weed-whacker, can handle the unique castings required. Honda can handle the development of the radical front-end.
Honda could manage the questionable profit margins on a limited production-run. Indeed, Honda could make this stellar concept come to life….if they wanted. Honda, we want you to produce this motorcycle. It will be good for the brand.
Chappy says
Honda hates you and me, butterflies and baby chipmunks.
If they were going to make it they would have a long time ago. As strong as the response was to the bike at the time and we still got nothing I really doubt we are ever going to see the NAS produced.
Honda’s reputation for quality and reliability are just not enough to get me into a dealership and until they quite sitting back and making copycat products for the most part (which is so frustrating since we know how capable they are) and just being the most boring motorcycle company on Earth (at least in the American market) they will never see any of my money…not that they really care.
ian says
honda’s production designs are generally about as progressive as the catholic church, and understandably so. they sell high volumes by comparison and must appeal to a large cross section of people so pushing the envelope is usually out… the one exception to this would be the rune, but i can’t imagine that made much profit and may have left a sour taste in the mouths of the suits with the power to ok designs… if a bike like the nas comes out it would likely be cost prohibitive to it’s intended market as well… i think we’re all relegated to ogling the concept bike and leaving it at that.
BusaBob says
I have to agree with Chappy…Honda has their head in the sand (or up their…)For a company that has so much history, expertise and capability they have had a very disappointing record as far as new product and innovation in the past five years or so. They’ve also undertaken some brutal steps in revising their dealer network in Canada.What’s up Honda?
RH says
So they built the Rune but not this – what does that say about cruiser buyers vs. sportbike buyers – and which set Honda (and me, for that matter) sees as being stuck in the past?
I always wondered what inspired the front caliper placement and air cleaner/tank integration….
Matt Fisher says
A performance oriented sportbike for the street instead of the track, using somewhat radical designs for low weight and performance. Sounds like a Buell to me.
V twin, perimeter brake, under-engine exhaust, minimal bodywork, non-traditional chassis design, etc.
The surprising part is that Harley IS producing such a machine and not Honda. It’s especially odd considering the rest of the Harley’s are using what would be considered cutting edge technology and designs from 1970.
Ride says
I’d like mine in Viper Yellow please, just like my Superhawk
Brian says
Risk. The bike industry is fickle, and the market can change before a concept matures.
Take the Honda ASIMO robot for instance. It’s a multi-million dollar attention-getter. You and I aren’t going to have one in our kitchen fetchin’ beers anytime soon. Large companies will release ‘me too’ concepts to show they can still think outside the box, but have no intention of delivering it to the masses. But they will also closely watch other smaller companies take the risk on new ideas, and make their move if and when those ideas are accepted. By that point, they will have received so much attention from their ‘blue sky’ concept that they don’t even need to produce it.
Of course, I am only referring to consumer motorbikes here. The RC211V V5 engine is truly a masterpiece, and proves they take plenty of risks in racing.
It’s easy for the consumer to say the large multi-national is being stupid when they don’t produce a concept. From Honda’s perspective, I’ll bet they feel the project was an absolute success. Why mess with that??
Sid says
PigIron – who said this was a non-functioning radiator? Did you notice the oil cooler in the front? Perhaps this oil cooler with the radiator is sufficient. We won’t know until someone attempts it.
Did you know the air flows through one of the front “nostrils”, under the seat, directly into the radiator?
John Britten designed and built a successful racebike with a radiator in this exact position.
Racebike you say? True, the real challenge is to get this setup to operate efficiently for a streetbike stuck in traffic in intense heat. The radiator in this position has engineering advantages, not just improvements to styling.
Benelli also had a streetbike with a radiator in this position; in addition, HD had experimented with a similar setup for their V-4 prototype.
Within reason, task a good engineering team to make something work and you’ll be surprised with the outcome. In this case, the styling and engineering principles come together for common goals: minimal frontal area & better engine placement.
Bryce says
That this concept looks unbelievably fresh 8 years since its debut is a testament to the intuition and skill of the design team.
Hopefully Honda will build this thing, but I’m not holding my breath.
RH says
I don’t believe for a second that engineers have that much design input with any “race replicas” on the market. At best, it sounds like they optimize what the marketing/styling dept. hands “down” to them.
The better the design, the less engineering it needs.
I know of one factory Superbike effort that had the air intakes dictated by the styling dept – who then forbade the race team from altering the fairing, even though it was a problem.
ElectricMotorcycles says
Chappy is right. I was a contractor to Honda back in the early ’90’s in Marysville. On my first day on the job I noticed people with golf clubs who seemed to be practicing their swings. I asked about this and was simply told, “Chipmunks.”
I did not inquire further.
todd says
I still wish Honda would bring back the Hawk GT 650 and kick SV butt. The Hawk was more of ” sport bike with performance oriented towards the street rather than the race track” than this concept is.
-todd
Doug says
Chappy & Bryce –
Your comments are very close to why I wrote this post. As good and reliable as Honda motorcycles are, there are plenty of riders that do not even consider the brand because they are TOO refined, lacking character (regardless if they got their 1st moto grin aboard a Honda).
Most of us realize motorcycles, particularly in North America & much of Europe, have been more about an emotional connection than being used as a practical vehicle. The NAS bike could begin to attract more customers to Honda with an emotional connection but without sacrificing any of the current customer-base or Honda image.
Bryce’s point is very true: “That this concept looks unbelievably fresh 8 years since its debut is a testament to the intuition and skill of the design team.”
It makes you think, “wow has it been 8 years?”
Another reason for the post is to explore alternative front suspension. Although the massive mono front tele may be expensive to produce, it could be the best of all the concepts. It looks extremely rigid. There have been many components throughout the modern sporting motorcycle that, just 10 years ago, was thought to be cost prohibitive; but those components come standard on a bike that is under $15k.
wendell says
Let’s just get everyone that reads this site to pitch in their expertise and build a few of these. Count me in as one…..
Doug says
correction: the design was not debuted to the public 8 years ago. I believe that is when the design team started to really work on this project. Nonetheless, the design is still refreshing.
Rapid Roo says
Could they make it? yes.
Should they make it? yes!
it’s about time for the next NR750 halo bike for all but a few to own and the rest of us to dream about.
Dale McVey says
I wonder what Soichiro would think of his company today?
greer says
He would probably be pretty happy that his company brings in billions of dollars every year by selling high quality products and shows no signs of decline.
coho says
The Rune was built because cruiser riders have demonstrated again and again their almost pathological need to spend north of $25K for a bigger, heavier, shinier bike.
With CBGSYZXR1ZX-RR spec sheet bragging rights coming in below $15K will Yankee sportbikers be willing to pay the necessary premium for a limited-run, street-oriented bike that doesn’t come with “quirky European character”?
Likely, though, if Honda does build the New American Sport it will be a Europe-only model, sell really well for many years and not ever be brought here.
Hugo says
This front suspension doesn’t work…the drawbacks are too big compared to the positive effects, it just looks great.
David says
I saw the mockup at Laguna in 2001 and thought it was very cool and that they should build it but with standard forks. If I remember correctly it is basiclly the SuperHawk 996 engine so the engine is out of date. No one whould want that.
They should stick with the basic degign but put the CBR 1000 engine in it crank up with more torque. That would probably be a winner. Or possibly put the RC51 engine in it retunded for torque. I think the cooling issue could be solved
with a little attention.
I love the design.
seattle says
About radiators: It’s as if, when they first decided to build a water-cooled motorcycle engine, they simply mimicked a small version of the flat radiators used in cars and stuck it up front like a car radiator. We really need innovative radiators for motorcycles. I believe several bikes already use two small radiators rather than one large one. That’s a step in the right direction. All we are doing is cooling water; a radiator could be several long tubes, cone shaped, numerous mini-radiators, or even be designed as a mock muffler.
About the NSA: It’s a beautiful bike but at this point I’m so irritated with Honda and their concept models that I simply assume they are lying. For example, the recent re-release and claim of “production version” for the DN-01 is probably just Honda posturing because the Aprilia Mana will actually be available soon. I would be surprised if the DN-01 is available before 2009 and not surprised at all if it never arrives at dealerships. So where exactly is that 750cc flat-four GRF-1/Griffon that was a “near future model” back in 2003?
jp says
I’d love a NAS…but I’ll have to make do with using it as inspiration for my VFR/cafe project. The tailsection in particular is very nice.
Casey says
Hey, Has anyone noticed that in the front view the wheel seems to be leaning about a degree or two to one side as though the front swingarm is slightly tweaked? Is this because, A. this prototype was ridden hard. B. The prototype was not made correctly. or C. It’s supposed to be that way.
Doug says
D. The stand could be leaning. The mono shock looks like it is angled in the same plane
Colvindesign says
I think they should redesign it, then produce it. It is a beautiful machine.