The Kneeslider

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Which Concept Motorcycle Would You Buy?

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Concept motorcycles for 2007 Tokyo Motor Show

You’ve seen the new bikes from Honda and Yamaha scheduled for the Tokyo Motor Show, which one do you like best? The four shown here appear closest to production, the Crosscage and Biplane from Suzuki appear to be pure concepts so they’re not included. If every one of these 4 went into production, which one would you be most likely to buy, if any? Why?

Only one vote allowed. I’ll keep this running for a few days so take your time and give your honest opinion. You never know who might be reading this …

UPDATE: The poll is over and the results are in:

The Honda CB1100R wins

Honda CB1100R
349 votes

Honda EVO6
309 votes

Yamaha Sakura
236 votes

Honda CB1100F
155 votes

None of the above
73 votes

1122 votes cast

A technical problem prevented the bar graph from showing, I’ll work on that.

It was interesting and totally unscientific since it was limited to readers of The Kneeslider who took the time to vote but we had enough votes to give an indication of relative interest among the choices. As I said, … interesting, …

Posted on Filed Under: Concept Motorcycles, Motorcycle Business

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Comments

  1. I would pick the Honda bikes , got a more retro look . Everyone has learned to ride on a 4cyl honda that I know of .

  2. Four cylinder bikes have never been my favorite, but I would have to go for the CB1100F. Now, if you could marry a V-twin like the Sakura’s with the bodywork and overall looks of the CB1100F, tha’d be a real winner.

  3. All the Yamaha needs is a different paint job, exhausts and some minor detailing. Easy.

    To me, thats the one to buy …

    I also really like the CB1100R. But I am not a 4-cylinder guy.

  5. “Now, if you could marry a V-twin like the Sakura’s with the bodywork and overall looks of the CB1100F, tha’d be a real winner.”

    DITTO

    I am a Honda freak, but I want a sport twin bad. The CB1100F with a 1000cc liquid-cooled fuel-injected v-twin would be the winner.

  7. I would have to go for the big EVO. It’s been a while since anyone has had the intestinal fortitude to come out with something exciting in the realm of muscle bikes. Mr. Max has held the title so long that even he is a tad boring & I never liked the vmax ergo’s for a larger rider(My VFR is more comfortable). The EVO for me has the right attitude/image & it “appears” it may be more than just a go fast in a straight line ride.

  8. The Yamaha Sakura is my favorite, it just has vintage bike written all over it. The CB1100F does too, to a lesser extent. The EV06 is just too “Star Wars” for my taste, plus the seat and rear fender hanging out in space looks like a diving board.

  9. To chime in: I like the styling of the CB1100R but if it was to be a I-4 I’d love a jewel-like 400. Otherwise I would take a 650 single or a 650-800 vert-twin.

    Second bet, tied with the XS-V1, would be the CB1100F but whith a 600 single in it… wait, that’s an SRX-6. I’ll just spare myself the $10k and buy the SRX instead. The XS would have to have a 400-650 single, ala SR500.

    -todd

  10. 1 vote?

    Making it tough, Kneeslider.

    Since I’m shopping for a 2-up ride, I’ll definitely go with the Yamaha Sakura.

    Even if I wasn’t shopping for 2, it would probably get the nod over the Honda EVO6.

    Troy – good comments about the comparison to the VMax, hopefully this bike will be able to handle the curves…which will force Yamaha to tighten up the VMax chassis.

  11. The Sakura won after a mind battle with the EVO6. Things that i don’t know now that would affect my final decision would be price, engine size & overall weight (the smaller the better), price, reliability, and price.

  12. Evo6 rest dont even come close. I like the other bikes but I love Evo. Honda please put Evo in production.

  13. The two I would consider . First would be the Yamaha it has the old school look . The color wouldn’t be my choice but I’m sure there would be choices . The honda CB 1100F would be the second choice for the same reason . The front fairing on the 1100R just turns me off totally . The EVo6 looks sort of like a Boss Hog Sportbike The engine looks to big for the bike. But what do I know . I own a Buell XB12R and people think that is an ugly bike .Beauty is in the eye of the beholder .

  14. But on the other hand if I was to base my pick on performance The EVO would win if it went as fast as it looks. To me looks and streetable performance are my criteria .

  15. Honda CB1100F – NO
    I don’t care for heavy air-cooled fours plus with those cam covers the motor looks like it came straight out of a 30 year old Suzuki GS 1000. What was Honda thinking?

    Honda CB1100R – Ditto

    Yamaha XS-V1 – NO
    Color co-ordinated cylinder heads are not exactly my cup of tea. Yamaha does traditional styling about as well as the French do pop music. If I wanted a bike like this I’d get a Ducati Sport Classic.

    Honda EVO6 – NO
    Although it is a bit over “styled” for my taste, a single seater water-cooled flat-six roadster has a certain demented appeal. Since it looks like it could easily pull 160 mph at least a mini fairing would be in order though. I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to take one for a test ride but I’d be embarrassed to have my friends see me riding one.

  16. That’s a tough choice….

    I picked the Yamaha because I’m in the market for classic looking standard.
    The CB1100f is a close second and I’d put it first if it were not for that CB400 style header… I could not live with that I’d want to know there was an aftermarket knock off of the old Hookers that I used to love that would fit this bike.

    The CB1100r is a beauty and I’d make it my first pick if the retro cafe was what I longed for.

    That being said…… I could be talked into that bike.
    As for the Next Gen techno tin like the EVO … no thanks ….. way to gimicky.

  18. I’ve been waiting a long time for something like the EVO6, 30 years ago I had one of the original GL1000s which I tried to turn into a cafe racer. Of course it couldn’t keep up with the with GSs and Z1s of the time but it was still an “interesting” bike. The EVO6 is at last a factory version of what I envisaged, except much better!
    Good on you Honda!

  19. I have to disagree somewhat with PigIron as to the EVO6 being overstyled. To my eyes it looks very clean, not like a lot of other bikes that have tacked on plastic bits here and there added for effect (detrimental effect in my opinion). This bike is very clean compared to most. The engine isn’t what one would expect on smaller stature bike, especially of the naked persuasion, but it works. I ‘m onboard with the EVO6 (well hopefully one day).

  20. The Honda EV06. And I would immediately disassemble it and start modifying it to personalize it by tossing the mirrors, lowering it further, changing the tailsection, custom exhaust and a few more mods. Heck — I did it in photoshop a few hours after the preview photos were posted — might as well start planning now.

    Interesting is that as a “manufactured bike”, it has great appeal in stock form. But I bet it would have great appeal to the aftermarket folks also to personalize it further with add-ons for customers.

  21. I like the looks of the EVO6 best and, given the choices, it would be my #1. But quite honestly, I absolutely love my V-Strom. If I could have any bike right now, it’d be a Ducati Hypermotard.

  23. The EVO6 gets my vote due to the forward-think factor that is an essential part of any successful product line of this type – which simply put is leading edge developments of proven systems. The six-cylinder opposed engine has not been used in this configuration yet and the abundant power/ reliability coupled with impressive smoothness makes for a very interesting potential here. This motor also is capable of significant supercharging utilizing any of the standard systems available.
    So, with the refined chassis/running gear which Honda applies so well and this great motor packaged with styling that continues to show serious industrial artistic passion, the Big H could set a new standard of street bike that would be difficult for anyone else to match.
    Just an opinion that comes from a fellow rider grateful for the forum.

  25. I’ll pick the CB 1100F.
    Reasons: Primarily because Yamaha has a nasty history of “One-Shot” motorcycles. Bikes that, while great in many ways, share components with no other vehicles in thier lineup. Which then translates into limited production runs, and lack of parts support. Honda makes something, makes a million of ’em, and keeps the design (or derivative) for YEARS.. I didn’t pick the EVO simply because it’s too wild. Great exercize, but will likely never see the light of day. The same cold be said of the Rune, and honestly, it shouldn’t have been put into production… Horrible motorcycle in many ways. Almost completely useless. The 1100 bikes shown here, (and given consideration) are extensions of products already offered by Honda. Proven components. Evocative designs.
    Untill somone completely changes the rules of motorcycle design (ala Confederate Wraith) I’ll stick with something based in reality and practicality.

  26. I like the Yamaha, as it recalls early standards I have ridden. A couple of the hondas remind me a bit of them, but its more faint, in the mix.

    I like the parallel twins but I have fond memories of an XS750 3 cylinder from 1977. I’d guess that Yamaha gets more power out of this one.
    So I guess I’m just strange for wanting a 975 cc triple.

    As it stands it appears to be very light, a factor in its favor, and the smaller engine gets better gas mileage, another point in its favor. I’d have to see it in Yamaha’s Black/gold metal flake and gold pinstripes.

  28. Discussion about which bike will you buy will not be much use if none of these bikes go into production. So I just want to take a minute and point out why Honda needs to put EVO6 in production. If you look at other big players they all seems to have their contenders in this street fighter/naked/muscle class.

    As we can see from the list below Honda is clearly missing out on this part of the market. Most of the bikes in this list are very new, showing that it is a growing section of the market. People want to buy something other then either crotch rockets or heavy cruisers, and the manufacturers have answered this need.

    EVO6 has forward thinking design that is not like anything, and I hear some people say, because of that they will not buy it. I think that is right! You should not buy it as it is not designed and marketed to you, it is for people who want something different, people who want to stand out in the crowd, and tired of same old same old. If you see the list you will notice that designers understand this factor about this particular target market and that is why they are pushing the designs.

    So the question is, will Honda throw in the towel or have balls to build this evil looking machine?

    Suzuki BKing
    Yamaha MT-01 and Yamaha Vmax
    Kawasaki ZX-14 (rumor has it that Kawasaki is working on naked bike developed around ZX-14 engine)
    BMW K1200R
    MOTO GUZZI GRISO 1100
    Triumph Rocket III
    HD Vrod
    Ducati Monster S4R

  29. Out of the 4 pictured, I’d spring for the EVO6. Every other bike pictured has been done before and these seem like modernised iterations (CB1100’s recall the aircooled Honda DOHC-4’s, the Yamaha seems like it’s trying to recapture the cult status of the XS650 but with a V-twin).

    The EVO is just…different. Big-ass flat 6, single-sided swingarm, streetfighter ergos. It’d be my pick.

  30. the evo6 really appeals to me, If they make it light enough.

    the evo6 could be the flagship model in a new range of evo motorcycles. just copy and pase as many parts as you can to lower the price on the evo2 (600cc flat twin) and and evo4 (1200cc flat 4) variants.

    I chose not to tick a box, because one was not provided for the Evo2!

  31. The Yamaha.

    Yeah definitely. definitely the Yamaha XS-V1.

    It’s like the XR750 that Harley should have built in the 70’s.

    Except this thing wouldn’t give you a big oil puddle to clean up and ripped knee ligaments from a “built to maim” kickstart mechanism.

  32. That Yamaha just looks the bits; I think the paint is not a real paint but a “metallurgic” color like anodized aluminium in copper color. It looks extremely “Light” for a 1000cc twin. Like Tanshanomi says something like the Yamaha with the Honda bodywork would look really cool…BTW regarding concept bikes; we started a project once but never finished it. It was a bike which has 2 shocks visible in front of him of the rider . I wrote a small piece about it:
    http://www.bottpower.com/eng
    Now that would look cool on that Honda EVO6 with two Fournales shocks 😉

  33. I love the look of the Evo6, but I’ve got no desire to own a heavy bike like that. The Sakura looks lighter and has a look of simplicity to it. The CB bikes are great, but there is something missing for me.

  34. hugo..that’s a cool idea. Do you know the name of the supercar that recently used the shocks as a design element? The shocks were on display in a similar fashion as that Suzuki within your link. It looked really cool. The car has a front engine like an open-wheel racecar.

  37. ===========================================
    FYI: The Honda EVO6 Concept has the HFT hydraulic automatic transmission from the DN-01. But don’t worry, the Rune Concept (aka, 1998 Zodia) also featured the HFT transmission but the production model used a quaint manual-tyranny.
    ===========================================