More Hearsay Hondas

MORE HEARSAY HONDAS

HONDA WILL SOON CELEbrate its 50th Anniversary. This much we know. We also hear that the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer plans to celebrate in a big way, with new models across the board. The new-for-’97 CBR1100XX Super Blackbird (see story, page 28) is purportedly the first of these, but beyond that, it’s pure conjecture and speculation.

So let’s conjecture and speculate. Over the past year, there has been much talk of a new lOOOcc V-Twin superbike. Rumor held that this would debut at the Suzuka 8Hour, where Honda has traditionally unveiled its new leading-edge sportbikes. It now appears, however, that the bike will debut at this fall’s Cologne Show, and that it may not be the Ducati 916-killer originally envisioned. Not right away, anyway.

According to a report in Spanish magazine Motociclismo, the VTR1000 (to be called the Firestorm in Europe) will strongly resemble the half-faired Supermono shown at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. The liquidcooled, eight-valve, dohc, 90-degree V-Twin will likely displace quite a bit less than a full liter (perhaps mirroring its Italian competition), and in carburated form is expected to produce 1 15 horsepower; a fuel-injected, 135horsepower “SP” version is proposed for sometime down the road. The engine will be employed as a stressed member of the twin-spar aluminum frame (recall that the Supermono had a steel-trellis job), with brakes and suspension from the CBR900RR. The seating position is said to be geared for street-riding comfort, rather than racetrack prowess.

As if a 900cc-plus Twin isn’t enough to crowd the CBR900RR’s spot in the marketplace, Honda is also believed to have an 850cc V-Four up its corporate sleeve. The company is expected to inject new life into the venerable VFR750F in the form of a lOOcc displacement increase. Fuel injection is another possibility.

Another bike due for a facelift is the Supersport Champion CBR600F3. Will we see an F4 variant in ’97? Or will Honda go whole-hog and give us a CBR600RR?

Then there is the host of prototypes shown at this past winter’s Tokyo Motor Show. Will we see an enlarged (600 or 750cc) version of the 250cc Hornet standard? How about the lOOOcc X-4 musclebike? The CL644 Single? We’ve also heard rumblings of a revived V65 Magna.

We’re holding our breath.

-Brian Catterson