One of my favorite gizmo sites had a little speculation on Honda’s “Electro-Elite Robo-Parakeet of Doom”. Here is the real scoop:
“October 6, 2005 Honda’s media information for the Tokyo Motor Show exhibits has been sparse this year and is keeping everyone guessing as to exactly what’s behind the exterior of the motorcycle stands central focus a concept motorcycle with a stylish superscooter exterior dubbed the E4-01. Accompanying the image of the bike is the simple sentence, Honda’s vision of the future begins with the E4-01 concept vehicle which offers customers a new take on motorcycling lifestyles.
The article basicly says this could be Honda first production Electric Scooter. So! How about that? I may end up be partially right with my made up scooter name. At least the “Electro” part.
Read the rest here.
10. October 2005 at 5:12 pm
I can’t figure out what exactly the E4-01 is or what market it’s supposed to fill. Is it a 400cc gas-elec-hybrid or a 250cc-equivalent electric only?
Honda better get off their butts and put the Griffon into production [750cc flat-4 automatic]. That’s the bike I really want. Otherwise, Suzuki will beat them with a hot-looking 1000cc auto [ala G-Strider].
For 2006 Yamaha is coming out with a semi-auto version of the FJR1300 [ala "tiptronic"]… for me, jumping from my 600cc SilverWing into a 1300cc seems a leap but unless Honda and Suzuki come out with those 750cc and 1000cc autos, that’s what I am looking at.
10. October 2005 at 5:26 pm
While major domestic budget cuts will keep me firmly planted in the seat of my 1986 Helix, I anxiously await the arrival of something like the Griffon and of COURSE the G-Strider (as seen on my desktop wallpaper).
As for the E4-01 (EERPOD), I’m not sure what they are going for here. A 400cc Gas/Electro would be kinda good if you had the power of a 400 with about 200 MPG (and a large enough tank to get you from Austin to Houston and back without having to fill up). If it’s a purely electric 250cc equivalent, it would be nice and all, but I don’t wanna see something cheap like 3 hour ride time.
I back them up for pushing the envelope in alternates to pure gas, but they need to keep their current products new and diverse so they can stay up with Yamaha.
Honda! Bring back the Joker and give us the Griffon!
PS> Please leave the closed-caption cameras on the production bike! I’d love to know when a 18 wheeler is coming up on my arse on my next emergency braking situation.
I’ll have to look up that FJR1300, although I’d prolly just end up hurting myself on something that big.
Thanks for the comment!