The French ScooterStation.com website has a new post today up-dating Honda's new "scooter". Here is a Google translation from the website:

Mid New Honda in Action: A Touring version?



This is no longer a secret that Honda will bring a Yamaha TMAX Maxiscooter competitor, probably introduced in the autumn. In this photo broadcast and disclosed by our colleagues at motorcycle-usa.com, you can admire the craft in action, with the complete package for tourism. Travelers will appreciate!

To go hunting on public land Yamaha TMAX, we imagined the future Maxiscooter Honda ultra athlete. The prototype presented in Milan last year and some photos in 3D rendering, which we recently received (info to read here) confirm indeed. However, it will also rely on a touring version as evidenced by this first picture "stolen" from Maxiscooter Japanese. Revealed by our American colleagues of motorcycle-usa.com (Photo copyright Brenda Priddy & Company), this picture shows the new Honda motorbikes in action, complete with passenger and luggage. A top-box and bags as well as a fully integrated Honda bubble well sized part of the staffing of the new New Mid intended for passengers on long voyages. As should happen with the BMW Concept-C , one can imagine that two versions (at least) will be offered to the public, no doubt visible in the coming autumn fairs.

No indication of its engine is so far available. However, we can see from these images that the New Mid Honda retains its transmission chain and its imposing size. Further details to follow, stay tuned!

This is obviously the same bike Honda released late last year in Milan as the "Mid Concept" bike. Notice that it has CHAIN drive - that will get the SilverWing die-hards on this site chattering

By the way; click here for more information from Motorcycle-USA.

Regards,
Peter

Gotta love google translate!. Cant wait to "go hunting on public land!"
I like the black wheels though, but this is set up to hide the details like they do when testing new cars.

And is it me? He's grabbing a handful of rear brake(A.B.S. i assume) and the poor soul on the back doesn't look real happy there!

Maybe they finally listened, and got rid of that side by side headlight setup!

I would buy one.

I would Really like that one , even with chain final drive.
Factory bags and trunk. Cool.

MaxB

That new Honda looks good, like Tagg says, I hope they have moved from the side by side light arrangement.

Passengers body language speaks volumes, he/she really doesn't look comfortable at all.

I hope the silver stripes aren't gaffa tape!!! May explain the handful of left lever!!!!

The size of those wheels looks like the storage capacity would be severely reduced. And as for chain drive - I spent so many years oiling/adjusting/cleaning the filthy things that I was so glad to go a nice belt final drive, and I would never want to go back to those bad old days!

I agree about the chain. No more for me, they make a mess, are a mess to service and wear out sprockets. I don't know exactly you can really call that bike a 'scooter' either, looks more like a motorcycle to me. Maybe that's what Honda is banking on, scooters don't sell well in the US due to the lack of 'macho' image. Too bad they don't have a great advertising campaign like they did in the 60s.

The new Silver Wing is the SW 600-T, the twin headlight restyled model. Whatever this new model finally turns out like, who wants to go back to chain drive. It's also supposed to have class leading storage space, maybe that's if you buy the expensive Honda panniers and box. Then as usual with Honda they'll give them away free with the 'bike' as winter draws near and sales are slow.

Just curious but what does the chain do that the belt doesn`t .Is there still a variator and belt and clutch. Cant picture how this setup works

Who knows , It may have a transmission similar to the DN-01 with a chain final. Chains last a long time these days.

I enlarged the photo and there is a switch set on the left bar ...may gear shift like DN-01????

OH and She is smiling as a pillion passenger in that pic.

MaxB (who can oil a chain once in a while)

I like the idea of the panniers ( hope they can be fitted to both sides and will take Givi Monokey panniers).

I look forward to seeing one 'in the flesh'.

Cheers,

Chain - the biggest draw-back on the GP800; it consumes sprockets like they're going out of style.
They cost a fortune to replace.

Not interesting to me. Looks like poor weather protection. Chain pain, but I have made them last up to 44,000 miles in past ===lots of oil and mess. Maybe easier rear wheel removal.

Scooters should not cost so much as they are really putt putt.

Give me good, buffet free weather protection, big gas tank, easy remove wheels and price around $5,000 US.....and I bite.

As I tend to get new bike/scooter every year, the selection gets harder and harder each year---And then to think of it I have new NT (Deauville) which is old design/Honda parts bin bike---100% reliable---lacking only the step thru feature. And then it is in the super scooter price range. While it is new to US it has been around for 10 years or so elsewhere...and might not be around much longer.

I have had most enjoyment from scooters of max. 250cc displacement, maybe the Reflex being the best of the lot, but I really like/liked Helix and had 4 new ones----the built in trunk and easy belt change, set valves in parking lot being the great features---minus J speed rated tires on bike that would run 70mph down hill tailwind and could take wide open all day.

It doesn't seem to be good time in the bad ecominic times to bring new expensive toy to market. In US two wheels will never be true part of trans. system. Sad. In past I checked AMA Hq, MSF Hq, Honda US for bikes in parking lot on work day. They drive cars to work!

John Grinsel









John Grinsel

This does not look like a scooter. How do you define a Scooter?

State of Maryland seems to define it as under 50cc.

I think this thing looks fine as a motorcylce. I for one would miss the step through feature, though I really like the idea of big wheels.

Thanks for the info about dual clutches, but your comments re: chains are a little insulting & patronising. I last had a chain driven bike 5 years ago (a Hyabusa) and yes, it still needed adjusting and oiling and was messy. If you can state quite categorically that they no longer have those needs then show me links that proves it rather than add 'clap-trap' of your own!

pja wrote:

An aside: There is a great deal of clap-trap on this forum about the use of chains; most of it seems to come from folks who had chain driven bikes either in the UK or in the dim distant past ("Same thing!" did I hear somebody call out ). Modern chains are simply no problems compared to the bad old days. Hope that helps, Peter

Thanks for the info pja sounds like a great system ,also sounds expensive

Coops,

I had many chain drive bikes and even though I had to oil and adjust them from time to time it never seemed an annoyance to me. Even the Harley I had was pretty simple to do. Usually only a 5 min job and I didn't do it very often. I would buy a chain drive bike again but would prefer a shaft or belt drive. If Honda comes out with this bike I would seriously consider it if it was comfortable.

I think that once people go to a belt or shaft driven bike they just get used to the simplicity of it and it does grow on others to not have to adjust a chain. It seems you were a bit harsh on PJA. He has always been a very respectful person here and has never shown to be aggressive at all. Just my opinion.

I wouldn't like to own a bike or scooter with an exposed chain. Modern chains may have moved on a bit technology wise but you still have to clean, lubricate, and adjust and align them. Since a lot of bikes don't have a main stand these days, you probably need a paddock stand or a roller device to rotate the rear wheel to do the job properly. I've got a couple of German bike accessory catalogues where there's pages of stuff to perform those simple tasks.

Of course being in the UK we still prefer to remove chains and lower them into tins of acrid smelling melted grease, bubbling away on the stove. Any left over grease we use to waterproof our Barbour suits, gauntlet gloves, and the leather bits of our pudding basin helmets.

If Harley did away with chains and went with a belt on cruiser and touring Then that must say something about chain Maint. I know on all of my Bicycles If you do not keep up with the chain It will cost you down the road If you do not clean and lube the road grit will wear all the cogs down to nothing even my Titanium rear gears . A toothed belt needs to be cleaned also, because of road grit. Now for sport Bikes That is another story a chain is a must So is high Maint. Just my Thoughts

Hi,

I just read this on the www.maxi-scoots.com site:

http://maxi-scoots.com/scoot/index.php?topic=2207.0

It seems the new Honda Mid-concept is a 700cc bike. If this is the bike, even with the chain drive, I like so far. It would depend on how comfortable it is though.

The W800 is the one that lights me up. That is one nice bike

Unfortunately, not in the US...

Sorry...now returning to your regularly scheduled programming.

I would prefer not to deal with chains if possible; however, it depends a lot on which bike we're talking about. With a V-Strom, for instance, I'd put up with it because the V-Strom is such a good motorcycle generally....it's on my short list. Same thing with the Triumph 900s of any stripe. If you want a certain bike and it has chain drive, it would not stop me from buying it...

Peter,

I had a Sportster once and I really liked it, but it was kind of short for me. I'm 6' and was pretty cramped on it. When i put highway pegs on the frame it helped out a lot but after about 100 miles I had to take a good rest. If you are tall you may want to try to test one out if possible. I do remember the year after the one I bought that they went to a 5 speed and belt drive , but I really liked mine and it ran great, just kind of a small frame.