It’s been more than 35 years since the Suzuki GSX-R750 laid the template that almost every Japanese superbike still follows – but Honda have been hard at work creating a machine that might topple the beam frame and inline-four combo.
Patents filed in Japan reveal a surprising level of detail, suggesting it’s more than merely a theoretical exercise.
At the heart of the design lies a conventional, DOHC inline four-cylinder engine. It’s when we come to the frame that things get unusual. The engine acts as a fully stressed unit, so there’s no beam to connect the steering head to the swingarm pivot.
That’s not unknown, but the Honda design features a monocoque front section, bolted to the top of the engine and holding the headstock, with a hollow section just behind the bars that contains the battery and electronics to keep the mass centralised.
At the back, two alloy sections clamp around the transmission and hold the swingarm pivot and the rear shock’s top mount. A remote-reservoir rear shock attaches to the single-sided swingarm via a rising-rate linkage, and both are mounted to a cast alloy rear chassis section bolted to the transmission.
A tight-fitting fairing at the front is the only separate bodywork part as the entire tail is another monocoque, this time made of a composite material, that bolts to the front section and acts as both the fuel tank and a self-supporting seat unit. The airbox is created in a hollow section where the tank-cum-tail bolts to the front chassis.
On board, a 14,000rpm tacho suggests the engine is a 1000cc unit, as it matches the redline of the Fireblade, and there’s a TFT screen alongside it for other displays. Other than that, the controls are standard.
Mirrors, a number-plate bracket, a sidestand and even a catalytic converter appear in the patent. This suggests that despite the unconventional chassis, a new model could appear in showrooms soon.
Read the latest stories causing a buzz this week in News…
New Yamaha Tracer 9 on the radar: Fresh spy shots reveal radar guided cruise control and more conventional TFT dash
Despite receiving a full update in 2020 to meet stringent Euro5, Yamaha’s popular Tracer 9 GT looks... more >
Reading between the lines: Honda working on lane assistance system for the bikes of the future
Honda is developing rider-assistance systems with the aim of making accidents a thing of the past –... more >
‘It's easy for me to feel confident that they're wrong, because I know they're wrong’: Suzuki GB boss dispels rumours of leaving the two-wheeled market
Suzuki GB’s Director of Motorcycles, Paul de Lusignan has shrugged off rumours that the Japanese... more >
‘I knew that it was my machine’: 19-year-old tells TV show how he tracked down nicked KTM
Motorbike theft has featured on an episode of daytime BBC One TV show, Frontline Fightback, narrated... more >
Crowdfunder set up for recovering TT racing journalist
This year’s Isle of Man TT was sadly marred by five fatalities, while some other competitors... more >
Lightning strikes twice: American electric firm takes aim at Energica with plans for new plug-in adventure bike
American electric firm Lightning appear to be working on a new off-road-focussed plug-in adventure... more >
© 1955-2022 Bauer Media Group
Bauer Media Group consists of: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number: 01176085, Bauer Radio Ltd, Company Number: 1394141 Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA H Bauer Publishing, Company Number: LP003328 Registered Office: Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DT. All registered in England and Wales. VAT no 918 5617 01 H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. 845898)