Scooter News New Mid Concept First spy photos hit the web of Honda's New Mid Concept, first seen at Eicma last year.
Scootersales.com.au 
Spy photos of Honda's New Mid Concept have now made it onto the web. Remember the shiny red example on the turntable that had many questioning in Milan last year - what is it?
Well Honda are persisting, and first spy photos will show the New Mid Concept in what looks to be a development stage. The principles seen on the prototype example all seem to be intact.
The frontal design is all scooter with headlight, fairing and screen typical of your everyday maxi. The wheels are larger 17 inch jobs that reflect the prototype, Honda have also stuck with chain being the final method of drive. Storage looks to be courtesy of bolt on luggage, so no underseat storage looks to be the order of the day.
The engine is rumoured to be approximately 700 cc in capacity and twin cylinder in layout. The gear box is using Honda's Dual Clutch Technology, an automatic that feels very much like a manual. Bit like driving a Volkswagen with a DSG gearbox, you feel the box going up through the gears on acceleration, and on slowing down you feel it coming back down, grabbing a lower gear as you decrease speed.
It was interesting when we first laid eyes on this concept in Milan. This for Honda would be tackling a new segment all-together, it's not quite scooter or motorcycle, though blends what they believe to be the best of both. Which is a fair argument as you can't beat the frontal weather protection of a scooter. On the other hand a scooter is hard pressed keeping up with the handling attributes of a motorcycle, especially if fast touring over undulated surfaces is your thing.
I'm really not sure if you could compare the Honda to scooters like Yamaha's current model TMAX. We are yet to see the final specs on the new BMW Concept C we keep hearing so much about. But the Honda will be in there somewhere as an alternative for those wanting a motorcycle first and foremost, with the seating and weather protection of a maxi scooter.
Bring on 2012....
published 26/05/2011 |