Japan - motorcycle - 50cc. NLP but revisiting nevertheless.
The dictionary definition of a motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor and has no pedals. According to my criteria I also add that the frame must be straddled as opposed to stepped-thru, the fuel tank is optimally located between the riders knees and a range of gears are controlled manually via a clutch and foot-shifter. Anything else (with minor allowances for placement of said components) would fall under the definition of car, scooter, moped or bicycle. But because I don't only review motorcycles I want to take a quick look over the Honda Solo. Designed by a team of hipsters at Honda R&D in Japan, it used the Cub engine with auto centrifugal clutch which therefore renders it a scooter, but oh what a beautiful scoot it was! Past tense. Only a few thousand were made between 2003 and 2004: the retro boardtracker ergo's were simply too radical for the conservative Japanese market and it was pulled from production. I adore it however, and believe one day Honda will see fit to reintroduce it to the American market which is fast awakening to the idea of cool, low cost metropolitan transport. Tweet this as much as possible and perhaps Honda will take notice.
The dictionary definition of a motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor and has no pedals. According to my criteria I also add that the frame must be straddled as opposed to stepped-thru, the fuel tank is optimally located between the riders knees and a range of gears are controlled manually via a clutch and foot-shifter. Anything else (with minor allowances for placement of said components) would fall under the definition of car, scooter, moped or bicycle. But because I don't only review motorcycles I want to take a quick look over the Honda Solo. Designed by a team of hipsters at Honda R&D in Japan, it used the Cub engine with auto centrifugal clutch which therefore renders it a scooter, but oh what a beautiful scoot it was! Past tense. Only a few thousand were made between 2003 and 2004: the retro boardtracker ergo's were simply too radical for the conservative Japanese market and it was pulled from production. I adore it however, and believe one day Honda will see fit to reintroduce it to the American market which is fast awakening to the idea of cool, low cost metropolitan transport. Tweet this as much as possible and perhaps Honda will take notice.
