The spectacular V4 Concept Bike was presented on a rotating stage to give it special exposure. Honda let the work speak for itself. Anyone looking at the lines and details just hinted at can give free rein to his imagination. In any event, the study was intended as a tribute to Honda’s proud V4 tradition. In keeping with this, a special collection of legendary and historically important V4 motor cycles was in the limelight.

- The FWS1000 (alias RS1000RW), Honda’s first V4 racing bike with round pistons, on which Freddie Spencer took second place at the 200 miles of Daytona in 1982.

- An RC30, painted solid red. This machine was ridden by Carl Fogarty in the TT on the Isle of Man. At the end of 1988, the Briton, competing as a private Honda entry, won his first WC title in the then new TT Formula 1 world championship.

- The Castrol Honda RC45, with which John Kocinski 1997 won the Superbike WC title in 1997. A techno-dream in white with red and green.

An RC212V from the Repsol Honda team. The current 800cc factory V4 racer of Dani Pedrosa. Carbon brake rotors, elaborate footrest, massive rear wheel swing arm – every single detail of the MotoGP racer is a joy to the eye.

- The NR750 from 1992, the aristocratic, exclusive and at 100,000 DM even sinfully expensive for the time, oval piston production bike which was built to order for only one year.

A production Honda VFR in glittering metallic Candy Glory Red, which can be purchased today at all Honda dealers.

A splendid VF750S, vintage 1982, Honda’s very first V4 production bike, in wonderful original condition.

A VFR750 F, model year 1986, in tasteful dark blue – the year with the aluminium chassis, gear-driven camshafts and six-speed transmission that successfully launched Honda’s V4 model series more than 20 years ago.

Besides the V4 theme, other new products were naturally the focus of interest, led by the CBR1000RR Fireblade and the CBR600RR with the electronically controlled Combined ABS. This system is the first ABS in the world especially for Supersport motor cycles.

In the case of the Fireblade, it was the new paint schemes that caught the eye: primarily the Repsol Replica and the new Tricolor HRC version which pays homage to 50 years of racing by Honda. The latter takes on the stunning design of the factory Fireblade with which Checa/Kiyonari won the Suzuka 8 Hours.

This Suzuka Fireblade graced the stand along with other successful Honda racing bikes. Standing quietly in a row next to each other: the Fireblade of IDM Superbike champion Martin Bauer, the HANNspree-Ten-Kate CBR600RR of (newly crowned) Supersport world champion Andrew Pitt, a WC Fireblade from Ten-Kate-Honda as well as the 125cc racer ridden by IDM champion Marcel Schrötter.

Motor cycle riders are more fashion conscious than many people think. The 2009 CBR600RR in new colours drew admiring looks. In particular, the sensationally inspired Limited Edition with a fashionable graffiti design caused a stir – any number of admiring “Ohhhs” and “Ahhhs” could be heard.

A quick round of the other new products: The VFR 2009 in a tasteful white paint job and with white rims. A totally new CBF125 for motor cycle beginners and cost-conscious commuters. Two four-stroke motocrossers, the all new CRF450 and the reworked CRF250, the latter also availabale in extravagant black with a flame paint job. For trail fans, the latest version of the Montesa Honda Cota 4RT which is also available as an attractive Repsol replica.

The EVO6, a muscular, flat six-cylinder streetcruiser, and the CB1100R retro sports bike design studies met with great interest. Both prototypes were only seen previously at the Tokyo Motor Show.

And last but not least, the traffic safety project Vehicle2Vehicle. This is a Gold Wing equipped with GPS-controlled electronics and distance sensors. In practice, it is a fancy early warning system that helps to prevent collisions with other road users. Numerous automobile and motor cycle manufactures are working jointly on this research project.

On the Honda action stage, visitors could watch non-stop video presentations and interesting interviews.
Honda passed out huge quantities of red rucksacks and informational material. At one stand, T-shirts were airbrushed with the Honda winged logo. A special photo op was also available: Anyone who wanted to could climb onto a Holzhauer Fireblade of IDM Superbiker Martin Bauer in laid over postion and be photographed, all in front of a giant action photograph of the champion.

The Zeppelin models that were flown back and forth in the Hall entrances by remote control, pointing the right way to Hall 10 and Honda, also made a pleasant sight. And anyone who had absorbed all the new sights and felt a little bit tired could sink onto one of the red seat ball cushions that were scattered loosely everywhere on the Honda stand.

No doubt at all that Intermot 2008 was worth a visit.   close