Nine motorcycle manufacturers will unveil both world and Japan premieres at their booths to showcase their newest offerings at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015. Here are just a few of the many highlights.
Yamaha Motor Co. will have a booth under the theme of "Yamaha Motor Product Orchestra." The company will display 20 kinds of vehicles, including six world premieres and one Japanese debut.
They include electricity-assisted bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, leaning multiwheels (three or four wheel vehicles that look like motorcycles), recreational off-road vehicles and other four-wheelers.
Of them, the Resonator 125 is a concept model to propose a lifestyle with a motorcycle, designed for young people who are anxious to ride motorcycles.
It boasts a light, slim and compact body and futuristic styling and technology, creating hybrid feelings of near future and nostalgia. The fuel tank and seat cowls have panels made from the same wood used in guitars. Muffler and tank cap are decorated with engravings similar to that used for wind instruments.
The PES2 and PED2 are concept models powered by electricity. PES stands for "Passion," "Electric Vehicle" and "Street," and the two represents the number of wheels. PED stands for "Passion," "Electric Vehicle" and "Dirt."
They sport a new power unit, dubbed the Yamaha Smart Power Module. The PES2 is a two-wheel-drive on-road sport bike, boasting an in-wheel motor in its front wheel. The PED2 has a mountain trail gear that lets riders enjoy riding in great nature.
The YPJ-MTB Concept is another concept vehicle that is an electricity-assisted mountain bike. It has starting, accelerating and hill-climbing functions, all the features of electricity-assisted bicycles, but designed not to look like electricity-assisted bicycles. The battery capacity is 400 watts and it has many different settings to provide a variety of cycling options.
Suzuki Motor Corp. will also showcase their motorcycles, as well as four-wheel vehicles.
The theme for Suzuki's booth is "Suzuki Next 100." Suzuki will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, so the exhibits represent proposals for products and technologies that give a sense of the company's preparations for ongoing success in the next 100 years.
A range of concept models will show how Suzuki can deliver wonder and enjoyment to drivers and riders.
The Hustler Scoot is a concept model of a rider-friendly 50 cc scooter with luggage space for a variety of purposes. A conventional under-seat luggage bay is complemented by a removable, handheld luggage case that mounts between the rider's feet. There's more room for luggage on the rear carrier and on the sides of the bodywork.
With the luggage case removed, the Hustler Scoot can carry longer luggage items such as a tennis racket. It has the same kind of fun-inspiring personality as the Hustler automobile and has the same pop-art coloring.
The Concept GSX is a concept object that encapsulates the potential of the GSX series.
Suzuki's powerful, rider-friendly inline-four engines deliver an outstanding combination of fuel economy and endurance. Their technologies are reflected in numerous GSX-series models including the GSX-R1000, the Hayabusa, and the GSX-S1000.
The GSX concept symbolizes the high-performance bikes that bear the GSX name. It gives form to Suzuki's inline-four sportbike spirit and evokes a cocoon from which the company's future sportbike models will be born.
Kawasaki Motors Corp. will showcase two Ninjas and a Vulcan S.
The Ninja 250 ABS KRT Edition features the same coloring as Ninja ZX-10R, which will race in the World Superbike Championship 2016, in celebration of Jonathan Rea, belonging to KRT (Kawasaki Racing Team). Rea won the World Superbike Championship in 2015.
"Kawasaki Racing Team" is emblazoned on the tank, finished with graphic designs in Kawasaki's trademark lime green and black, a testament to Kawasaki's exceptional racing machines.
The model also has cutting-edge technology to challenge the world's motorcycle races. The bike boasts the Assist & Slipper Clutch System of F.C.C. Co., the first 250 cc in the world to have the system, which reduces the risks of hopping or spinning the rear wheel.
The front fork is telescopic with a 37 mm inner tube, ensuring a stable and comfortable ride on various terrain and at a variety of speeds. Accessories such as single seat covers and various bags ensure riders they get the bike they want.
The Ninja ZX-10R ABS KRT Edition is similar to the Ninja 250 ABS KRT in many aspects, such as coloring and graphics.
However, the model is equipped with the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), making it Kawasaki Motors' first mass-production model to have the device. With that and many other features, the 2016 Ninja ZX-10R ABS KRT boasts more power and enhanced torque at low RPMs. With front forks and rear suspension jointly developed by Showa Corp., the bike boasts superior traction and is able to easily handle many different road surfaces.
The Vulcan S is an urban cruiser that caters to a variety of lifestyles. Its beautiful curves and stylish design are elegant and unique. It is a new concept and a rare motorcycle that doesn't fit into existing bike categories.
The bike is equipped with a liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin engine. It provides the pleasure of sports riding from its comfortable seating position. The foot pegs, handlebars and seat can be arranged to suit riders of different height, giving a feeling of a custom-made bike, which can be a daily rider and long-distance cruiser.
Among the machines by Honda Motor Co. are the "Light Weight Super Sports" concepts, the Neowing and EV-Cub Concept.
"Light Weight Super Sports Concept" offerings are designed under the idea of a "strong presence." The Neowing next-generation super sport concept model features a look possessing a sense of speed that comes from its long nose and low crouch.
The combination of plane architecture, which indicates the sense of hardness and solidity, and sharp edges emphasize the aggressive look of this model. Moreover, the finish featuring matte-black, low-contrast graphics expresses beauty.
The Neowing is an unprecedented three-wheeled vehicle that offers the cornering feel and sporty ride equivalent to a large motorcycle while enjoying excellent stability at low speeds. This vehicle is equipped with a hybrid system that combines a flat-four engine and electric motors to generate massive torque for powerful acceleration.
With the adoption of an original Honda linkage mechanism on its front wheel, this concept model proposes new values with advanced styling that emphasizes the mechanical fascination of a traditional motorcycle.
The EV-Cub Concept is a personal commuter model for short-distance commuting that follows the concept of an "easy-to-handle and economical motorcycle" that Honda Motor has been pursuing since the creation of the first-generation Super Cub.
By placing the battery, a heavy component, at a low position in the middle of the body, mounting and dismounting is extremely easy. Moreover, concentrating the weight and lowering the battery increased the ease of handling. In consideration of ease-of-use in a broader range of use environments, the battery itself is detachable and rechargeable using a standard home outlet.
Some foreign makers will also showcase their motorcycles. Indian and Victory, both American bikes imported by Nagoya-based Whitehouse Automobile Co., will display several of their models, including Indian Chief Vintage, Indian Scout, Victory Magnum and Victory Vision. Another of Whitehouse's imports, Polaris, will display all-terrain vehicles including some three wheelers. BMW and BRP will also showcase some of their latest models.
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