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General Category => Electric Motorcycle News => Topic started by: Richard230 on July 31, 2020, 03:38:36 AM

Title: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: Richard230 on July 31, 2020, 03:38:36 AM

Honda looks like it might be coming out with a new compact folding mini motorcycle, similar to their earlier ICE Motocompo. This time it will be electric powered:  https://www.motorcycle.com/mini-features/honda-files-trademark-for-motocompacto-return-of-the-folding-scooter.html

Title: Re: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: Crissa on July 31, 2020, 12:43:16 PM

54000 is alot of units compared to alot of bikes.

They didn't sell that many CB Customs, did they?

-Crissa

Title: Re: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: wavelet on August 03, 2020, 03:59:26 PM

Quote from: Crissa on July 31, 2020, 12:43:16 PM

54000 is alot of units compared to alot of bikes.

They didn't sell that many CB Customs, did they?

-Crissa

Are you thinking of the CB750C specifically? It only sold for 3 years, and a quick search doesn't bring up sales for it. However, Honda made the CB750 over all sub-models for 10 years, producing 553K bikes.

54K for a small urban scooter is a tiny number; the popular models sell in the millions per year. The best-selling three models in India each sell >2M units per year in India alone:
https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/top-10-selling-two-wheelers-in-fy19-honda-activa-retains-the-top-spot/69005603 (https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/top-10-selling-two-wheelers-in-fy19-honda-activa-retains-the-top-spot/69005603)

Title: Re: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: Crissa on August 03, 2020, 10:02:28 PM

I'm thinking of the C specifically, yes.  It had that unique (and heavy) transmission.

And we're talking the 80s, not now.

-Crissa

Title: Re: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: wavelet on August 04, 2020, 01:00:05 AM

Quote from: Crissa on August 03, 2020, 10:02:28 PM

I'm thinking of the C specifically, yes.  It had that unique (and heavy) transmission.

And we're talking the 80s, not now.

-Crissa

What was special about the transmission? Didn't it have the same 5-speed one as the non-Custom? Only major difference was the gas tank shape & handlebars, AFAIK.
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cb750c_80.htm (https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cb750c_80.htm)

Or are you thinking of the CB750A Hondamatic with torque converter transmission?

Title: Re: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: Crissa on August 04, 2020, 06:08:47 AM

It had two sets of gears, one set lower.  For towing maybe?  It made it tear off the line and have a pretty good 0-30 for what it looked like.  It also was shaft drive.

And I don't think the motocompacto, which only worked in well-maintained paved urban areas, can be compared to scooters meant for rougher service.

It's more like a compact e-bike or segway but from the 80s, when there weren't as many such places as there are now.  Even compact e-bikes don't make huge individual brand sales today, but there are hundreds of thousands of them out there now.

-Crissa

Title: Re: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: valnar on August 13, 2020, 08:56:08 PM

I can't see the reason for Honda to do this, unless the specs blow the original out of the water.

You can achieve the same results today with a stand-up (or sit down) electric scooter.  Same speed; much lighter.

Title: Re: Honda Motocompacto
Post by: Crissa on August 13, 2020, 11:51:40 PM

Storage, range, stability, is the probable reason.  Lots of people really want a seat.

Remember, none of the images in the articles were from current Honda marketing.

-Crissa