The automotive large was touting a brand new e-bike on the Japan Mobility Present, and it is acquired us all nostalgic concerning the loopy RN01 G-Cross downhill bike.
To not be outdone by Yamaha and it’s power-steering geared up Y-00Z e-mtb idea, rival Honda has additionally revealed a glimpse into what it sees competing with the greatest electrical mountain bikes on the 2023 Japan Mobility Present. However whereas the Honda E-MTB Idea has some attention-grabbing options, in our eyes it nonetheless doesn’t maintain a candle to the long-lasting 2004 Honda RN01 G-Cross downhill race bike. And Honda has missed a trick by not referencing this MTB fan-favourite with its newest assisted idea.
Honda’s E-MTB Idea is one thing you may count on from a designer with little expertise of really designing a contemporary e-bike
Simply because it was for the unique RN01, particulars on the brand new Honda E-MTB Idea are scarce. Similar to the RN01, Honda claims the chassis is constructed from thin-wall aluminium casting. This isn’t a typical manufacturing course of relating to mountain bikes, though controlled-filling die-casting is used on sure motorbike frames. From the pictures it appears just like the organically-shaped chassis is shaped of two forged shells which are bolted (and probably welded) down the center. The motor (probably a Brose S-Magazine trying on the picture) is then bolted on to the underside of the down tube/seat tube, and a single-pivot forged alloy swingarm drives the Fox Float X shock. Whether or not Honda goals to enter the bicycle electrical motor market, like rival Yamaha, stays to be seen.
Brendan Fairclough on the 2007 World Championships in Fort William with the RN01 G-Cross
Whereas Honda has gone for a futuristic search for the E-MTB Idea, in our view it finally ends up trying fairly dated, and divulges some fairly apparent flaws in its design. There are apparent compromises by way of standover top, seat tube insertion depth, body/wheel clearance at full journey, and fundamental kinematics, with the shock being pushed straight off the swingarm, leaving little or no management over leverage charges, or anti-squat and anti-rise traits. In that respect it appears to be very a lot an idea bike, somewhat than a rideable prototype.
The Honda RN01 G-Cross is an iconic downhill bike and we’d like to see Honda return to MTB with one thing equally thrilling
In distinction, the 2004 Honda RN01 was generally believed to be nicely forward of the competitors on the time, with costly, bespoke Showa forks and shock, and a hidden gearbox that centralised the mass, decreased drivetrain points from dropped chains, and allowed for shifting with out pedalling. Whereas the contents of the gearbox have been secret for a few years, when the workforce was disbanded and the bikes withdrawn from competitors, it was revealed that Honda had developed a mini-drivetrain in a field, with seven gears and a small ‘derailleur’ to shift the chain throughout the cassette. Sadly Honda by no means went into manufacturing with the RN01. So come on Honda; let’s see you again in mountain biking in 2024, however we all know you possibly can produce one thing extra related and extra thrilling than this E-MTB Idea.
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