Is Your Favourite Motorcycle Retiring Soon?

[steveluv]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Environment/Honda-peers-to-ride-20-motorcycles-off-into-the-sunset-this-year?utm_campaign=GL_JP_update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=4&pub_date=20220623085958&seq_num=2&si=44594

Honda, peers to ride 20 motorcycles off into the sunset this year
Japan's big 4 retire some bestsellers in response to tougher emission standards

Honda will end production of the CB400 Super Four motorcycle. (Photo courtesy of Honda Motor)
SAKI SHIRAI, Nikkei staff writerJune 22, 2022 23:56 JST

TOKYO -- Honda Motor and three Japanese rivals plan to discontinue about 20 motorcycle models by the end of this year, Nikkei has learned, in response to tougher emissions standards to be implemented in Japan in the fall.

The retired motorbikes represent 10% of the roughly 190 models available from Honda, Yamaha Motor, Suzuki Motor and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Going forward, the companies will shift to electrics. Honda will electrify its entire lineup of vehicles by the 2040s. Yamaha will make 90% of new vehicles plug-ins by 2050.

Honda, the world's largest motorcycle company, will retire approximately 10 out of 80 models. The affected bikes include popular models like the CB400 Super Four, a midsized motorcycle which has been a bestseller since the 1990s.

Also on Honda's chopping block are models from the full-sized Gold Wing series, as well as the Benly scooter made for delivery services.

Yahama will stop selling two models from its flagship FJR1300 series of tourers. Suzuki will pull at least five out of roughly 20 models from production lines by October, including the midsized GSX250R.

Kawasaki Motors, a subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, stopped delivering some full-sized motorcycles last year.

Japan adopted tougher emission standards at the end of 2020 that applied to new models. The standards will apply to all existing models in November.

The rules are modeled after the European Union's Euro 5 law, introduced in January 2020. It mandates that nitrogen oxide emission be cut by up to 33%.

To comply with Japan's incoming regulations, motorcycle manufacturers will need to install upgraded catalytic converters or to completely redesign engines. However, it is extremely expensive to develop new engines. The price of rare metals used in catalytic converters has jumped to new highs.

Redesigning existing motorcycle models "would raise the sale price three to four times," said a source from a major motorcycle manufacturer. There is no prospect for growth for the Japanese market, so the makers will significantly shrink lineups and cut back on new model rollouts.

Motorcycle manufactures anticipate electrified models will sway competitive advantage amid the shift toward carbon reduction. The companies are concentrating research and development funds into electrics. Because Japanese players control 40% of the global motorcycle market, that trend is expected to hasten the transition away from gasoline two-wheelers.

[inlinesix]

Harley Davidson launched Livewire in 2019.

On the other hand, still waiting for Honda to launch EV

[Fitvip]

I have retired my CB350F in 1990. No more bikes to retire.

[Watwheels]

The CB400 in the cafe racer kit is quite nice. Too bad it is retiring. 

[Jamesc]

Honda Cub will never die.

Electric cub next time.

[Jamesc]

Motorcycles are a genius concept with 2 problems.

Raining you get wet and people keep falling down.

Put a cabin and 3 or 4 wheels and you have the future of commuting.

[Jamesc]

Waiting for my favorite to come 

 

https://www.citytransformer.com/

[Throttle2]

Wah quite sad. 
I sold my Triumph Speedtwin last year as mileage was super low.  
Had many bikes over last 30yrs

many Zs and ninjas 

Several Duc Harleys and CBs

an electric one would be so different 

no sound no heat no rumble