Moto Poll: Which Retro Prototype Blows Your Mind?
Like Honda's retro-inspired CB1100F, Yamaha is taking a cue from its past and displaying a wistfully styled prototype at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show.
Dubbed the XS-V1 Sakura, this motorcycle is inspired by Yamaha's 650cc XS-1, the company's first 4-stroke model which was released in 1970. The bike, according to Yamaha, boasts "the latest technologies in its 1,000cc, air-cooled V-twin engine and chassis." And while its styling recalls the classic XS, this Yamaha embraces the future a bit more fearlessly than the Honda, with rose gold accents and flowing lines that could have easily been featured on a French design from the 1930s.
Info on the Honda concept is similarly vague; visual features include an air-cooled inline-4 powerplant, a 4-into-1 exhaust system, dual-disc cross-drilled front rotors, and a silhouette that recalls the trend-setting Honda CBs of the 1960s. The CB1100R, a racier variant of the CB1100F, boasts a single seat, tube framing, a ducted half-fairing, and dual headlights. Less chrome and more black anodized surfaces finish off this aggressive package.
Which of these prototypes do you prefer? Cast your vote by clicking one of these links:
1. Yamaha's XS-V1 Sakura blows my hair back.2. Honda's CB1100F gets my motor running.
3. None of the above; the past belongs in the past.
Click here to view poll results.
Photos © Honda, Yamaha
Comments
Only one thing I can say……YAWN!!!!!!!
The Yamaha would make a good starting point for a Vincent replica.
The 1100f appears to be the more practical.
Greetings. I really liked both bikes displayed. I can remember when the originals first came out. Life was simplier then, or so it seems…
Now, if Honda can come out with the new EV06, using the “Goldwing” type engine, using “flex fuels”, that’s what I’d Really like to see! Happy Riding!
I wish Rice Burners would not emulate the Harley Davidson, built in the good ole USA. When you see someone driving a Jap version, yo get the impression they could not afford the real things and are riding a Harley wanna be. Just personal feelings. I know this will bring up some controversy, but so be it.
What can ya say, the Honda is a mix of retro and modern, the Yamaha is all retro, but if you think about the maintainence the Honda gets my vote, cheers Bucky NZ.
The Yamaha gets my vote! Reminds me of an old Yamaha 400 I used to own and it was tons of fun. Looks great! I disagree with the comment by Mick. I don’t see how this bike is trying to copy a Harley at all. It looks all Japanese to me.
Oops, on my previous comment I meant I had a Kawasaki 400 not a Yamaha 400.
Because it’s a two cylinder it’s a HD wannabe? Wigga Pleeez. And the V8 in the BMW M3 is a ‘40 Ford V8 wannabe! Yeah right.
That Flat 6 engine concept from the Goldwing/Valkyrie (Porsche wannabe?) was interesting but should have stayed a cruiser concept. Honda left a cult of tens of thousands high a dry when they killed the ‘Cruiser of the decade” Valkyrie line. And no. The Rune was not a Valk.
Si Valley Dan,
good analogies.
Prob with the Valk was mid-mount controls when the market wanted floor boards or forward controls.
There is always one H.D.–AH–Not all motorcycle riders like H.D.—They are over priced and over rated junk–I had one–the only one who liked me was the dealer. Now have a Yamaha Royal Star Venture–GREAT. I liked both the Honda and the Yamaha–the CB`s were great bikes. I have had a old Benilli, a BSA, Vespa scooter, Two Hondas, Kawaski,now a Yamaha, and a sorry ass Harley
Everyone puts down Harley for looking so old and out of date. It’s funny how the Japs are always trying to copy them. Bet they wish they could get the money that HD gets for there piece of junk.
Maybe it’s just me, but the spoke wheels, the rose gold … That Yamaha is bad to the bone!!