The Honda City Adventure concept is creeping closer to production and a new teaser video shows a little more of it.
Expected to be called the ‘X-ADV’ when it reaches showrooms, the bike was shown last year as a concept. Its engine and chassis are from the NC750 range, but with styling that’s a cross between a scooter and an adventure bike.
It’s a strange, but strangely compelling, idea. The new video attempts to explain its versatility. The City Adventure is shown on dirt roads as a nod to its high clearance and knobbly tyres. Next it’s shown on sweeping country roads in reference to its large capacity and relatively high performance. The video then cuts to city streets, with busy traffic, narrow alleys and cobbled surfaces. Here its scooter manoeuvrability comes to the fore. If you need just one bike do all these things, the message is that this might be it.
Unfortunately for Honda, the effort to tease potential buyers with a slow dribble of information and snatched glimpses has already been undermined. The firm’s patents for the final production version have long been available on the internet. These give a clear view of the showroom version of the bike from every angle.
Presuming performance figures will be similar to the NC750 that it’s based on the only big question left is the machine’s price. Chances are it will be expensive, given the higher-spec suspension and brakes compared to other models. Chassis alterations including an aluminium swingarm also promise to add to its costs.
Honda’s latest video is promising another instalment on September 15. With any luck it will be more enlightening. However, as the interminable teaser process surrounding the Africa Twin last year proved, Honda might well keep us hanging for quite some time yet. Let’s hope the bike makes it worthwhile.