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SUV of motorcycles on sale in 2017

Honda X-ADV coming

Written by Ben Purvis , Date 12:11 PM

There’s never been much doubt that the Honda X-ADV has been headed for production (click here for original story) and now Honda has officially confirmed that it will go on sale in 2017.

X-ADV_1

X-ADV prototype on test

In a brief press release the firm finally removed all doubts over the bike’s name. Initially shown as the ‘City Adventure’ concept bike at last November’s EICMA show in Milan, Honda originally planned to call the production version ‘ADV’. A trademark application was denied for being too much of a generic term. As a replacement Honda trademarked the name X-ADV. Today’s announcement is the first in which Honda has officially used the X-ADV name for the bike.

The release comes on the heels of two teaser videos released over the last few weeks (here and here). Honda says the X-ADV is a “new breed of machine” that “combines adventure appeal with wide-ranging performance and practicality.”

It will be officially revealed this November at the EICMA show in Milan, one year on from the City Adventure concept’s debut.

Based around the NC750 engine and chassis, the X-ADV has that bike’s optional DCT semi-auto transmission as standard. It’s intended to give it some of the ease of use of a scooter. The large engine will give it long-distance ability and the jacked-up suspension offers a smidgeon of rough-surface ability. Not off-road, though, as Honda’s release carefully specifies that it’s intended to handle the “roughest road surfaces.”

The latest announcement reveals few of the bike’s technical details. A five-position adjustable screen is confirmed along with enough storage space for an off-road style helmet.

The bike’s innovative design and unusual positioning in a niche that’s currently unoccupied could make it a surprise success if the price is right. Should buyers adopt the idea of adventure-style big scooters, other manufacturers may also adopt similar ideas. Honda is already known to be working on a smaller-capacity scooter with off-road-style suspension and styling to sit alongside the X-ADV.

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