Video of Honda CR Electric Proto in action in Japan

4/13/2019 11:35pm Edited Date/Time 4/14/2019 3:52am
Honda has put their prototype on display at the first round of the All Japan Motocross Championship at Kumamoto.

Rain has put a dampener on the demonstration but, yes, the bike actually functions.

The rider isn’t interested in pushing it, but does start to open it up (not sure if that expression is relevant without a carburettor) as the video progresses.

Simulated start at the 11 minute mark.

https://youtu.be/PjHQ8LY2Xds
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BB366
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4/13/2019 11:50pm
Nice......Going to be a quiet old race meeting in 10 or so years time

Thanks for sharing
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kiwifan
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4/14/2019 12:24am
Well so much for those who thought it wasnt a working prototype....
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The Shop

4/14/2019 2:34am
For all the hype this bike has generated, I would hope that the marketing team at Honda Japan is now getting it crated up and ready to ship Stateside for some show laps at the Las Vegas finale.
Boomslang
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4/14/2019 2:59am
BB366 wrote:
Nice......Going to be a quiet old race meeting in 10 or so years time

Thanks for sharing
Indeed it will. It's gonna sound like a Parliament meeting...everyone talking, shouting..weird.
KMC440
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4/14/2019 3:39am
Kamikaze sound in the background in the first min was oddBlink

(yes I know it's a road course nex door)
shuggs
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4/14/2019 3:44am
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this changed my mind - why?

Unless there is a gearbox a lot of skill will be lost as I noticed 65 making a couple of small mistakes whereas the 50 was just twist n go so needed much less thought - less skill.

This will also lead to less fun had, we have all came off bike and thought ‘it was great going round that corner as blah blah’ or ‘that part flows well’ all due to being in right gear.

Thoughts everyone...
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GODZILLA
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4/14/2019 4:02am
Woah! Really impressive! Can't find the words to tell you how excited I am!
Laughing
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5
4/14/2019 4:15am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2019 4:18am
shuggs wrote:
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this...
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this changed my mind - why?

Unless there is a gearbox a lot of skill will be lost as I noticed 65 making a couple of small mistakes whereas the 50 was just twist n go so needed much less thought - less skill.

This will also lead to less fun had, we have all came off bike and thought ‘it was great going round that corner as blah blah’ or ‘that part flows well’ all due to being in right gear.

Thoughts everyone...
Bit like the 4 stroke revolution then.

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mx 219
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4/14/2019 4:23am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2019 4:24am
If they want to really market that thing let kenny put some laps on it at vegas press day
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PJRAUS
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4/14/2019 4:32am
Seems to have been a very public display for a normally very secretive company?
Surely given this very public reveal, the production model is fairly imminent?
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carmfarm
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4/14/2019 4:56am
First 4 strokes now ebikes. Alright I guess I got 2
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observeroffacts
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4/14/2019 5:13am
I think it looks awesome. I’m very interested in knowing specs, specifically weight, battery life, what the power is like, and price tag. I’d love to buy one as soon as they’re available.
tempura
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4/14/2019 5:47am
I have some video I took on my phone today. Not sure I can post it directly on here straight from my phone same as a photo.
LoudLove
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4/14/2019 6:17am
shuggs wrote:
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this...
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this changed my mind - why?

Unless there is a gearbox a lot of skill will be lost as I noticed 65 making a couple of small mistakes whereas the 50 was just twist n go so needed much less thought - less skill.

This will also lead to less fun had, we have all came off bike and thought ‘it was great going round that corner as blah blah’ or ‘that part flows well’ all due to being in right gear.

Thoughts everyone...
Ultimately e-bikes will enhance the riding experience for everyone. Yes, there's an intrinsic value to operating a device with clutch & gears, which falls to the wayside with single-speed machinery. However, this new technology will foster the need for new skill-sets as well. Just as improvements in suspension and braking changed rider requirements, so will electric bike technology.

"Easier" also means greater accessibility. Our sport suffers from "bike brutality", with 50+ HP dragons supported by a rather complex series of spinning gears, valves, rods, etc. Now imagine a machine programmable by Bluetooth, requiring significantly less maintenance, and generating double-decibel noise levels. The thunderous sounds of a 4-stroke may appeal to some, but the vast majority of people (and nearly 100% of non-riders) find them atrociously annoying. In an environment of increasing population and stagnant ridership, that is a recipe for disaster.
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peltier626
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4/14/2019 6:22am
I wonder if it's gonna be allowed to compete at Loretta's?
MOTO732
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4/14/2019 6:24am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2019 6:33am
Honda R&D. Honda quality. Honda's dealership network. Honda's reputation for building excellent bikes that meet the needs of the masses. If they price it right...they'll sell everyone they can build. Game chnger.

Hopefully it has a hydraulic clutch and electric start.
8686
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4/14/2019 6:48am
At 11:00 I saw him lift his left boot to shift and saw his clutch fingers dancing. Gonna take some time to lose those habits.
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yz25
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4/14/2019 6:53am
Looks like myself putting in a “heater” at the local track. Roll the big jumps, cut the track and back to the truck....

All kidding a side. Is it me or has the rear fender on the Honda grown in length? ! Once mud cakes up, will look like a diving board. I take it that’s what the 2020 Honda graphics will look like?

But interesting story for sure!
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4/14/2019 6:58am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2019 6:58am
shuggs wrote:
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this...
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this changed my mind - why?

Unless there is a gearbox a lot of skill will be lost as I noticed 65 making a couple of small mistakes whereas the 50 was just twist n go so needed much less thought - less skill.

This will also lead to less fun had, we have all came off bike and thought ‘it was great going round that corner as blah blah’ or ‘that part flows well’ all due to being in right gear.

Thoughts everyone...
I have a lot of fun going faster on my Alta than any other bike i own.... and i own a 450 and a 125 as as well.

The fun part of motocross is hitting your marks and going fast, and you simply can do that more consistently on an electric bike. And this also makes it safer.
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1
4/14/2019 6:59am
8686 wrote:
At 11:00 I saw him lift his left boot to shift and saw his clutch fingers dancing. Gonna take some time to lose those habits.
Takes about 2 laps and then you get over it.
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davis224
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4/14/2019 7:01am
MOTO732 wrote:
Honda R&D. Honda quality. Honda's dealership network. Honda's reputation for building excellent bikes that meet the needs of the masses. If they price it right...they'll sell...
Honda R&D. Honda quality. Honda's dealership network. Honda's reputation for building excellent bikes that meet the needs of the masses. If they price it right...they'll sell everyone they can build. Game chnger.

Hopefully it has a hydraulic clutch and electric start.
I'm not sure if this is sarcasm or not. Electric start?
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Fourth_Floor
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Saint Marys, PA US
4/14/2019 7:02am
Production model has to be pretty close I would think? I don't see them publicly trying to drum up interest for a bike that won't be ready for another 2-3 years. My guess is they started working on this thing around the same time as Alta.
MOTO732
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4/14/2019 7:14am
A lack of exposure killed Alta. Sure the west coast had VERY limited dealership access, but 99% of the rest of the country had no access to them at all. Now...how easy is it to find a Honda dealership? Everyone has one within 30 minutes probably. The massive Honda dealer network is there and in place. Just a matter of shipping bikes. They'll be sold before they arrive.
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KHI Guy
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4/14/2019 7:21am
shuggs wrote:
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this...
Mmm I was looking forward to e-bikes BUT yesterday at track while watching g/son on a 65 there was an auto 50 on track and this changed my mind - why?

Unless there is a gearbox a lot of skill will be lost as I noticed 65 making a couple of small mistakes whereas the 50 was just twist n go so needed much less thought - less skill.

This will also lead to less fun had, we have all came off bike and thought ‘it was great going round that corner as blah blah’ or ‘that part flows well’ all due to being in right gear.

Thoughts everyone...
I must be the only one that thinks "less thought - less skill" actually makes for more fun. I don't race for a living, so I just want to go out and "feel" like I am going fast, regardless if I actually am or not. Bogging, missing shifts, ect....absolutely sucks, and definitely takes away from the "fun factor".
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Sluggo77
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4/14/2019 8:05am
I always loved the challenge of making a 125 sing. I don't know, maybe it was the sense of pride that I worked and learned how to make something difficult seem easy.
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eeazye
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Akron, OH US
4/14/2019 8:13am
Watching this video gave me the terrible realization of an unintended consequence when it all goes electric. I’m going to be able to hear the announcers during a live race. Nooooooo!
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JM485
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Davis, CA US
4/14/2019 8:18am
MOTO732 wrote:
A lack of exposure killed Alta. Sure the west coast had VERY limited dealership access, but 99% of the rest of the country had no access...
A lack of exposure killed Alta. Sure the west coast had VERY limited dealership access, but 99% of the rest of the country had no access to them at all. Now...how easy is it to find a Honda dealership? Everyone has one within 30 minutes probably. The massive Honda dealer network is there and in place. Just a matter of shipping bikes. They'll be sold before they arrive.
Lack of exposure was the last thing that killed Alta, they couldn't even keep up with the demand for their bikes.







I'll be curious to see the specs on this bike as well, I'll be shocked if it's better than Alta's but you never know. If the price tag is right my 450 might be going away. . .
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