Honda re-inventing the VTR (RC51)

With the European Brands eating a big portion of the Japanese Sports bike market,  namely, Aprilia with their RSV 4 APRC, BMW with BOTY S1000RR, KTM RC8 R and Ducati with the much anticipated Pannigalle 1199. Honda must make a move to reclaim Honda's share of the market back. 

The RSV4 has a V4 engine, the Ducati and KTM are V-Twins and the BMW S1000RR went head to head with all 4 Japanese motorcycle brands and came out on top. Even though, BMW was fairly new to the sportsbike market segment, they got everything right the first time. It was perfect out of the box and you immediately see Aprilia, KTM and Ducati react. What did the Japanese manufactures do, NOTHING.

If Honda would like to keep up with the European brands, Honda would have to go back to the RC 51 (VTR). There is already an existing Cult following for this motorcycle and all Honda has to do is tap it. Remember the glory days of Colin Edwards winning the WSBK Championship on a RC51, beating Ducati with Honda's version of the V-Twin. Forget the CBR 1000RR, that motorcycle is done. It looks mediocre at best but its performance on the road and track are up there with best bikes. However, how many Honda CBR riders do actually ride their bikes every weekend to maximize its full potential. 

Any ordinary person without any motorcycle heritage will always approach an Aprilia, KTM, BMW, Yamaha (because of Rossi) and Ducati. I have not seen anyone approach a CBR when all of those bikes mentioned above are present. You can ride any European bike to Starbucks and it is guaranteed to be a head turner.

There are a lot of rumors for Honda's line up in 2012. I hear Honda will come up with a VFR 1000 to compete with the European bikes in WSBK. If this were true, I can not wait to see it. But if Honda is still undecided, I suggest they rethink their strategy and come up with the RC 51 (VTR) instead. Honda can either go with the VFR or VTR, does not matter to me. I just do hope Honda comes out with something new in 2012 to give motorcycle riders a wider choice of bikes to choose from.

concept sketches by French designer Nicolas Petit