Unique Road Pal, Minimum Form
Road Pal pioneers a new motorcycle market segment centered on the female rider.
In 1976, the Road Pal was introduced as a second generation commuter to replace the Super Cub. The concept was “minimal transportation as easy to use and handle as a bicycle, which could become a necessity for daily life, designed as a Class 1 moped considering license issues and practicality,” and was intended to expand a new segment of demand, especially among women.
The target weight was to be equivalent to two bicycles (17 kg each). While providing the necessary equipment required for a motorized bicycle, the weight was set at 35 kg or less, taking into account a sense of security while riding. In order to achieve this goal, numerous new mechanisms and technologies were developed.
The new bike featured a simple and streamlined frame, a step bracket to prevent feet touching the engine, a two-layer integrated gasoline and oil tank, and a unit swing engine that combined the engine and suspension into a single unit. The weight of the completed model was 44 kg, which exceeded the target due to reinforcements for strength, durability and reliability, but was still an astonishing achievement for a 50 cc motorcycle of the time.
Equipped with a 2-stroke engine, the Road Pal used a novice-friendly spring-loaded starting system requiring three foot pedal strokes to start the engine. The price was considered to be “sufficiently affordable compared to a bicycle,” and as a result of a trial and error, a price of 59,800 yen was achieved.
Engine is started by pushing down three times on the spring-loaded starter pedal.
The Road Pal was a revolutionary 50 cc product that was completely different from the motorcycles that had come before it, and helped by its TV commercial’s “Rattatta” jingle, quickly became a hit. Another reason for its success was the expansion of its sales channels beyond motorcycle dealers to bicycle dealers and supermarkets. The Pal series was improved and manufactured until 1983, and a total of 1.74 million units were produced.
Road Pal in Action
Fully-Equipped Tact, “The Scooter”
In 1979, the family motorcycle market, driven by the Road Pal, quickly grew to 2 million units per year, and the range of products diversified. In 1977, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Yamaha) released the Passol scooter which went on the dominate the market. In response, Honda launched six Road Pal-derived models, including the Road Pal L and Palfrey, in rapid succession, but Yamaha added the Passol and captured the number one single-month share in the moped class in 1979.
To create new demand and reclaim market share, Honda launched the Tact, a scooter with a fully-covered body that was more fashionable and suited to a wide range of lifestyles, in September 1980. The Tact had features and equipment that fully met the expectations of users as a unique, richly textured, economical, and convenient model.
The newly developed 2-stroke forced-air-cooled engine, which produced a maximum output of 3.2 PS, was integrated with the drivetrain in a unit swing system, which ensured a low floor and ample rider space. The drivetrain was equipped with Honda’s unique V-matic continuously variable transmission with belt converter for unprecedented nimble riding performance. Double-link engine mounts were also adopted to reduce vibration that was typical of the unit-swing single-cylinder engine, and greatly improve ride comfort.
The Tact was equipped with a helmet holder, seat lock, small self-starter (cell starter model), auto choke, CDI ignition, and an electric fuel gauge and oil indicator, making it a full-featured scooter. Weighing 49 kg (kick starter model), it was easy for even women to handle, and was priced at 108,000 yen (kick starter model).
As an easy-to-ride family scooter, the Tact exploded in sales, especially among women, selling 110,000 units in just three months after its launch. The following year, a total of 453,600 units (including derivative models) were produced, and by July 1982 increased considerably to a cumulative total of 687,100 units.
Tact, with a flat floor providing ample foot space, gains popularity as an easy-to-ride family scooter.
Unique Idea to Escape Crisis: Birth of Built-in Helmet Storage
The 50 cc market expanded every year thanks to the popularity of scooters, but at the same time, wearing helmets became law in July 1986 in response to the increasing number of accidents involving mopeds, the scooter boom suffered. Although Honda saw this as a crisis that could destroy the moped scooter market, which had been the most profitable segment of its motorcycle business, the development team was unable to find a solution.
At one meeting, an associate sitting on top of a cylindrical metal trash can suddenly pointed to it and said, “If this was under the seat, it could fit a helmet.” Other participants felt hope. While not a fundamental solution, helmet-storage would encourage riders to wear them. This unexpected idea was the breakthrough the development team had hoped for.
The fuel tank, battery, oil tank, and other components were packed tightly under the seat, but the development team patiently moved each of these parts out from under the seat, as if solving a jigsaw puzzle. Finally, the problem of removing the rear frame that supports the seat was solved by adopting a new semi-monocoque technology in which the plastic box that holds the helmet is made of glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene, with the seat directly attached.
The helmet compartment has a load capacity of 10 kg in consideration of carrying items other than helmets, and when combined with the rear carrier, the total load capacity was 13 kg, 2.6 times the previous model’s 5 kg. The tire size was increased from 2.75-10 to 3.00-10, and air pressure was set 20% higher to ensure rigidity. The frame and suspension were also strengthened to ensure reliability.
At the end of January 1987, around six months after the helmet-mandate was enacted, the Tact Fullmark went on sale. The storage space that defied conventional wisdom of scooters was realized, and Honda succeeded in selling 170,000 units a year in a market that was facing strong headwinds. The under-seat helmet storage was soon adopted by other manufacturers and became standard equipment on scooters.
The Tact Fullmark’s under-seat helmet storage was adopted by other manufacturers and became standard equipment on scooters.
New Era, New Demands: The Big Scooter
The big scooter market was pioneered by the Spacy 250 Freeway, the first 250 cc scooter launched by Honda in Japan in 1984. The new scooter was designed to be in a higher class in terms of performance and marketability, with sporty dynamic performance thanks to its larger engine, enjoyable touring performance even on highways, significantly better acceleration performance than other scooters, advanced aerodynamic design, and the latest high-tech equipment.
Its liquid-cooled 4-stroke engine retained the highly-acclaimed mechanisms of the 1983 Spacey 125 Striker, including eccentric tappet adjustment and forced-air-cooled belt converter. The front trailing suspension was equipped with TLAD (Trailing Link and Anti-Dive Suspension) to reduce the nose diving under braking. Auto-cancel turn signals, preventing the turn signals from unintentionally staying on, were also standard.
The Freeway, which was well received for its advanced features and performance, sold approximately 16,000 units in its first two years. The Fusion, launched in 1986, was based on the Freeway, incorporating cruiser elements and pursuing long-distance travel and tandem riding capabilities.
Japan’s first 250 cc scooter, pioneering the Big Scooters
Spacy 250 Freeway
SPACY 250 FREEWAY in Action
Recognizing that the core value of a scooter was ride comfort, Honda focused on reducing vibration and noise, reducing rider fatigue, and improving performance, and also adopted a body-mounted windscreen, an American-style riding position, and a thick, large seat with ample leg room.
It was also characterized by its low and long proportions, with a wheelbase of 1,625 mm and a seat height of 665 mm, the largest of any scooter at the time. Production and sales of the Fusion in Japan ended in 1997, but its unique styling resonated with the street culture of the time, and was re-launched and sold once again from 2003 to 2007. In total, more than 100,000 units were sold.
Fusion, with improved long-distance performance and comfortable tandem riding.
Fusion in Action
In 1995, after Honda had ignited the big scooter genre with the Freeway and Fusion, Yamaha introduced the luxurious Majesty, with a large chassis and luggage space, and the following year it became the top registered model in the light motorcycle class in Japan. To compete with the Majesty, Honda launched the Foresight in 1997. Built as a “Comfortable City-Runabout,” it combined ease of handling and maneuverability in urban areas with a comfortable ride for long-distance cruising.
Foresight, designed for urban handling, maneuverability, and comfort for long-distance cruising
The 1998 launch of the Skywave by Suzuki marked the arrival of the big scooter boom. Honda revamped the direction of its big scooters in 2000 with the launch of the Forza, and for the second generation, fully redesigned in 2004, featured PGM-FI (electronically controlled fuel injection) combined with a V-matic continuously variable gearbox. It also featured 62-liter storage under the seat and the Honda Smart Card Key System as standard equipment for the first time on a motorcycle. As a result, the Forza was Japan’s top-selling light motorcycle class for 37 consecutive months from May 2004 to May 2007*1.
*1 Honda research
Second-generation Forza, which became Japan’s top light motorcycle thanks to its high product quality and competitiveness, including a 62-liter storage capacity and the first motorcycle to be equipped with a smart card key as standard equipment.
The big scooter boom in Japan also influenced Europe, where utility features such as large-capacity helmet storage were particularly appreciated. Honda launched the Silver Wing 600 / 400 in 2001 with the European market in mind. Its DOHC two-cylinder engine with electronically controlled fuel injection featured T-mode, which changes ignition timing and fuel injection amount to achieve a powerful ride on uphill slopes (initially only on the Silver Wing 400). The Silver Wing’s luxurious features included a body design with excellent wind protection, a 55-liter luggage box that could store two full-face helmets, user-friendly storage.
Silver Wing, designed with the European market in mind.
