A potential turning point in life as a designer
Can you tell us about your career to date?
Suzuki
I joined Honda in 2015, and after working on the design of motorcycles for Europe and Asia in a support
role, I have since been involved in advanced and large motorcycle design. For large motorcycles, I was
in charge of the CRF1100L Africa Twin, X-ADV 750, and now the CB1000F Concept.
The CB is a very important model. How did it look to you before you were tasked with designing it?
Suzuki
I had heard of the CB before working at Honda, and after learning more about its history, I was reminded
of how great it is. It still has an unwavering presence as the quintessential Honda motorcycle, and I
think it’s the brand that represents Honda’s sports motorcycles.
What did you think when you were tasked with designing the new CB?
Suzuki
I was very excited. It’s rare to have the chance to be involved in designing a CB, so I truly consider
it an honor. I had a feeling that this model could be a potential turning point in my life as a
designer.
How did you go about the design process?
Suzuki
It's a model with a long history, so we started by holding discussions among the design team to
interpret what kind of model the CB is by looking at previous models side by side to see how they had
evolved over the years. Through this process, we concluded that CB motorcycles have provided the joy of
riding in all situations, from sports to everyday riding, while also incorporating cutting-edge
technology in line with the times.
The CB-F Concept model for 2020 was unveiled on our website due to COVID-19, but it received a good response from customers. We therefore decided that we needed a model that would set the standard for the future of road sports, and the CB1000F Concept project began anew.
Aiming to create a Best Balance Roadster
Can you discuss the design concept?
Suzuki
The design concept is the new era of CB. As I mentioned earlier, CB motorcycles have always provided the
joy of riding at the forefront of the times. We thought about what kind of value it should convey in the
modern age and how it should be communicated.
It should have a design and performance that would make people who have been riding motorcycles think, “This is a Honda CB,” and it should be a motorcycle that aspiring riders hope to ride. However, it shouldn’t be something special that is out of reach; rather, it should be an extension of daily life.
What was the development concept?
Suzuki
The development concept was a “Best Balance Roadster,” a model that balances the CB's characteristics as
a flagship model with ease of riding and use.
From there, we chose “Re-Construction” as a design keyword, and re-constructed the CB's presence into the proportions required in the modern age.
What were some of the key points of the re-construction?
Suzuki
The design of the CB1000F Concept must have a certain dignified style to it. CBs have come in many
different designs and displacements in the past, but the flagship model of any era has always had a
dignified style.
However, even if it has a dignified style, we wanted to make sure it wasn’t something that is out of reach. We were conscious of balancing this style with creating a motorcycle that would allow riders of all backgrounds to enjoy themselves.
What design points embody this awareness?
Suzuki
Specifically, powerful elements have been placed around the engine and tank, and
the headlight has been positioned with a horizontal base to give it a dignified style. On the other
hand, contrast is created by adopting a lighter design that extends from the seat to the rear. By adding
this lightness, we hoped to create a design with dignified style while also making it feel easy to
handle.
Even though we aimed to add lightness to its dignified style, the design approach was a bit different from past CBs, so I myself felt a bit uncomfortable when drawing the sketches at first. Creating 3D models from the sketches gives a different impression, so we repeatedly experimented with sketches and models in order to achieve the best contrast between dignified style and lightness.
Were there any new challenges you took on besides re-construction?
Suzuki
We took on the challenge of balancing the hardness and softness of the surfaces.
We went through a lot of trial and error when talking with the modelers while transforming the sketches
into a three-dimensional form.
The CB1000F Concept is a road sports motorcycle, so we wanted to keep the orthodox parts configuration, and chose a fuel tank made of steel plate. We were conscious of the balance between hardness and softness in the steel-like surface expression and the way the corners are rounded.
We also were particular about the size of the taillight. We were initially thinking of something a little smaller, but even though the power is concentrated in the front, we felt that it was also essential to have a sense of presence from the rear when considering the styling as viewed from all directions. The front has an orthodox round headlight, but the height at which it is mounted was carefully considered. We considered the optimal position of the headlight many times in order to achieve a sporty look while also expressing a dignified style that is bold and proud.
A universal design loved throughout the ages
Is there anything you were particularly conscious of in designing this as an F model of CB?
Suzuki
The simple shape and clean surfaces that characterize the F still feel fresh today. I think it's
important to have a universal design that can be accepted over time and will never go out of style. For
this CB1000F Concept, too, we were conscious of creating a motorcycle that would always feel fresh, no
matter how much time passes.
This CB1000F Concept project gave me another opportunity to experience the history of the CB and the thoughts of past designers, and I learned a lot from them. The environment surrounding motorcycles, including environmental regulations, will continue to change going forward, but I hope that the CB will remain a model that offers unchanging value.
Profiles
Yuha Suzuki
Moto Honda da Amazonia Ltda.（Brazil）
Designer