Tokyo, March 18, 1998 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that it has developed an exhaust gas purification system for motorcycle engines of 250cc or greater displacement that will comply with the new Japanese motorcycle exhaust gas emissions regulations due to come into effect from October 1999.
This newly developed 4-cycle engine exhaust gas purification system is composed of an electronically controlled fuel injection system (PGM-FI), newly developed by Honda exclusively for motorcycles, together with an exhaust air-injection system.

The PGM-FI system uses an electronic control unit (ECU) to regulate the air-fuel mixture being admitted to the engine. By constantly changing the mixture to make it the most suitable for the riding conditions at any particular instant, the system reduces the amount of pollutants generated during the combustion process.

The exhaust air-injection system channels air through the exhaust ports to mix with unburned hydrocarbons (HCs) and carbon monoxide (CO) in the exhaust gas mixture. This helps to oxidize excess HCs and CO within the exhaust pipe, thereby reducing the amounts of these pollutants that are emitted.

The environment-friendly 4-cycle engine exhaust gas purification system will be fitted first to the new VFR large sports bike, which is due to be launched in the near future.

Motorcycle exhaust gas emission regulation values in Japan
Amended standards applicable to road vehicles in public spaces (Ministry of Transport ordinance No. 22, 1997)

(Figures in parentheses are average regulation values)