Be the Wind

[vintagegarage]

As usual, Vintage Garage is ready to buy today, but will end up being the last to get one.. looks like UK and Europe will be on the front tit and Vintage Garage will be on the hind tit.

 

[Kev250R]

I'm Meh on this. While I don't own one I think Electric and/or Hybrid cars and trucks make sense as people use them for commuting some longer trips. However from my interactions with some who drive them, most (not all) look at them much the same way as I do my Washing Machine; it's an appliance which saves them more money then whatever gas-powered thing they drove before and for that reason it makes sense to them. The Telsa people are a possible exception as in my area some people like to drive them for status. I recently had a Tesla owner explain to me all the minute differences between all the Model 3's over the years. He was very excited but lost a bit of that excitement when I asked him why they all look like Jelly Beans.

Back to the topic at-hand. I think the reason why we're not seeing more electric MC's on the road is because most people who ride, again at least in my area are doing it for fun. They want to feel/hear the engine (I live in an area with a lot of H-D's and Sport Bikes). They want the fantasy of being able to ride as long as they want and never have to worry about running-out of Juice; even if most weekend-warriors ride well within the range of an electric MC.

Personally if I were in charge at Honda (the Rigeline would come with a pre-runner package and 33" tires) sorry got distracted there...If I were in charge at Honda I'd be trying out the electric MC thing on the mini-moto's. That would make more sense as people who buy the small bikes (like all of us on this forum) seem to buy them for two main reasons 1) Commuting 2) Fun and pleasure riding. Test the market there, see how it does then go from there. The market they are going after with this new electric Sport Bike seems to be very crowded already. I recently watched one of SRK's videos on the hybrid Kawasaki Sport Bike they came-out with and sales are so slow on that model some dealers are selling them for as much as 40% off! That tells me the market is saturated or there just isn't a lot of demand for it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that as long as even large MC's are able to get better then 30 MPG, with others like our Mini's getting upwards of 80 (or more!) most people aren't going to make the switch. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I'm not maybe Honda should talk to me about improving the Ridgeline LOL!

 

[dmonkey]

I think Europe makes a lot of sense as the (initial) target market in terms of culture, geography, charging infrastructure, etc.

I'm not particularly drawn to the style of that concept bike. Maybe it will appeal to me more once it's a production bike. If Honda sold the BENLY e: electric scooter in the USA though... I'd be putting money down on one right now. Not particularly good looking, but the utility is there.

 

[Kev250R]

I agree DMonkey, the culture is way different in Europe then it is here. I agree though, if Honda sold a Scooter like that here it would probably do well in Urban areas and with the Door Dash crowd.

 

[vintagegarage]

Well, I put in my order for one.. LOL I think I will be dust in the wind by the time it shows up here though.. it's not about culture for me, but rather, I am simply tech-curious.

 

[dmonkey]

It's now been announced for production to Europe as the "Honda WN7"

The “W” stands for wind, and the ”N” for naked*3 [model]. The 7 represents an internal output class designation. The grand concept of “Be the Wind” signifies the ongoing direction for Honda’s electric FUN motorcycles, so the WN7 could be seen as the lead-off hitter for the W Series [world series of baseball].

Honda’s First Electric FUN Motorcycle “Honda WN7” Revealed. “Be the Wind” Signals a New Era of Motorcycle Experience

Honda's first electric motorcycle FUN model, the Honda WN7, is unveiled. What is the vision behind the grand concept “Be the Wind,” and what is its global outlook?

global.honda

 

[vintagegarage]

Interesting that there is no mention in the video of why the Sundiro font is used on the WN7 instead of the Honda font. If you watch this next video, the only way of spotting the WN7 is by the font, in a microsecond shot at about 1:06 in the video:

 

[vintagegarage]

Apparently the WN7 is assembled at Honda's Kumamoto Factory in Japan. I am still confused by the font. Same font as used on the Dax e: and the Cub e: made in China. That font was also present on the walls of the Honda booth the most recent show in Japan. Indications are that after it's debut in Europe, it will be rolled out to other markets. Maybe I can make it another two years before becoming dust in the wind. To quote Google AI:
"
Honda is using a new, dedicated "Honda" wordmark (a specific, clean font) on its electric motorcycles to visually distinguish its electric vehicle (EV) lineup from its traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) models. The change is part of a strategic initiative to symbolize the company's commitment to electrification and pursuit of new value unique to EVs.
Key reasons for this branding change include:

• Differentiation: The new wordmark creates a clear visual separation between the electric and conventional motorcycle portfolios.
• Unified Electric Identity: The same "Honda" font is already used on Honda's electric automobile models, providing a consistent, unified identity across all of its electric product lines (cars and motorcycles).
• Symbol of Commitment: The mark serves as a symbol of Honda's full-scale entry and commitment to the global electric motorcycle market, which it positions as distinct from its 75-year history of ICE development.
• Modern Aesthetic: The new emblem is described as having a simplified, clean, and minimalist aesthetic, which aligns with the design philosophy of modern electric mobility.

In contrast, Honda's ICE-powered flagship motorcycles will continue to use a newly designed "Honda Flagship WING" emblem to maintain brand heritage in that product domain. The different branding strategies help manage the visual clarity of Honda's growing and diverse product portfolio. "

 

[dmonkey]

I like the idea of having different branding on the EVs.
Here's a recent article from Honda that mentions the electric motorcycle brand logo:

What Makes a Truly Honda Electric Bike? — The Passion Behind the Brand Promise ‘Expected Life. Unexpected Discoveries.’

In November 2025, Honda announced its electric motorcycle brand promise, “Expected Life. Unexpected Discoveries.” This issue of Honda Stories explores the future Honda aims to realize through electric motorcycles.

global.honda

 

[vintagegarage]

Here's another one.. a bit too sophisticated for me.. LOL

 

[vintagegarage]

Here's another one.. marketing to a specific demographic.. I want one anyway....

 

[vintagegarage]

Same footage, expanded by 19 seconds to reach a broader market.. but still no old guys..

 

[vintagegarage]

Still no old guys for the Outlier Concept.. maybe they don't need to market to old guys who already want one: