The Last 750cc ‘Nanahan’ Straight-4 is No Longer in Production | New Generation “Hornet” is About to be Born

Written by Best Car Web Editorial Department, Photos: SUZUKI, HONDA
*This article was originally published in Best Car Web on June 30, 2022.

Farewell 750cc!　
The GSX-S750, the last 750cc straight-4 of the current model, will be discontinued.
It is sad to say that the 750cc 'Nanahan' is a traditional displacement in Japan, but the new Hornet, which Honda plans to introduce soon, will be revived in 750cc 'Nanahan' form.

I followed the "Coming and Going of 750cc 'Nanahan'!"

The only current straight-4 750cc 'Nanahan', the GSX-S750, is nearing the end of production!

Recently Suzuki has been increasing the exposure of the GSX-S750 in advertisements in motorcycle magazines and other media. The reason for this is that the GSX-S750 is nearing the end of its production run. The GSX-S750 streetfighter will not be compliant with the 2022 emission regulations (Euro 5 equivalent), which will take effect in November 2022, and the current 2021 model will be the last.

The GSX-S750 is the only current model with a straight-four 750cc 'Nanahan', and many people on the Internet are lamenting its discontinuation.

It has more torque at low and mid speeds than the 600cc class and can use a higher rpm range than the liter machine GSX-S1000, which is exhilarating. The compact body also makes it the best of both worlds: a 600cc and 1000cc machine. This is a machine with a high degree of perfection, and at less than 1,000,000 yen, it is also inexpensive.

The final model will not be available; the 2021 blue, gray, and black models that continue to be sold will be available.
Those who want to be sure should move quickly.

Suzuki's last 750cc 'Nanahan', the GSX-S750, debuted in 2017.
It is powered by an aged 749c inline 4-cylinder on a steel frame that produces 112 hp at 10,500 rpm. High balance shines through. 7600 USD (approx.)

Suzuki's traditional straight-4 750cc 'Nanahan'comes to an end after 46 years of history.

In the past, the 750cc 'Nanahan" was the coveted displacement of the father's generation. Starting with the Honda CB750 Fore of 1969, the 750cc Nanahan was a traditional Japanese displacement. Due to voluntary manufacturer restrictions, the maximum displacement for a domestic model motorcycle was 750 cc, and the 903 cc Z1 was downsized for the Japanese market to become the 750 RS (Z2).

And starting in 1975, riders had to pass a very difficult certification test to ride a motorcycle larger than 401cc.
750cc 'Nanahan' was a kind of status symbol, and the displacement of this motorcycle is a very memorable one for my father's generation of riders. The voluntary restriction on displacement was abolished in 1990, and motorcycles over 1,000 cc were introduced in Japan.

Suzuki is one of the manufacturers that has stuck to the 750cc 'Nanahan' model up to the present day.
In 1985, Suzuki introduced its first racer replica, the GSX-R750, in the large and heavy 750cc 'Nanahan' displacement range.
In addition to the world's first oil-cooled straight-four engine, the GSX-R750's advanced aluminum frame provided an overwhelming power-to-weight ratio that made it a dominant force in the world of racing.

Eventually, the upper limit for 4-strokes became 750cc 4-cylinders on AMA Superbikes, and 750cc 'Nanahan' began to flourish as a direct racing class in the late 1980s. In 2004, however, the regulations were changed to a 1000cc limit. The 750cc 'Nanahan' lineup was greatly reduced, but Suzuki continued to offer the GSX-R750 with model changes. Due to emission regulations, the 2018 model was the last in Europe, and re-imports to Japan ended.

The current GSX-S750 is equipped with a liquid-cooled straight-4 unit that continues the GSX-R750's lineage. If its predecessor, the GSR750, is included, the GSX-S750 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame 11 years after its release.
Furthermore, the GSX-S750 marks the end of a long history of 46 years for Suzuki's straight-four, starting with the GS750 introduced in 1976.

The CB750 Four, which was practically the world's first mass-produced vehicle to be equipped with a straight-four engine, was the original 750cc 'Nanahan'. It is said that the name "750cc 'Nanahan" was derived from the development code name within Honda.

New Hornet appears to be coming back to life in 750cc 'Nanahan'

While some 750cc 'Nanahans'are disappearing, others are making their new debut. Rumor has it that Honda's new "Hornet" will appear in 750cc form.

The former Hornet was a naked series that gained popularity in Japan and Europe. The flagship was the 900, but the 600 was a big hit in Europe and was sold until 2014. The 250, which debuted in 1996, became a bestseller in Japan, and even after going out of print in 2008, used models are still sold at high prices.

Currently, only teasers and design sketches of the new Hornet have been released, and the official announcement has yet to be made, but it is expected to have a displacement of 750cc.
It is also rumored that an adventure-type "Transalp 750" equipped with the same engine is also on standby.

However, whereas the old Hornet had a straight-4, the new model is expected to be equipped with a newly designed 270-degree crank parallel twin-cylinder. It will also not adopt the center-up exhaust system that was characteristic of the old Hornet, but the concept sketch shows that it will retain the Hornet's glamorous form.

The sketches released in June were created by Honda Europe's R&D center in Italy, in cooperation with R&D in Japan. Honda Europe has been involved in many advanced designs, including the CRF1100L Africa Twin, CB650R, and X-ADV.
The new Hornet concept is the work of Giovanni Dovis, the 28-year-old designer of the ADV350.

Based on Honda's design philosophy of creating simple, purely functional products, the company aims to create a form that is both light and well-designed. In addition, the company will "accentuate the sportiness by expressing the angriest wasp (Hornet).

The sketch shows the inverted F fork, single right exhaust system, and trellis frame. The fuel tank has an edge over the old Hornet, and the tail cowl is even smaller. It looks to be a more aggressive street fighter with a more cut-up tail.

Currently, cost-effective parallel-twin 800cc or so bikes are popular in Europe. The new Hornet will also hit this category.

The motorcycle is expected to be unveiled at the Milano show in the fall of 2022. In addition to the manual version, Honda will be able to differentiate itself from its rivals if it introduces a semi-automatic (DCT) version, a Honda specialty.

The design sketches explore various frame shapes. All have an edgy design, with a voluminous tank and a slashed tail.

The 750cc straight-4 may be retired, but the 750cc 'Nanahan' is immortal!

Incidentally, Honda's NC750X and X-ADV are still in the lineup as existing 750cc 'Nanahans'. Both were fully changed for the 2021 model year, and both are compliant with the new emission regulations, but there are rumors that the current model will be the last, not compliant with the next emission regulations equivalent to Euro 6. A definite date for the introduction of Euro 6 has not yet been decided, at least after 2024. Until then, it will be safe.

However, this model also has a parallel two-cylinder engine instead of a straight-4. The 750cc 'Nanahan' light will remain, but the GSX-S750 will be the last 750cc 'Nanahan' straight-4.

For now, I would like to give a round of applause to Suzuki, which has stubbornly maintained the traditional straight-four with 750cc 'Nanahan' while its rivals have disappeared.

This is a three-dimensional object of the new Hornet released by Honda at the Milan Show in November 2021.
The engine is drawn in the projection, but the displacement and number of cylinders have not been announced.

Information Source. [ Best Car Web ]