The year 2022 will soon come to an end. The moderate motorcycle boom continued in Japan, and manufacturers launched many new models and remodeled existing models this year, despite the problem of production delays due to parts procurement issues and other problems. Among these new motorcycles this year, the author has taken the liberty of selecting models that he found surprising. What did you think of these motorcycles?
2022 is a transitional year for lineup restructuring
In the new motorcycle market in Japan in 2022, the sad news of the end of production of various existing models has been circulating. The main reason for this is that due to the full enforcement of the 2020 emission regulations in Japan, manufacturers were only allowed to produce models that did not meet these standards until October 2022. As a result, models such as Honda's CB400 Super Fore & Superbordor, Yamaha's SR400, Suzuki's GSX-R1000R, Kawasaki's Versys-X250 Tourer, and other models that represent their manufacturers and categories are about to disappear from the new vehicle market as long as they remain in stock.
On the other hand, of course, there are also many models that have been adapted to meet these emission regulations through model changes and other means. There are also several new motorcycles that were developed as brand-new models and introduced to the Japanese market on the premise that they would comply with the new regulations. In other words, the year 2022 can be considered a year in which manufacturers have been restructuring their lineups.
Pick up unexpected new models from domestic manufacturers.
Following the previous year, 2022 was a year of many model changes and minor changes as well as the end of production, and in addition, several brand new models debuted among Japanese manufacturers, especially Honda. Of course, many of these models are what we would call "normal evolution" or models that comply with regulations through minor changes, but on the other hand, there are also a number of motorcycles that will make veteran riders wonder if they have come to the right place.
For this issue, the author has selected, at his own discretion and prejudice, five models from among those debuting as completely new models or introduced through full model changes in 2022 that he found surprising. Although there were many interesting motorcycles from overseas manufacturers, this year's list is limited to models that are officially offered by the four Japanese manufacturers in Japan. The reasons for the unexpectedness are explained in each section.
HONDA HAWK11
Exclusive model for Japan, adventure base, FRP cowl
The Hawk 11, newly launched in September 2022, was developed exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, which is quite unusual in today's era of globalized motorcycle production. Moreover, it is designed for small-scale production, with Honda's annual sales plan of 1,200 units. And yet, the price is (about 10520 USD), which is standard for a liter motorcycle of this era. The choice of such a sales strategy for the domestic market in Japan is surprising.
The chassis and engine have their roots in the CRF1100L Africa Twin (directly based on the NT1100, a sports tourer version of the Africa Twin), and it is surprising that a cafe racer could be produced from an adventure model. However, the Africa Twin engine has also been converted to the Rebel 1100 series of cruisers, so users may feel a little more familiar with it. The ultimate feature is the FRP rocket cowl, which is rare for a mass-produced production vehicle. It is said that this is the result of their insistence on one-piece molding, but it is surprising that they have brought it to the market almost exactly the same as the show model!
HONDA DAX125
Add more retro moped two types to the list, even though there are many.
The Dax 125, which will go on sale in September 2022, is a model that brings back to life the atmosphere of former leisure models in the 125cc class, but Honda already has models developed based on similar concepts, such as the Monkey 125, CT125 Hunter Cub, and Super C125, or the Super Cub C125. Honda also has other moped commuters such as the Grom, Cross Cub 110, and Super Cub 110, making its lineup quite complete.
Under such circumstances, it is a bit surprising that even Dax would be revived, even though the moped two-class class is indeed growing in popularity in Japan and has a large global demand. In the category of moped leisure motorcycles, Honda is likely to remain the sole winner for some time to come.
YAMAHA XSR900
Unexpected injection of racer image
The XSR900 is a retro-inspired sports heritage model that uses the engine and chassis of the MT-09, which also serves as the platform base model. The first generation debuted in 2016 and was fully remodeled for the 2022 model year, a year after the base model was revamped (released in Japan last June 2022).
Until now, the design was reminiscent of naked models from the 1970s and 1980s, but for the 2022 model year, while the heritage theme remains the same, the design has changed significantly to a motif reminiscent of racers from the early 1980s. Whether one likes it or not, one cannot help but be surprised at the considerable change in image.
SUZUKI Address 125
Goodbye straight lines. Rounded address
The Address series has been a central part of Suzuki's moped scooter lineup. The two-stroke Address V100 debuted in 1991, followed by the four-stroke Address V125 and Address 125. There was also the Address 110 model with large-diameter 14-inch front and rear wheels (currently in the catalog but no longer in production). The address series has also been characterized by its straight and sharp design.
Following the discontinuation of the previous generation Address 125 due to stricter emission regulations and other factors, the new Address 125, which will go on sale in October 2022, appears with a rather rounded look. It also has a slightly retro atmosphere, which is quite a surprising development for those who are familiar with the previous Addresses.
KAWASAKI KLX230SM
Motard in this era. And not yet compliant with emission regulations.
In 1998, when the supermotard racing category was still largely unknown in Japan, Kawasaki launched the D-Tracker, a 17-inch front and rear-wheeled version based on the off-road KLX250. It was the first Japanese manufacturer to produce a supermotard ahead of its competitors. Today, the popularity of the temporarily booming supermotard category has declined considerably, and it has been about five years since supermotard vehicles disappeared from the lineups of domestic manufacturers.
Suddenly, Kawasaki announced the KLX230SM, a supermotard model based on the off-road KLX230S. It goes on sale on October 15, 2022. The motard model is a surprise in this day and age, but to our surprise, it is not compliant with the latest emission regulations and can only be produced until the end of October 2022, which means that it will be available for about two weeks after its launch. In other words, about two weeks after it went on sale, it was decided that it would no longer be produced. Even though the sale of stock motorcycles is not a problem according to the rules, the timing of the release date and the end of production is also a surprise.
