Motorcycles are evolving every day, but there were all sorts of great and fun motorcycles in the past. So, based on my own experience, I would like to look back and consider the motorcycles that I wish I had now. The first is about the Honda AX-1.
At first, I had the opportunity to ride the AX-1 for the first time in a long time the other day at a Red Baron media test ride event for a used motorcycle with a "handover inspection" and I was surprised at how well it ran. Of course, even though the motorcycle was completely refurbished, I was reminded of the capabilities of the old machine. I felt compelled to share this story with you.
Experimental model that pioneered dual-purpose
The AX-1 was launched in 1987. Its name came from the fact that it was the first model to propose a new type of motorcycle (AXIS). It was characterized by a style that combined on-road sports and off-road performance and was a precursor of today's dual-purpose models. As its name suggests, it was an experimental model with Honda.
The racer replica boom was coming to an end in those days, however, full-cowl 4-stroke models and 2-stroke motocrosser replicas were still very popular, and AX-1 did not attract much attention.
The Strongest Urban Scrambler Proven in Motorcycle Delivery
Shortly after I quit my job, I spent my days earning pennies a day on the motorbike service, and the AX-1 was immensely popular among motorbike service riders during those times. In the world of motorcycle couriers, the only way to get to a customer was to deliver it quickly. The internet and smartphones didn't exist in those days, and I had to deliver floppy disks entrusted to us by companies to our customers in a matter of minutes.
Motorcycle courier riders, whose daily earnings are determined by such a meritocracy, were looking for a machine with a slim, lightweight chassis that could get ahead of the crowded city streets with ease, an engine with instantaneous power that would allow them to accelerate quickly at the light, and excellent fuel economy and low maintenance costs. In other words, courier riders were looking for the ultimate in practical performance. In this sense, the AX-1 was the strongest "urban scrambler" in the market.
The high level of performance is evidenced by its specifications.
The specs also prove it all. The 249cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, DOHC, 4-valve DOHC engine was one of the first to use Honda's newly developed NS cylinder at that time, producing 29ps/8,500rpm (maximum torque of 2.6kgf-m/7,500rpm). High-specification suspension includes a square section steel diamond frame with aluminum swingarm and pro-linked rear shock, disc brakes front and rear, cast aluminum wheels with tubeless tires, and 19-inch front and 16-inch rear on-road/off-road tires.
And to top it all off, it had a dry weight of 114kg (124kg), an overwhelming weight that was comparable to that of a competition vehicle. The seat height was 810mm, which was as low as a naked one. The slim body was easy to get to, and the large steering wheel angle and ultra-short 1350mm wheelbase made it easy to make U-turns. A large rear carrier was also STD, making it seem like it was born to be a motorcycling machine, but it also showed its superiority as a sport model that was also practical.
Incidentally, a current Honda model that is rather close to the CRF250L (Type LD), but for reference, the specs are 24ps maximum output (2.3kgf-m maximum torque), 143kg weight, 830mm seat height, and 1430mm wheelbase. Since the times and concepts are different, we cannot compare them on the same level, but we believe that the AX-1's outstanding performance is still apparent.
We'd love to see the AX-2 with today's technology!
Back to the other day's test-ride event, we had a chance to ride the motorcycle on a short circuit, and with its energetic engine and nimble, spinning footgrounding, it was a modern 250cc supersport. And most of all, it was a fun machine to ride.
Although the much-anticipated AX-2 never made it to the market, it would be nice to have a convenient and fun urban scrambler with a similar concept now.
