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34-678: In the early 1980s, Honda introduced a line of scooters known as the CH series, comprising the CH50, 80, 125, 150, and 250 models. In the US, these were known as "Elite" scooters but overseas they were marketed under the "Spacy" name. The CH250 could reach highway speeds and be used for long-range touring. Honda then introduced the CN250 or Helix. This model lengthened the CH250 by 14 inches (360 mm), placed an integrated trunk in

68-446: A "proper" bike, and there is nothing wrong with the standard motorcycle. To car drivers, many of the disadvantages of the car are either not recognised or simply put up with and the overall convenience is hard to give up. Many car drivers would not consider a conventional motorcycle or scooter as an alternative, seeing it as a far less convenient and less safe option. To these people, an FF motorcycle needs to be seen (and hence marketed) as

102-511: A 125cc engine at the Utah Salt flats in 1956. The first recognisably modern design was the 1975 Quasar , built by Malcolm Newell and Ken Leaman . The design was not a great commercial success - just 22 examples were sold up until 1982 - but it generated a great deal of interest, and started others thinking about the FF concept. Thomas Engelbach's own design of a feet forward motorcycle came in 1980, with

136-428: A commercially successful design has not appeared. There has been a revival of interest in the motor scooter as a means of personal transportation, and in some respects these vehicles have some features in common with FF motorcycles. The problems faced by the designer or marketer of an FF motorcycle are many. Some of these are perceptual. Experienced motorcyclists tend to be resistant to the idea, arguing that it's not

170-870: A full 8 gallon gas tank, the EXODUS exceeds speeds of 155 MPH with over 80 MPG at 55MPH. In March 2014 Honda unveiled the Honda NM4 model at the Osaka Motorcycle Show and it was on sale worldwide by the end of the year. In the United States it uses the original 700cc engine, whereas in Europe it has a 750cc engine. All versions use Honda's Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) system to provide both automatic and semi-automatic control. Modern motorcycles are simply well-developed motorized bicycles , and as such have drawbacks. Chief among these are: Likewise, in dense urban environments,

204-711: A pre-production run of five prototypes made by SCL Ltd in Powys South Wales In 2002, Dan Gurney 's All American Racers produced a limited run of 36 Alligator models. The early 2000s saw enclosed scooters like the Benelli Adiva and BMW C1 . In 2008, the Buddfab Streamliner set the speed record for a 50cc engine at 145 mph (233 km/h) with 20+ hp, then in 2009 the 125cc speed record at 186 mph (299 km/h). The Honda RS125 engine used produces 44 ps. In 2010, Dutchman Allert Jacobs, creator of

238-464: A two-wheeled car rather than an enclosed motorcycle. As the FF design moves the rider from an upright or Head First (HF) posture to a recumbent position (as in the Quasar and Dan Gurney's Alligator), the machine becomes lower and may make it harder to see in traffic. However, most FFs have seat which is no lower than the average car, and much higher than many sports cars. Those who ride them regularly say that

272-726: The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway . He later tried to join the Royal Navy to study marine engineering at King's College London , but, although he passed the technical and mathematics papers, he was rejected for failing some of the general subjects. As well as doing dockyard work, Roe joined the ship SS Jebba of the British & South African Royal Mail Company as fifth engineer on the West African run. He went on to serve on other vessels, finishing his Merchant Navy career as third engineer aboard

306-527: The Ner-a-Car It had a feet-forward riding position, a pressed steel frame and hub centre steering but in other respects was somewhat similar to a conventional motorcycle. Designed by Sir Alliot Verdon Roe in 1926, the Ro-Monocar used a 250 cc Villiers two-stroke engine, and featured a high degree of enclosure for the rider and a bucket seat. This seating position provided a high degree of comfort for

340-473: The car has a number of drawbacks: The FF motorcycle is an attempt to marry the advantages of bikes and cars, while avoiding the drawbacks of either. However any FF STV has no roll stability so actual benefits are overstated by some proponents when comparing a FF motorcycle with a motorcar. In addressing these issues, most FF designs arrive at a low-slung faired body, with the rider in a reclining position. A number of FF concepts have been tried, but so far

374-474: The 2005 production year. Feet forward motorcycle A feet first (FF) motorcycle is a class of motorcycle design which positions the rider with their feet ahead, like a car, rather than below and astride, as with conventional bikes. As there are other types of motorcycle (e.g. choppers ) that have a 'feet forward' position, an alternative term sometimes used is advanced single track vehicle . The name "feet first" (also referred to as " feet forward ")

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408-559: The CN250 (Helix) to all markets in 2004 as the customer base was still there. In the U.S., the Helix and the Reflex were discontinued with the 2007 model. Honda made very few changes to the Helix through its 20-year run. Aluminum rims replaced steel wheels in the early 90s, and a few emission controls were added to the engine. Apart from those changes, the machine stayed the same right down to its 1980s-style, multi-colored digital gauges . The CN250

442-539: The Japanese put Italian makers under pressure to improve their scooters' capabilities and reliability. In the U.S., the Helix was a hit with middle-aged and older people. The Helix attracted customers that desired long-range touring capabilities, but did not want to shift, were unable to shift, or did not want a large, heavy conventional motorcycle . The CN250 was a capable machine complete with trip odometer , fuel and temperature gauges, glove compartment, and trunk. The Helix

476-459: The Quest velomobile , streamlined a Honda Innova underbone motorcycle to more than double the fuel economy from 1 liter per 48 km (113 mpg) to 1 per 101 (237mpg). In 2013, Suprine Machinery, Inc and designer John Chelen, introduced the EXODUS, a 1200cc BMW flat four with five speeds and reverse, where the rider is safely surrounded by a roll cage and a skid plate. Only weighing 680 pounds, with

510-517: The SS Ichanga . It was during these voyages that he became interested in the possibility of building a flying machine, having observed the soaring flight of albatrosses . In 1906 he applied for the job of Secretary of the Royal Aero Club . Although there were other better-qualified candidates, Roe's enthusiasm for aviation impressed Charles Rolls , and Stanley Spooner who interviewed him, and he

544-594: The design, resigned. He then began to build a series of flying models, and won a Daily Mail competition with a prize of £75 for one of his designs in 1907. With the prize money and the use of stables at his brother's house in West Hill, Putney , he then began to build a full-size aeroplane, the Roe I Biplane , based on his winning model. He tested this at Brooklands in 1907–08, later claiming to have made his first successful flight on 8 June 1908. After encountering problems with

578-451: The innovative patent for an automatic stabilizing system that incorporated outrigger wheels. The design was successfully tested but proved that the market was not ready for this model. Since 1985 Swiss manufacturer Peraves has produced a small series of feet forward cabin motorcycles; 89 Ecomobile were built from 1985 to 2005. The restyled Peraves Monotracer appeared in prototype form in 2006 and went into production in 2007. Following

612-540: The management of Brooklands he moved his flight experiments to Walthamstow Marshes , where he rented space under a railway arch at the western end of the viaduct. Despite many setbacks, Roe persisted with his experiments and there is now a blue plaque commemorating his first successful flight (in July 1909) at the site. His aircraft, Avroplane , a triplane, is preserved in London's Science Museum . A working replica of this aircraft

646-539: The outstanding successes of the all-electric E-Tracer, X-Tracers and Zerotracer the MonoTracer-E MTE-150 went into production in 2012 and the company ceased making the petrol driven MTI-1200. The company website said they would make a maximum of 36 vehicles per year from 2013 but sadly, production ceased with no more than some ten all-electric machines built. In 1989 the Royce Creasey designed Voyager achieved

680-490: The problems of having a seat at this height are largely in the minds of those who have never tried one. There are some engineering issues too, which some designs can overcome. Designs such as the Quasar require the rider/driver to use one foot to stabilise the machine when stationary, by putting his foot out of the open side onto the road. This approach precludes the use of a fully enclosed body. The fully enclosed Peraves Ecomobiles and MonoTracers use stabiliser wheels deployed by

714-677: The purchaser will often be required to pay or finance upfront for their purchase, sight unseen. It was the Japanese scooter "scene" that saved the Honda Helix/Fusion. Honda had intended to discontinue production in the late 1990s in favor of the "Reflex" and went so far as to cease production at one point. However, pressure from the members of Japan's now-outraged multitude of Fusion riding groups and modification enthusiasts pressured Honda into reinstating production with an announcement to that effect in February 2003, to begin production once again for

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748-453: The rear of the machine and lowered the seat. The added length allowed a feet forward seating position and a smoother ride than that of previous models. The top speed of the machine was limited to 70-75 mph (about 113–121 km/h) but the drivetrain was of an under-stressed design allowing extended running at or near top speed. The Fusion CN250 found instant popularity in Japan. In Europe,

782-543: The rider The Fred Wood designed Whitwood monocar used OEC duplex steering, retractable outriggers, and tandem bucket seats, and was offered with engine sizes ranging from 250–996 cc between 1933 and 1935. In the 1950s NSU produced the feet forward fully enclosed monocoque constructions by Gustav Adolf Baumm (1920-1955). The "Flying Hammock" riding position allowed an exceptionally small frontal area. The consequent low wind resistance made it possible for H.P. "Happy" Mueller to achieve 150 mph (241 km/h) from

816-497: The rider when the machine is travelling very slowly or stopped. Redesigning the motorcycle is necessary as a contributor in the autonomous vehicle arena and the FF design with the power plant moved to the back of the rider better distributes the weight and increases potential to lower the center of gravity. Alliott Verdon Roe Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe OBE , Hon. FRAeS , FIAS (26 April 1877 – 4 January 1958)

850-834: The same enthusiasm for reform as the American poet Ezra Pound , who also wrote for the Mosley press. During the Second World War , two of his sons were killed in action while serving with the Royal Air Force . Squadron Leader Eric Alliott Verdon-Roe aged 26, in 1941, and Squadron Leader Lighton Verdon-Roe DFC aged 22, in 1943. Between 1928 and 1940 Verdon-Roe lived at Hamble House in Hamble-le-Rice , Hampshire . Verdon-Roe died on 4 January 1958 at St Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth . and

884-537: The son of Edwin Roe, a doctor, and Annie Verdon. He was the elder brother of Humphrey Verdon Roe . Roe left home when he was 14 to go to Canada where he had been offered training as a surveyor . When he arrived in British Columbia he discovered that a slump in the silver market meant that there was little demand for surveyors, so he spent a year doing odd jobs, then returned to England. There he served as an apprentice with

918-647: Was a pioneer English pilot and aircraft manufacturer , and founder in 1910 of the Avro company. After experimenting with model aeroplanes, he made flight trials in 1907–1908 with a full-size biplane at Brooklands , near Weybridge in Surrey, and officially became the first Englishman to fly an all-British machine a year later, with a triplane, on the Walthamstow Marshes . Roe was born in Patricroft , Eccles , Lancashire ,

952-449: Was also manufactured and sold within Canada as the "Helix" as the first "maxiscooter" of its kind to be offered in that country. However, production within Canada was halted after the initial production year of 1986. Canadian citizens could still purchase a Helix as an import from the U.S., and a majority of Honda dealerships in Canada did not even stock a "floor model" for display. Additionally,

986-568: Was buried in the churchyard of the parish church of St Andrew in Hamble; there is a commemorative plaque to Roe and his sons inside the church. On 28 October 2011 a green plaque was unveiled by Wandsworth Council and members of the Verdon-Roe family at the site of Roe's first workshop at West Hill, Putney. In 1980, Verdon-Roe was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at

1020-565: Was first used by Royce Creasey . Designers have experimented with the feet forward riding position since the early days of motorcycling. In 1909 P.G Tacchi designed a four-cylinder machine with a 700 cc 'L' head air-cooled engine, an enclosed shaft drive and a bucket seat. The machine was known as a TAC-Wilkinson , and was manufactured by the Wilkinson Sword Company Ten years later in America Carl A. Neracher designed

1054-482: Was given the job. Shortly after this he was offered a job as a draughtsman by G.L.O. Davidson, who had devised a twin-rotored aircraft and had secured the financial backing of Sir William Armstrong of Armstrong-Whitworth . This machine was being built in Denver in the United States. After disagreements about the design of the machine and problems with his salary, Roe, who had been sent back to Britain to deal with patenting

Honda CN250 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1088-604: Was in its last year in 2001 and was to be replaced by the NSS250 . The NSS250 was marketed in the U.S. as the Reflex and in other countries as the Forza. The Reflex handled better and had a higher top speed than the Helix, but some Helix fans argued that there was a trade-off in seating comfort and ride. In the Japanese market the Helix had an aftermarket and cult following with the younger generation, not unlike sport bikes in America. Honda returned

1122-428: Was knighted in 1929. In 1933 he changed his surname to Verdon-Roe by deed poll , adding the hyphen between his last two names in honour of his mother. He was a member of Oswald Mosley 's British Union of Fascists in the 1930s. He was a believer in monetary reform and thought it wrong that banks should be able to create money by "book entry" and charge interest on it when they lent it out. In this respect he shared

1156-666: Was unveiled on 7 June 2008 at the Brooklands Museum in Surrey . With his brother Humphrey , Alliott founded the A.V. Roe Aircraft Co. on 1 January 1910, later renamed Avro Aircraft, at Brownsfield Mill, Great Ancoats Street , Manchester. His most popular model, the 504 , sold more than 8,300 units, mainly to the Royal Flying Corps and later to the Royal Air Force for use by training units. In 1928 he sold his shares and bought S. E. Saunders Co., and formed Saunders-Roe . Roe

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