There has been a lot of attention paid here to the coming wave of electric motorcycles, but it would be wrong to assume that the gasoline engine is anywhere near extinction. In fact, Honda announced yesterday that it has developed a new engine that will get 40 percent better gas mileage than others in its class, "while delivering powerful, throbbing torque in the normal range for touring and urban riding."
Honda says the new liquid-cooled 700cc, 4-stroke, inline-2 engine gets 27 km/l, which translates into about 65 miles per gallon.
As an additional innovation, the new engine is set up to operate with a second-generation dual clutch transmission (DCT). DCT is an automatic transmission developed for motorcycles that increases fuel efficiency. The new engine can also be used with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Fuel economy has long been a strength that Honda has played upon. Their four-door Civic cars from 25 years ago were easily capable of getting as much as 50 miles to a gallon of gas on the highway at moderate speeds.
For the new engine, Honda says they have incorporated a wide variety of low-friction technologies to increase fuel efficiency. The engine also features a 270 degree firing interval that creates the throbbing effect while reducing vibration.
Honda intends to introduce its Integra model, which looks like a melding of a motorcycle and scooter and which uses the new engine, at the EICMA 2011 show in Milan, Italy, in November.
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