Honda officially announced the release of a four-cylinder mid-size motorcycle at the Chongqing Motorcycle Show in China, which began on September 13. Honda's motorcycle division head Minoru Kato made the announcement during a presentation on-site.
Main photo/jorsindo.com
Will it be released as a full-cowled model rather than a naked one?
As we have been reporting on Webike Plus for some time, Honda has officially announced that it is developing a mid-size in-line 4-cylinder model in China. At this stage, only a silhouette has been released, but it is clear that it will be a full-cowl model. It will be a super sports car that will rival the Kawasaki ZX-4R.
The "four-cylinder medium-sized model" means "four-cylinder medium-sized model." There are rumors that the model for China will be 500cc and the model for Japan will be 400cc, but this is unclear at this stage. Also, although only the silhouette of the full-cowl model was released this time, the existence of a naked version is also of interest. It is said that it will be released in 2025, and it will definitely be introduced in Japan. We will bring you more information as soon as we receive it.
The person making the presentation in front of the screen was Honda's General Manager of Motorcycle Business Division Minoru Kato. It seems that he was previewing a full-cowl model in light of the boom in supersports in the Chinese market. Photo/jorsindo.com
The silhouette has a déjà vu feel, and even the tire valve position matches that of the new CBR400R that is also on sale in China. Perhaps the actual silhouette wasn't ready in time, suggesting that it's going to be an "R" rather than an "RR" model.
Ninja ZX-4RR [KAWASAKI] Kawasaki's latest supersport motorcycle, which delivers 80PS of power when ram-air supercharged, is also popular in China. Now that the CB400SF is no longer available, it is the only 4-cylinder 400cc model from a Japanese manufacturer.
500SR VOOM [CF MOTO] A 500cc in-line 4-cylinder model released by a Chinese manufacturer in 2024.
SRK400RR [QJMOTOR] This is a leaked photo of a 421cc in-line 4-cylinder model from a Chinese manufacturer.
450RR [KOVE] A 450cc in-line 4-cylinder model released by a Chinese manufacturer in 2023.
450R [KOVE MOTO] A naked version based on the 450RR has also been released.
The name CBR400R FOUR has been applied for as a trademark in Japan.
Just before the Chongqing Motorcycle Show, Honda applied for the trademark "CBR400R FOUR" in Japan on August 27th. It is expected to be the name of the "4-cylinder mid-size model" that Honda announced this time, but the FOUR (four = 4 cylinders) at the end is likely to be the aim to distinguish it from the existing 2-cylinder model, the CBR400R.
Also, if the name CBR400R FOUR is adopted, the concept will be the all-purpose character of the CBR-R series, not the circuit route of the CBR-RR.
The naked CB400F is also on sale in China, and this is also a model equipped with an in-line 2-cylinder engine. If the naked version of the "4-cylinder mid-size model" can also be named "FOUR", I'm hoping for a CB400FOUR, but what will happen?
Honda has applied for a trademark for a motorcycle, the "CBR400R FOUR". This name suggests that it will be a 4-cylinder, 400cc, non-RR concept. Will it be called the CBR500R FOUR in China?
New CB400 [CG projection] We are also looking forward to the appearance of a naked model. The latest information suggests that it will also be equipped with a Honda E-Clutch. The style is unknown, but we are hoping that it will be a round naked model.
New CB400 [Expected CG] This is a 400-style CG. The new CB400 is expected to replace the discontinued CB400SF. It will use a 4-cylinder in-line 4-cylinder engine and is expected to be released in 2025.
CB400F [HONDA] The new CB400F has been released in China. The basic package follows the European CB500 Hornet, and the in-line twin-cylinder engine has been increased from 471cc to 399cc. Will the 4-cylinder naked model be aimed at the Japanese market?
