Honda EZ 90 Cub

Just looking at this bike and you know its straight out of the early 90’s with its totally enclosing fairings and all that white. What we’ve got is an update of the original Cub for the modern era, just a shame it was for off road use only.

Honda Insight

So do you remember one of the first modern hybrid electric mass produced cars from a big manufacturer? I remember seeing one in “The Day After” and thinking “I’ve not seen one of those in years!!!!” well to my surprise whilst visiting Lancaster University I saw one parked up and it put a proper smile on my face.

Honda Crossroad

No it’s not a Land Rover Discovery, well the badge isn’t anyway, it’s the Honda Crossroad. In the mid 90’s Honda had a link in with Land Rover. As part of the deal it obtained the rights to the Series 1 Discovery at a time when SUV’s were becoming the next big thing and promptly put a “H” on the front and added it to its line up to fill the hole.

Principal Insurance Manchester Bike Show

Thanks to Andrew Greenwood Classicshows I headed over to Event City. Now in its 3^rd year, this indoor show has once again grown snowballingfrom last year with more manufacturers, dealers, clubs, vendors and space.
 
On entering your in the mix of the manufacturers and dealers with Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki Suzuki showing off all there wears from race bikes to scooters.

Honda Motocompo

Admit it you saw the picture and thought, I want one of those didn’t you. I know I did the first time I saw one. This is the Honda NCZ 50 Motocompo and was sold between 1981-83 as a very small companion to the Honda City (Jazz), with a 50cc 2 stroke engine with 2.5bhp and tiny dimensions (1185 mm L × 240 mm W x 540 mm H) with its handlebars and foot pegs folded in, it was designed to fit in the boot. It was a huge success selling 53,369 units over its life ans was available in 3 colours red, yellow and white.

Straman Honda CRX Convertible

In the early 80’s Honda built the go-kart of a hot hatch the CRX, small powerful and wheels tucked as far into the corners as possible it was a modern drivers car. Straman, a coachbuilder from California renowned for its high quality convertible conversions, decided to take on the CRX. What’s even better this version was available through your local Honda dealer for approximately $5000. Numbers sold seem to revolve around 130 or so between 1984-87, making it a very rare version. It’s one of those love it or hate it cars, for me you can beat the original. But for sheer "build it because we can" attitude I think its great.

StreetHawk/ Honda XR500

If you of a certain age ie born in the late 70’s like me self TV was great growing up. It was full of tongue in cheek shows with usually a car or vehicle in the middle of it all such as the A- Team GMC van, Knightriders KITT and for one season Streethawk. Go on you remember the bike bursting out through that billboard and save the world or at least the girl. We all remember the bike was the coolest thing on 2 wheels after all it could go over 200mph and had rockets and machine guns!!!! Now enough of reminiscing, the bike was based on a Honda XL500 (Pilot XR500 for the series),

Honda CRX electric roof

Back in the early 90's Honda replace the road going go-cart the CRX with this bland version, that didnt live up to its sporty looks or its predocessors reputation. It did however have one trick ups its sleave or rather in its boot. Before the current crop of tin top convertables started by Mercede's and sold to the masses by Peugeot, Honda had a go of fitting a system to its car. As you will see its more like a retro fit. Although I remember seeing this on Top Gear when I was a teenager and thinking its was the coolest thing in the world!!!!! I know. But one thing probably held this thing back, its still quicker to remove the roof panel and stow it in the boot by hand, oh and you'd still have boot space too, but for over the top optional extra this has to be up there and on here. (for some reason to see the clip, click on the play button just down on the page)-