Honda Concept CB Type II breaks cover at 2016 Osaka Motorcycle Show

Honda has taken the wraps off the Concept CB Type II at the 2016 Osaka Motorcycle Show in Japan. A successor to the year-old Concept CB, this prototype gives us a glimpse of the future of Honda’s CB air-cooled modern classic range.

While it retains the overall shape from its predecessor, the Concept CB Type II gets a racier character thanks to several café racer styling cues. The lowered handlebar, bar end mirrors, carbon fibre bits and the single-piece seat all give it sporty undertones. It comes with 17-inch alloy rims in place of the Concept CB’s wire rims, while the beefy 43mm Showa forks get a golden finish. The Concept CB Type II also gets radial-mount Brembo brakes and sportier Ohlins rear shocks.

While the market space of modern classic motorcycles isn’t as mainstream as other two-wheeler segments, it has been seeing a lot of activity in the recent years, spearheaded by Triumph’s range of Bonnevilles. This segment attracts a cult following in the European countries, where enthusiasts look at these bikes as practical and appealing alternatives to aggressive superbikes and streetfighters. The new Honda CB1100, which will be the production version of the Concept CB Type II, will lock horns with other litre-class modern classics like the Triumph Thruxton and the Yamaha XJR1300.