Honda NM4 Vultus. Because we want and we can or Japanimation in action

Honda NM4 Vultus touring motorcycle model

was presented as a concept in April 2014 at the Osaka Motorcycle Show and Tokyo Motor Show, and went on sale in June of the same year. The motorcycle has a very futuristic design, similar in appearance to the Honda DN-01 model. The reason for creating the Honda NM4 Vultus was the desire of Honda designers to present to the market a unique motorcycle from Japanese anime. By the way, the presentation of the motorcycle also took place at the largest show in Europe, London Comic Con, dedicated to comics, anime and everything connected with them. This fact is symbolic and once again emphasizes the concept and main idea of ​​​​the motorcycle.

The model also has a name - Honda NC700JD

.
In the North American market, the model was sold under the name Honda NM4
(without the Vultus prefix).

Despite its unique design, the Honda NM4 Vultus is not a truly unique motorcycle. It is based on the Honda NC 750 platform, with the same engine, DCT automatic transmission and chassis. The model is focused on sales in Asia and North America.

The engine of the Honda NM4 Vultus is an inline 2-cylinder liquid-cooled unit with a capacity of 745 cc. see, producing 54 hp. and 68 Nm of torque. Maximum performance at 4750-6250 rpm. Models for the USA were equipped with an engine from the NC700, with a volume of 669 cm³ and a maximum power of 50 hp.

Other features of the Honda NM4 Vultus include a steel tubular frame, a 6-speed automatic transmission with two DCT clutches, a chain drive and simple suspension in the form of a conventional telescopic fork and a monoshock absorber.

Main modifications of Honda NM4 (Vultus):

• Honda NM4-01
  is the regular version of the motorcycle.
• Honda NM4-02
  - touring version with plastic side cases.

In 2016, the Honda NM4 Vultus model underwent minor changes, affecting the settings of the DCT box and the appearance of a new exhaust system.

2018 was the last year of production of the model, after which it left the market and did not receive further development.

Brief history of the model

• 2014 (2015) - start of production and sales. This year's models are the same as 2015 models.

Model

: Honda NM4-01 (Vultus);
Honda NM4-02 (Vultus) (Japan, North America). Factory designation
: NC700JDF (USA), NC750JDF (Japan, Canada).

• 2016 - restyling of the model. The motorcycle receives more advanced automatic transmission settings and a new exhaust.

Model

: Honda NM4-01 (Vultus);
Honda NM4-02 (Vultus) (Japan, North America). Factory designation
: NC700JDG (USA), NC750JDG (Japan, Canada).

• 2017 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda NM4-01 (Vultus);
Honda NM4-02 (Vultus) (Japan, North America). Factory designation
: NC700JDH (USA), NC750JDH (Japan, Canada).

• 2018 is the last year of production.

Model

: Honda NM4 (USA).
Factory designation
: NC700JDJ.

Tokyo motives

The Japanese came up with the idea for the original name, which they borrowed from Latin (Vultus translates as “face, look”). The styling and silhouette of the two-wheeled scooter is inspired by futuristic motorcycles from Japanese anime and manga films known as “Japanimation,” which are extremely popular in the land of cherry blossoms, as the manufacturer emphasized. The next key factor was the desire to create a machine that went beyond the traditional motorcycle style and would reach consumers looking for entertainment and originality.

Honda NM4 Vultus

Specifications

Technical characteristics of Honda NM4 Vultus:

For whom

Here are the main features of the model:

• excellent dynamic performance;
• truly futuristic, fantastic exterior;
• riding comfort.

Honda NM 4 Vultus is suitable primarily for those who are delighted with futurism as a trend in art and everyday life. For other motorcyclists, the car may seem too extravagant. Obviously, you shouldn’t buy such a bike if you don’t want to be the center of attention.

Chassis and brakes

The frame of the NM 4 Vultus is made of steel. This is a tubular body with a spectacular massive front. Wind protection, by the way, is also quite good. A stylish steering wheel and alloy wheels complete the image of a futuristic motorcycle that looks like it came straight out of the pages of a science fiction blockbuster.

The rear suspension is pendulum, equipped with a monoshock absorber. At the front, it's a 43mm telescopic fork. The NM 4 Vultus is braked by a 240 mm rear disc with a two-piston caliper and a 320 mm front disc with a two-piston caliper. ABS may be available.

Latest posts Popular The most interesting motorcycle news

you are reading the most popular news you are reading all the news you are reading the latest news read the most popular read all the news read the latest news

As a result, you can't get behind the wheel of the NM4 by climbing on it like a classic scooter and walking through the chassis, and if you lift the rear seat and use it as a backrest, you won't even be able to throw your leg over the bike. Instead, the design of the NM4 scooter allows the rider to step heel first onto the scooter, which may seem strange at first glance, but one can get used to it very quickly. In general, Honda managed to create a kind of hybrid between a scooter and a cruiser.

The driver’s body on such a scooter takes an elongated and quite comfortable position, just like when driving a cruiser. The foot platform will be comfortable for drivers of different heights and with different leg lengths, and it also does not vibrate during movement. While driving, the seating position is highly comfortable, be it jolting along the bumps of a country road, driving along a highway, or standing in a traffic jam, especially with the backrest raised. If we talk about protection from bad weather, it is simply excellent: in cold weather the driver is protected from the wind, but at the same time air flows can cool him down in hot weather. The only thing you can complain about is that if the driver is more than 180 cm tall, then with a standard windshield the wind will hit the base of the helmet. But if you install higher glass, this problem will disappear.

But where the NM4 differs most from a scooter is in the engine compartment. The two cylinders of the 670cc inline engine are angled forward to match the scooter's low and long profile. Honda manufacturers wanted to go further and installed a dual-clutch transmission on the NM4 model instead of a continuously variable and more traditional one. However, this does not indicate possible management difficulties. Once the driving mode is selected, all that remains is to steer and twist the throttle. Such a transmission is suitable for those drivers who like to drive a vehicle with certain gear ratios.

Another area where the NM4 lacks power is braking. Despite the presence of ABS and the fact that the rear and front brakes are not interconnected, they are not very powerful, so in order to brake sharply you will have to squeeze both levers with force.

In addition, the NM4 model does not have a spacious trunk. The side built-in bags on the seat seem extremely large, but if you look at it, their volume is very small, and there is no compartment at all under the seat. There are compartments in the fairing, but they have a strange shape and are also not very large. There is a socket in the left compartment, but a modern large smartphone does not fit there on the first try. Typically, Honda engineers and designers take a more thorough approach to their work, thinking through everything down to the smallest detail.

And lastly, one cannot help but say about the design of the new Honda NM4 scooter: at first glance you either like it or absolutely dislike it.

Honda NM4-02 Vultus: the second coming

The Japanese concern Honda recently presented a new, second version of the NM4 Vultus model, which has now slightly changed the designation and has logically turned into the Honda NM4-02 Vultus. It’s worth noting right away that the new motorcycle has already gone on sale, although for now it is only available to buyers in Japan.

Practical sketches

Honda NM4-02 Vultus surprisingly turned out to be a much more practical motorcycle than its basic predecessor version. And this despite the fact that the design of the model is made in the style of illustrated comics, which, in principle, is not so strange for the Japanese brand itself. The new product is equipped with built-in luggage cases on the sides. It is equally suitable for daily movement around the city streets and for fairly long journeys. We would venture to assume that the version of the Honda NM4-02 Vultus with additional luggage capacity will be more in demand among modern buyers, despite the fact that its price tag turned out to be much less affordable. In addition to additional luggage racks, the Honda NM4-02 Vultus differs from its basic version in the design of the rear lights and additional plastic parts.

Immediately after the presentation of the model, as well as after its actual appearance on the Japanese market, many observers were concerned about whether the Honda NM4-02 Vultus would hit the markets of other countries. Representatives of the company give an almost positive answer to this question, although they do not rule out the fact that the European version of the motorcycle will have a slightly different name.

The veil is torn

By the way, the first appearance of the new product in public took place in the spring of 2014, and then it was presented together with the first modification of its predecessor, the Honda NM4 Vultus. However, this does not mean that the model can no longer interest an inquisitive reader. Moreover, during the presentation in Osaka, the manufacturer generally refused to disclose any technical details about the unit. This information appeared only a few days before the motorcycle entered the market.

So, the total volume of the trunk of the new product is 15 liters. As for the starting price of the Honda NM4-02 Vultus, in terms of American dollars, Japanese buyers can purchase the model for $11,350. By the way, this is about $1,500 more expensive than the base version of the Honda NM4 Vultus. In addition to clearly improved performance in practicality and ergonomics, the new product is certainly ahead of its predecessor in design. For example, due to the modified rear part, the front part of the unit no longer seems as heavy as before. In general, this gives the overall appearance of the model of positive emotions.

Related materials:

• Honda COTA 4RT260 and Honda COTA 4RT Race Replica: trial from young to old

  Honda has officially announced the release of a pair of new motorcycles designed specifically for motorcycle trials competitions and training. Both models, according to representatives...

• Super sports motorcycle Honda CBR600RR

  After the AMA competition a few years ago, the Japanese company Honda left the American racing scene for some time. After its decision, the majority...

• Honda will release a turbocharged bike

  Japanese Honda lags slightly behind the pace of progress of representatives of the big 4 Japanese motorcycle manufacturers in terms of the production of motorcycles with turbocharged power...

• Honda motorcycle for MotoGP declassified

  A photo of the modification of the motorcycle, which will be used in the MotoGP world championship next year, was published by Honda. As usual, very little information is available about...

• Honda Foreman Rubicon: a utilitarian “rogue”

  Most recently, representatives of the Japanese concern Honda held a presentation of an updated version of the long-known utilitarian ATV Honda Foreman Rubicon, the new…