Honda Motocompo
{{Short description|Folding scooter}}
{{Infobox Motorcycle
| name = Honda NCZ 50 Motocompo
| image = Image:Motoco 01.jpg Image:Motoco 02.jpg
| caption = A Honda Motocompo in deployed (top) and stowed/folded (bottom) configurations.
| aka = AB12, Trunk Bike
| manufacturer = Honda Motor Company
| parent_company =
| production = 1981–1983
| predecessor =
| successor = Honda Motocompacto
| class =
| engine = AB12E {{cvt|49|cc|abbr=on}}, air-cooled, two-stroke, single
| top_speed =
| torque = 0.38 kg-m @ 4,500rpm
| transmission = single-speed, automatic clutch
| suspension =
| brakes =
| tires = 2.50-8-4PR
| rake_trail =
| wheelbase =
| length = {{cvt|1.185|m|in|abbr=on}}
| width = {{cvt|0.535|m|in|abbr=on}}
| height = {{cvt|0.910|m|in|abbr=on}}
| seat_height =
| dry_weight = {{cvt|42|kg|abbr=on}}
| wet_weight = {{cvt|45|kg|abbr=on}}
| fuel_capacity = {{cvt|2.2|L|abbr=on}}
| oil_capacity = {{cvt|1.0|L|abbr=on}}
| fuel_consumption = 70.0 km/L @ 30km/h
| turning_radius = 1.3 m
| climbing_ability = 11 degrees
| related =
| similar =
}}
The Honda Motocompo is a folding scooter sold by Honda between 1981 and 1983 as a factory add-on only in Japan.{{cite web |url= http://www.honda.co.jp/pressroom/library/motor/sports/reisure/t_index2.html|title=Years made |publisher= Honda| website= honda.co.jp|access-date=2008-02-19| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080303083111/http://www.honda.co.jp/pressroom/library/motor/sports/reisure/t_index2.html| archive-date= 2008-03-03 |language= ja}} It was the smallest scooter ever produced by Honda and it folded into a rectangle for easy storage.
History
Released in Shetland White, Daisy Yellow and Caribbean Red variants, the Motocompo was introduced as a {{nihongo|"trunk bike"|トランクバイク / トラバイ|toranku baiku / tora-bai}} to fit inside subcompact cars like the Honda Today and the (then new) Honda City; it was inspired from the World War II-era British Welbike folding motorcycle. The City's baggage compartment was specifically developed around the Motocompo, which was sold as a factory add-on and not sold separately.{{cite web|url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/honda-city-motocompo-scooter-auction-photos-details/|publisher=MotorTrend|first=Alex|last=Kierstein|date=June 10, 2020|title=The Honda City and Motocompo Are Supremely Tiny '80s Urban Besties}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/honda-motocompo-still-coolest-urban-mobility-scooter/|publisher=Hagerty|date=September 24, 2019|first=Nathan|last=Petroelje|title=The Honda Motocompo is (still) the coolest urban mobility scooter}} The handlebars, seat, and foot-pegs fold into the scooter's rectangular plastic body to present a clean, box-shaped package of {{cvt|1185|×|240|x|540|mm}}. It is the smallest scooter ever built by Honda. The company's initial monthly sales projection for the domestic market was 8,000 City and 10,000 Motocompo.{{cite web|url=http://www.honda.co.jp/news/1981/4811029.html|title=Initial sales projection| publisher= Honda| website= honda.co.jp|access-date=2008-02-19|language=ja}} The City surpassed its targets, but in all only 53,369 Motocompos were sold by the end of production in 1983 (no more than 3,000 per month).{{cite web |url= http://www.ne.jp/asahi/paper-m/yasu/2art_motor-c/e_motoco.htm |title= Total sales |website= ne.jp |publisher= Yasu.Tanaka |access-date= 2008-02-19 |archive-date= 2008-02-25 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080225233737/http://www.ne.jp/asahi/paper-m/yasu/2art_motor-c/e_motoco.htm |url-status= dead }}
The scooter was marketed in conjunction with the City in television ads featuring British ska/2-tone band Madness.{{Cite AV media|title=CM Honda City| medium= television |publisher=Honda| language=ja}}
File:Honda City and Motocompo display at Honda Collection Hall in Motegi.jpg
Although discontinued in 1983, Honda has revisited the idea since with several concept vehicles such as the 2001 e-Dax{{cite web | title=Honda City and Motocompo study in 2001: the Honda e-DAX | website=Banpei.net | date=2009-03-02 | url=https://www.banpei.net/2009/03/02/honda-city-and-motocompo-study-in-2001-the-honda-edax | ref={{sfnref | Banpei.net | 2009}} | access-date=2020-07-08}} and e-NSR,{{cite book | title=Cycle World Magazine | date=January 2002 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mt5qiI62GPYC&pg=PA29 | ref={{sfnref | Cycle World Magazine}} | access-date=2020-07-08}} and the 2011 Motor Compo electric scooter.{{cite web | title=tokyo motor show honda motor compo foldable electric scooter | website=designboom magazine | date=2011-12-02 | url=https://www.designboom.com/technology/tokyo-motor-show-honda-motor-compo-foldable-electric-scooter/ | ref={{sfnref | designboom magazine | 2011}} | access-date=2020-07-08}}
On September 14, 2023, Honda announced the Motocompacto, an all-electric successor to the Motocompo, with a release date of November 2023 and an MSRP of $995 at Honda and Acura dealerships.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/14/23872334/honda-motocompacto-electric-scooter-photo-specs-price|title=Honda’s Motocompacto scooter will satisfy your secret desire to ride an electric suitcase to work|first=Andrew J.|last=Hawkins|publisher=The Verge|date=September 14, 2023}}
In fiction
The Motocompo is used by Natsumi Tsujimoto in You're Under Arrest. It is tucked away at the back of her partner Miyuki Kobayakawa's Honda Today police car when not in use. It was released as a Bandai model kit.
A Motocompo is the inspiration for the character Sou in the Kino's Journey —the Beautiful World— anime and manga series.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
- Infobox specifications from these honda.co.jp pages on 2008-02-19:
- [http://www.honda.co.jp/news/1981/2811029.html Here]
- [http://www.honda.co.jp/news/1981/4811029.html Here]
{{refend}}
External links
{{commons category|Honda Motocompo}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080213004525/http://www.honda.co.jp/MotionGallery/03/index.html Folding Video] at honda.co.jp {{in lang|ja}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080228131911/http://www.honda.co.jp/HondaSearchParty/MOTOCOMPO/index.html Motocompo Owners Gallery] at honda.co.jp {{in lang|ja}} (archived)
- [http://my.reset.jp/~inu/ProductsDataBase/Products/HONDA/MOTOCOMPO/MOTOCOMPO.htm Honda Motocompo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909070909/http://my.reset.jp/~inu/ProductsDataBase/Products/HONDA/MOTOCOMPO/MOTOCOMPO.htm |date=2019-09-09 }} brochure at [http://my.reset.jp/~inu/ProductsDataBase/index2.htm Product Design Data Base] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102231608/http://my.reset.jp/~inu/ProductsDataBase/index2.htm |date=2019-11-02 }}
- [https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=honda+motocompo&m=text Flickr photo results] for 'Honda Motocompo'
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