Honda is reviving its strange-looking, quirky small-time recreational bike the Motra after more than 40 years out of showrooms. The original patent drawing is boxy in shape, and patent drawings were newly emerged that include a second boxy shape below it. Either a gas engine or an electric drive can be used in the same frame. Honda has not confirmed when it will be available for production, but the papers have already brought a whole new generation of people who love ’60s motorcycles into the spotlight.
A mini moto from 1982
In 1982, the Motra went on sale in Japan. It was poorly received and was discontinued the next year. The short run is a big part of what made the bike memorable today. Not many were ever constructed, and the model was never a popular seller.
Built to look like a utility vehicle
The Motra has been dubbed a “two-wheeled jeep” or a small pickup truck depending on the colour. It was in construction yellow and military green. The bike has an angular profile, wide tires and luggage racks at both the front and rear.
Light enough to feel like a toy
It originally weighed only 168 lbs. This adds up to a rather toy-like appearance, particularly against today’s motorcycles. Being so light is a good attribute for its recreational role and is one of the first things buyers talk about when collecting.
A cult following after a short run
Even though the sales were not great, the Motra created a loyal following throughout the years. The few times they have been put up for auction they have garnered a lot of interest. But of course there are variations in past auctions; badging, exhaust, kickstand, mirror and tire treatments being some of the small variations that have been spotted on photos of some past auctions.
Patent drawings surface
The new interest has arisen from newly-discovered patent drawings. They demonstrate a design which maintains the Motra’s boxy shape and utilizes two types of powertrain. The drawings are not an officially announced model and Honda will not be commenting on plans to produce the model.
One frame, two powertrains
In the drawings, there is illustrated a tubular steel frame. The 2 versions share the same chassis with removable mounting points. This means that the bicycle could be equipped with either a gas engine and gears or an electric propulsion system, with no need of an additional frame.
The gas-powered version
With the gas version it would have a 124cc single-cylinder engine combined with a transmission. It’s a configuration much like Honda’s Grom, Monkey and Super Cub. This is a typical design for Honda’s compact motorcycles, meaning that the engine itself wouldn’t be a new design.
The electric version
The battery pack replaces the engine on the electric side. Delivers power to an integrated electric motor installed in the swingarm. Information on battery capacity, range and power output have not been released.
What remains unconfirmed
Just filing for a patent does not guarantee that the bike will be in production. Whether Honda will produce the new Motra or when it will be available just isn’t known yet. It is also not known whether the original building colours of yellow and military green would be retained. At this point Honda’s drawings indicate they’re still considering the option.
