Honda hint at new sports adventure middleweight with CB4X Concept

Honda have revealed a striking new sports adventure middleweight concept, which could hint at a new addition to the firm’s existing four-cylinder 650 range.

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Although details are scarce, the new machine, called the CB4X Concept, uses an inline-4 engine bearing more than a faint resemblance to the existing CB650R naked and CBR650R sportsbike, as well as the same side-swept exhaust headers, reminiscent of the iconic CB400F.

Despite being just a concept, adding an adventure-styled crossover to this line-up would make perfect sense, with Honda already doing something very similar in their parallel-twin A2-compliant 500 range; offering a CB500F naked, CBR500R sportster and CB500X adventurer.

Acting as a direct rival to the likes of the Yamaha Tracer 700, or BMW’s newly-revealed F900XR, the CB4X runs on road-biased 17in wheels, complete with a 180/55 Pirelli rear tyre, further suggesting this being a road-biased middleweight. 

Looking decidedly well-finished for a concept, the bike is also shod with fancy upside down Öhlins forks, radially-mounted Brembos and a straight-through SC Project exhaust, however it’s unlikely these would feature on a finished model.

What’s more, the striking tail, sculpted around an aluminium subframe, would also likely grow by a few inches to accommodate more of a pillion perch and better lighting. If the single-sided swingarm was to remain, we would also expect to see a Ducati Diavel-styled wrap-around number plate hanger across the rear wheel.