Inside Line has got the jump on the Honda Crosstourer with a couple of spy shots. The Crosstourer Concept was presented as a prototype model at last year’s 2010 EICMA. Concept in name only, it was more a test by Honda as to the market reaction and now the road enduro model with the V4 engine from the VFR1200F looks like it’s ready to debut.

We’ll send you over to Inside Line for the pics, while we publish those from the EICMA show - as we can see it doesn’t look like much has changed despite the heavy camouflage. The headlight shape remains the same, as does the trendy beak making its way onto many a roadgoing enduro, and the tail end is quite slim, as on the concept.

The Honda Crosstourer should have some of the best in Japanese technology on board with a refined and digital instrument panel which goes against current fashion for larger instrument units on touring bikes. We’ll also get DTC software, traction control and a multi-map engine which should be smoother than the more exuberant V4. Less power and better distribution of that power, especially at lower revs, is possibly the outcome.

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Clearly in the vein of the Ducati Multistrada and the new Triumph Tiger, this Honda Crossrunner video shows the allrounder theme behind this new bike, presented at the 2010 EICMA show. Reports are it could see production as early as 2011, and could compete directly with the Tiger, although at a price of about 11,000 euros (compared to the Tiger’s 9,000 to 10,000 price tag).

The Honda Crossrunner is another 800cc engine, seemingly the flavour of the motorcycle market at the moment, and is Honda’s V4 unit with 100 hp and 73 Nm of torque. At this stage the Crossrunner, one of Honda’s two concept bikes at EICMA, looks the one destined for production with its sports and urban style with some gentle offroading intended on the way.

The Honda Crosstourer, the other concept presented, is perhaps the one met with more dubious reaction and Honda has stressed so far that it is strictly a concept motorcycle. If the Crossrunner gets to production, though, we don’t see why the Crosstourer won’t as well, continuing the range and using the V4 engine on a more powerful, touring platform than the Crossrunner.

We weren’t intially convinced by the Crosstourer model but given the interview in the video after the jump, we understand more what Honda was trying to achieve and are interested in the new possibilities for the V4 engine. The adventure concept certainly has the potential to become a production model and we can see Honda developing a small ‘cross’ range as these two bikes seem to fit nicely. In fact, their names suggest Honda has thought about this for a while before putting together a couple of concepts and leaving it at that. See the interview with Honda designer Yosuke Hasegawa after the jump.

Continue reading: Honda Crosstourer and Crossrunner videos: Crossrunner to production?

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Honda has brought two concept bikes to the 2010 EICMA show and here we bring live pics from EICMA of the Honda stand (thanks to our guys at Motoblog.it). The Honda V4 Crosstourer Concept is perhaps the most interesting of the models on show, although the newish Honda VFR1200F actually occupies the middle of the area. There is also the new Honda Mid Concept scooter on the stand as well.

There’s no concrete news at the moment as to whether the Crosstourer Concept will go into production although reports are that it won’t. It’s more like a study in what you can do with a V4 engine and DCT or dual-clutch transmission. The Mid Concept scooter is also equipped with DCT technology in what looks to be Honda’s baby of the moment.

The Crosstourer has been variously identified with the Africa Twin model and even the BMW GS range, but more for style than substance given the V4 set-up. It’s the first time this engine has been used on an enduro-road bike and it might even be considered exaggerated, especially given the V4 sister sitting next to it, the VFR1200F, and its use. Honda claims this is a prototype model but it looks very well finished at this stage.

Live at EIMCA Honda V4 Crosstourer Concept and New Mid Concept scooter

Continue reading: Live at EICMA: Honda Crosstourer and Mid Concept scooter

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