Honda’s secret designs for a 650 exposed in new patent

So this is a NEW set of patents from Honda for a motorcycle that’s heading our way.

Now, we might be adding up a bit too much here. But there’s a reason for that. First up, take a look at the side-on view of the bike that the patent is based around – do you reckon that this could be the 650 we’re waiting for, a new version of the old Hornet only this time with familiar Honda Neo-Sports styling?

It makes sense if it is. We’ve now seen the first of two possible 650s – the funky CB650 prototype that was unveiled at last week’s Paris Motor Show (see page 8).

And with that bike being shown to the pubic, it leaves a second motorcycle in the plans.

Timing-wise, this patent appearing fits in with the new 650 schedule for a possible 2020 model to arrive in dealers in a year’s time.

One major difference between the Paris Show prototype and these drawings though is that the patent includes designs for a single-sided swingarm which is something that the 650 prototype doesn’t have, but the current CB1000R does.

So if this does end up being the new 650 it could well share even more mechanical details with its bigger-capacity sibling than we first thought.