This Honda nameplate emerged in 2014 as a striking, neo-futuristic large motorcycle built around the same basic NC-family architecture that also powered other Honda mid-size models. Honda first unveiled it at the Osaka Motorcycle Show in March 2014 as a planned production model, presenting two versions with the same core concept but different rear-end treatments. The machine was developed to deliver a low, feet-forward riding position, a dramatic silhouette, and Honda’s dual-clutch transmission as a defining part of the experience rather than a technical afterthought.
Honda launched the model in 2014 and later revised it for the 2016 model year in Japan, where the company described the updates as a refinement of the series rather than a redesign. In North America, Honda offered the model for 2016, then brought it back for 2018 after a one-year hiatus, which creates a split production history rather than a single uninterrupted run. The 2018 model year retained the same distinctive identity while being positioned as a niche, style-led touring/cruiser alternative unlike anything else in Honda’s lineup.
The nameplate is closely associated with its futuristic bodywork, integrated storage on some versions, and the unusual mix of scooter-like step-through ergonomics with a larger motorcycle presence. It also became notable for appearing as the base for the hero bike in the 2017 film adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, reinforcing its reputation as one of Honda’s most visually memorable modern motorcycles. Honda’s discontinuation listings later placed the model among its retired bikes, confirming that the run ended after its brief return.