Honda
Fury
The
Honda Fury which was revealed at the start of 2009 is a chopper style
motorcycle powered by a fuel injected, 1312 cc, 52-degree, V-twin engine.
Choppers
have been a part of the motorcycling scene for decades, but for the most part
they've occupied a niche on the edges of the sport. The first such machines
were crudely constructed home-builds with a reputation for being unreliable and
uncomfortable to ride. Since then choppers have evolved into rolling art, with
true customs commanding a very high price. Part of the attraction of the Honda
Fury is the fact that it looks the part but is backed up by Honda's extensive
dealer network and the reliability which comes from major manufacturers.
The
most obvious feature of the Honda Fury is its raked-out chopper styling:
high-mount steering head that gives the frame a see-through, open-air look with
plenty of space between the tank/upper frame and the front cylinder head; slim
and long fuel tank perched up high; ultra-low 26.7-inch seat height; massive
rake; wide 200-series rear tire paired with a slim 21-inch front wheel; a
compact, hard-tail look to the rear end; and a stretched wheelbase.
When
creating the Honda Fury the design focus started with the high steering head,
exaggerated rake and open look to the front end. To achieve this appearance
while also making sure the ride quality and engineering reliability remains
high, the development of the Fury required a significant amount of
communication and cooperation between the styling team in the USA at Honda
Research Americas (HRA) and the Honda engineers at HGA in Japan. Original
sketches and clay mockups were tweaked and refined in countless ways, in order
to satisfy both the styling and engineering demands.
For
example, to maintain the remarkably uncluttered look between the front cylinder
and the front downtube/radiator area, the top radiator hose is hidden away
beneath the front valve cover - a patented idea that illustrates the efforts
expended on maintaining the airy look of the front end. Other examples are the
long, slim and voluptuous look of the fuel tank, which had to be adjusted and
modified repeatedly along with handlebar shape and size to allow the
appropriate amount of steering clearance when the front wheel is turned from
stop-to-stop.
In
similar fashion, the rear end of the bike had to look like a hand built
chopper. The LED taillight was selected specifically because it does not affect
the shape of the rear fender, which also lacks visible fender stays - all for
the purpose of giving the rear fender a simple, clean and elegant shape.
