Honda Switchblade. To Show The Street What Your Are Made Of…

Press a button, and like a spring loaded switchblade, this pro-street (or pro-drag) style bike will jump in action fully committed to precise performance. Conceived by designer Edward Birtulescu (Honda Research & Development Of Americas), Switchblade is designed from a Honda 2010 Sabre model platform and takes its styling cues from many body details found on Formula 1 racing cars and MotoGP motorcycles. Frame, VT 1300 engine and gas tank were kept as manufactured by the factory, the customization prowess focusing on body work and on adding performance custom parts.

Full dress is carbon fiber, while racing performance is provided  by a 3-way adjustable suspension, racing spec. caliper and rotors on a pair of 18″ wheels, oversized top and bottom triple tree clamps, onboard GPS lap timer with data acquisition unit and an air box/cleaner conversion. Bike rear lines are largely improved by the use of a single sided swingarm and of a final drive 535 chain conversion (before shaft drive).Controls by Accutonix.  A low center of gravity and a centralized mass reinforce the super sport assault appearance that all pro-street bikes should have. Now, show the street what you are made of… Honda Motorcycles. (pictures copyright and courtesy Honda R&D Americas, Inc. for Cyril Huze)

34 Responses to “Honda Switchblade. To Show The Street What Your Are Made Of…”


  1. 1 Warrior Poet Feb 1st, 2011 at 11:11 am

    “No honey, I am NOT playng with my boys again. Just adjusting the ride height…”

  2. 2 Syndicate Feb 1st, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    I must admit, it’s beautiful.

  3. 3 steve Feb 1st, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    I realize this bike has goodies you wouldnt put on a production model… but why is it Honda doesnt come out with bikes that look like this or the other examples Cyril posted. They are all very cool and would hit a large portion of the Harley market. They could seriously cash in $$$$$

  4. 4 Canajun Feb 1st, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    WOW! Probably the most striking bike to ever come out of Japan, in my opinion.

  5. 5 baddad Feb 1st, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    I like it a lot! Just the painting could be more interesting.

  6. 6 bigitch Feb 1st, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    don’t forget yamaha has a radical bike too! and its not the star

  7. 7 nuno maroco Feb 1st, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    Amazing bike, congrats.

  8. 8 Warrior Poet Feb 1st, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    All kidding aside, this is simply on of the coolest bikes I’ve seen Honda do in decades. It was inevitable when you think about it-the marriage of their chopper styling with their race proven parts. A simple concept.
    Now Honda-since it’s based on the Sabre, I’d love to see you ressurect the V4 (from the old school Sabre) concept, and throw it into a mimilar frame.

  9. 9 Michaud Feb 1st, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    Great work…. to please a Harley rider.

  10. 10 1550tc Feb 1st, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    John Nasi if your out there doesnt this Bike’s lines remind of the bike JIm built back in 2004?? for some magazine promotion? with S&S??

    All these hondas on lately are like a dejevu of mid 2000 v twin bikes

  11. 11 fuji Feb 1st, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    With all the bikes that have been designed by builders over the last 15 years there has to be some similarity’s .

    Thank you for not putting flames and skulls on it. When will those worn out designs / ideas go away

    Emphasis on bike ” the point ” not paint as not to distract.

    You just know that there’s someone out there saying why didn’t we think of this.

    Thats not a negative statement . Is it ? LOL

  12. 12 Woody Feb 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    Pretty slick! I agree with WP though, needs a vicious V4 powerplant to do that style & rear tire justice.

  13. 13 Gas Man Feb 1st, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    Looks great. Honda has been on a roll here lately. Obviously somebody at the top is making good steps in custom design.

  14. 14 Eric Maurer Feb 1st, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    100% awesome….. now make a frame and parts to support the builder and people may start buying…. also, don’t make cost a fortune… those days are long gone!.
    Absolutely awesome bike though!

    Eric

  15. 15 nicker Feb 1st, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Nicely done…!

    -nicker-

  16. 16 David Feb 1st, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Gee guy’s I dont know there’s just not enough flat black paint here!!!!! I think to stay with the trend it should just be all flat black !!!!

    Just kidding:) 🙂

    Nice bike , I just cant lean over and reach the bars for my gut and then put my feet up that high.

    SSDD; David

  17. 17 mdsphoto Feb 1st, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    Yamaha Stars used to be the king of customized metrics. We have seen 3 amazing customs using the Honda platform here on the blog the last two weeks. Though to me that black honda bagger was by far the coolest!

  18. 18 Brother T. Feb 2nd, 2011 at 6:00 am

    I’d buy one.

  19. 19 Bigalyts@aol.com Feb 2nd, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Nice Lines and Sexy Attitude! Honda has some “All There” Designs. Their Concept Bikes need to become Inventory., another words they need to be Manufactured. Nobody mentions this 1300 CC Engine. I think it is a Dog in the HP game. The Engine is very smooth and their 1300 CC Bikes were designed for the Novice Cruiser Buyer or the Wife, who were not ready for the Larger VTX. I don’t think Honda will hit the Mark if they only build this Engine with 60 HP. We know they can make this a 90 HP Bike and then and only then will they have a Serious Following!

  20. 20 Cyril Huze Feb 2nd, 2011 at 9:22 am

    To “Sad America”. Man up. Publish your name and stop using a fake email. We know who you are in Montpellier. Want me to publish your comments with your name?

  21. 21 J Feb 2nd, 2011 at 9:50 am

    Wow- again, nice work by Honda- as above, would like to see their excellent prototype work translate a bit better into their production stuff, cause this is something I’d buy tomorrow, no question.

  22. 22 Hondo Cat Feb 2nd, 2011 at 10:39 am

    I really like the past three design exercises by Honda. I just wonder to what end they are pursuing? I seem to remember that they lost money on each Rune they actually built. After all, they are in business to make a profit. One reason many concept models never make it into production is because of the high MSRP of a finished product that was true to the concept or design exercise.

  23. 23 Boomer Feb 2nd, 2011 at 10:43 am

    I like it. I immediately thought it was the Victory Jackpot with custom exhaust, cut down rear fender, and sport bike handlebars.

    Imitation, they say, is the highest form of flattery.

    Although it clearly wants to be in the sport bike category; it wouldn’t take much to make it a high tech custom bobber. Forward controls and apes would do it. Oh; and a kickstand. Of course; any other bobber-riding buddy’s would have no chance of keeping up. (wink)

  24. 24 industrial biker Feb 2nd, 2011 at 11:27 am

    Great bike. V-Rod would also look great done like this.

  25. 25 aft customs Feb 2nd, 2011 at 11:47 am

    The coolest little change is the shaft drive to chain conversion. We had a VTX in ’06 that we used this on but it was really expensive & not availlable any more. It would be nice if Honda would produce it. The 13 is not a powerful engine but they are a blast to ride & extremely dependable. it’s 1 of our favorite platforms to customize. We offer a top end performance kit that adds 27% hp increase combined with in & ex.

  26. 26 martin Twofeather Feb 2nd, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    thanks Cyril great job….

  27. 27 fuji Feb 2nd, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Cyril don’t let that wannabe Sad America bother you.

    My neighbor has photos of him with a chicken . choking.

    I can send those to you to publish.

  28. 28 Kingdom Customs Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Art in motion. Very beautiful! It’s nice to see people getting some things right!

  29. 29 sollis Feb 2nd, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    Pretty Impressive!
    i like all three Honda R&D America bike

  30. 30 Chuck from Chi-town Feb 2nd, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    It is going to kill me to say this, but I like this damn thing. Wish we could have seen something like this fom our HD group first. Would have restored some faith that they are looking ahead and have a grasp of how the market is moving. Good job Honda boys, you nailed this one (puke).

  31. 31 Alex Feb 3rd, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Looks like Walz Hardcore

  32. 32 Steve Hog Radio Prodcuer Feb 3rd, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    Very nice, very nice indeed. I love customizing and now we get to see some great bikes in the metric division that are very well conceived.

    keep up the great work guys.

  33. 33 marc Feb 5th, 2011 at 3:27 am

    I like the statement that is made with this design, “pro-street (or pro-drag) style bike”. Now, the only thing I have a problem with is why this motor? I fill like you are putting a minivan motor in a drag racing kit car. Honda needs to consider the real men that is looking to purchase this bike.

  34. 34 GRIP ACE - HIDDEN DIGITAL SWITCH CONTROLS Feb 8th, 2011 at 2:33 am

    Nice metric machine!

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Cyril Huze