HABITUAL innovator Honda has recently filed for the trademark Motocompacto pointing to a return of the MotoCompo folding scooter.
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The MotoCompo was a suitcase-sized petrol-powered scooter that was launched in 1981 going on to be produced until 1983. It was designed to fit around Honda’s small cars of the age, namely the Honda Today and City, both of which had luggage compartments that could accommodate the folding motorcycle. Despite only being on sale for a fleeting couple of years, the MotoCompo sold well with over 50,000 hitting the streets. It also gained a kind of cult status among petrolheads that is normally reserved for much more powerful motorcycles.
As with most quirky trends from years gone by, the concept looks like it could be about to get a refresh as the trademark Motocompacto has been filed and a concept bike, looking like a modern-day MotoCompo has been around for some time now. While that concept, shown here, is an idea of how the machine will look, it’ll likely be toned down considerably for the actual machine.
Unlike the classic MotoCompo, the new machine will turn to electric power rather than the 2.5hp 49cc petrol engine of the original. The new patent application goes on to confirm this, stating the name is intended for “land vehicles, namely, electric scooters.”.
The bike should have removable batteries for easier charging – if the concept is true to the design – with an estimated range of around 40 miles, a charge time of 2 hours, a top speed of 15mph and power coming from a 500w motor.
AS with any patent, there is no clue as to when the bike will land, and it isn’t official confirmation that Honda is building the bike. It may simply want to earmark the title for future use. And as the original MotoCompo was closely linked to one of Honda’s, at the time, groundbreaking city cars, it’s likely the new bike will also be closely linked to a four-wheeled model from Big Red.
