Yes, Honda Are a Four Stroke Company.
Yes, they Have used their influence to control racing class rules, and, through that influence, change the market, almost exclusively towards the Four Stroke.
Honda's Engineers, are their Engineers - they didn't have '2t specialists' in terms of career streams - they move their engineers constantly - they believe in multiple engineering skills. Yes, they'd keep Engineers in say, the 2t program for some time, but, unceremoniously, move them to something else.
I, for one, believe they will do All they can do, to stick to their "All Four Stroke, All The Time", ethos.
But, I hope that market pressure, changes that. As it did in the Seventies, with the massive Off Road explosion.
There could be a second version of that, if the potential markets of India, China and the ever growing South American Economies do just that - Grow. That of course, applies to Road Bikes, even more.
So many ignorant Westerners, think that the above mentioned markets will not be interested in Dirt Bikes - or just 'recreational motorcycles' in general. Well, as I've written on KTM Talk, with so many Millions of Millionaires, and Millions upon millions of new "middle class" people - if even a poofteenth, of a poofteenth of one percent of those people think Dirt Biking looks cool, there will be a market that utterly Dwarfs the "western market". And they have a Lot of land available, despite the Billions of people they have, as the population crowds into the cities.
Price, as always, will be a big factor, as will environmental cleanliness of production, and use will be an even bigger issue. A 2t will always have less materials used in their 'making', so, a cheaper engine is a given.
Who knows - Honda may well be 'forced' by market forces, to re-embrace 2t production. But you can guarantee they'll fight it.
As for power outputs - there's plenty to come from 4ts - just look at the power the Moto 3 bikes have, specifically Honda's, at a relatively low state of tune (a whole bucket load less than KTMs 2013 'purchasable' bike, though it it about 1/2 the price), but a lot more than current production MX250Fs. But, it's not particularly 'cheap power'. As Four Stroke power is Never cheap.They'll need something like the 'Holy Grail', a cheaper , more efficient induction train - such as the often pursued Rotary Valve. No guarantee it will be cheaper, of course ......
Here's a bit of wishful conspiracy theory for you - Honda, to get the 150F class at (some of) the GPs, agreed to bring back a 125 2t for the EMX125 class............ Even though I wrote it, I think it's BS. I'd say Luongo just shooftied a goodly wedge of money into an account on the 150F deal.
On another tack - but dealing with 2ts: BMWs German Husky CEO, often referred to the 2T DFI Husky being developed.
Now, was / is that a BMW proprietry technology / development, or Husky?
I'd think BMW's.
I'd be surprised if Pierer's (sp?) / Bajaj's Husky, has that tech as 'theirs'. I could be wrong.
But, with BMW having openly referred to it, and their refocusing on their street bikes, and their stated aim of going for the mass transport / commuter bike market, albeit the 'higher' end of it, the DFI 2t looks to be the best of solutions. I'd prefer that, than for it to be part of the Husky sale, and have it 'disappear' from sight, in preference to a 'one solution fits all, KTM system'. Mind you, Pierer / whoever ends up being the real owner of Husky, may have thought / may find that the BM /Husky DFI is better than their version - if it's part of the sale package.
If Honda never gets back to 2ts - and, with their corporate ethos, that's the most obvious thing for them to keep to, well, they can rot in hell. And , hopefully, "suffer in their jocks". Right Royally.
