The Honda Gyro is a family of small, three-wheeled motorcycles sold primarily in Japan, and often used for delivery or express service.
Overview
These vehicles are tilting three-wheelers. They combine a tricycle's stopped & low-speed stability with a leaning main-body for stability while turning at speed. They resemble a scooter with a small hinged rear pod containing the engine and two drive wheels. This particular variation was developed and patented by George Wallis of G. L. Wallis & Son in Surbiton, Surrey in 1966. It was first marketed in the failed BSA Ariel 3 of 1970, then licensed to Honda.[1][2][3][4]
Honda has built seven models with this configuration. The first Stream was introduced in 1981, followed closely by three other personal transport versions, the Joy, Just, and Road Fox. All were short-lived, but the cargo-oriented Gyro line begun in 1982 found a ready market, with all three variants still in production in 2015.[5][6][7][8]
These vehicles were all powered by a 49 cc two-stroke engine up until March 2008 when the two-stroke engines of Gyro X and Gyro Canopy were changed to four-stroke engines and the production of Gyro Up was discontinued.[9]
This first Gyro was introduced in October 1982. It has front and rear tie-down racks, small low-pressure tires combined with a limited slip differential for good performance on slick surfaces like snow and mud, and a "one push" parking brake. 135,226 were sold by May 2002.[10][11]
It is intended as an inexpensive vehicle. Honda's suggested retail price for the basic Gyro X in 2008 is ¥252,000, making it comparable with the simple 49cc Honda Zoomer scooter at ¥236,250.[12][13]
Honda's early marketing contains the Engrish acronym Great Your Recreation Original.[14]
Second generation (X)
The second generation Gyro X, introduced in March 2008, switched to the TA03E engine, a four-stroke, four-valve single-cylinder design with a maximum output of 3.4 kW (4.6 hp) (at 7500 RPM) and 4.4 N⋅m (3.2 lbf⋅ft) (at 7000 RPM).[9]
The Gyro UP was introduced in October 1985. It differs from the Gyro X by replacing the front and rear tie-down racks with a single heavy-duty baggage platform fixed directly to the rear engine pod, giving the appearance of a scooter pick-up truck. This platform has a rubber-mat loading area of 450 mm × 570 mm that is rated for 30 kg. Honda claims it is sized for a twenty-bottle beer crate, a container that is roughly similar to the plastic milk crate common in other countries.[15][16][17][18][19]
Honda Gyro UP with accessory roof and box
The standard Gyro UP does not come with the roof-type fairing or box shown in the accompanying photograph. This fairing is an aftermarket modification by the company MRD.
Gyro e
Gyro e:
In March 2021, Honda released the Gyro e:, comparable in design to the Gyro UP with a rear cargo shelf and no forward tie-down.[20] It is equipped with an electric AC synchronous traction motor (designated EF13M) drawing from two removable Honda Mobile Power Pack lithium-ion batteries. Output is 3.2 kW (4.3 hp) at 5800 RPM and 13 N⋅m (9.6 lbf⋅ft) at 2300 RPM, with an estimated range of 72 km (45 mi) at a steady 30 km/h (19 mph) speed.[20]
The Gyro Canopy was introduced in December 1990. It is distinguished by a roof-type fairing and a rear cargo box that is attached to the tilting main body. The front tire and brake are also enlarged to deal with this model's increased weight and slightly higher cargo platform. The 62 L cargo box is rated for 30 kg. By May 2002 62,600 Gyro Canopies had been sold.[21][22][23][24][25][26] A fleet of specially modified Gyro Canopies is operated at Old Buckenham Airport[27]
Second generation (Canopy)
The second generation Gyro Canopy was introduced alongside the Gyro X in March 2008, using the same four-stroke TA03E engine.[9]
Gyro Canopy e
In October 2021, Honda released the Gyro Canopy e:,[28] which uses the same EF13M motor as the Gyro e: released that previous March. The estimated range of the Gyro Canopy e: is 77 km (48 mi) at a steady 30 km/h (19 mph) speed.[28]
United States Variants
Two different models of three different color Gyros were imported into the US from 1984 through 1986.[29]
1984 Gyro, model NN50
The NN50 Gyro was introduced into the United States in blue and red. It is a narrow-rear-track version, with the front half virtually identical to the Honda Spree and a rear half unique to the NN50.
1985–86 Gyro S, model TG50
The TG50 Gyro S was a lower, wider-track variant, specifically for the USA market. It was very close in design to the Road Fox. It was sold only in black in 1985 and only in red in 1986.
The USA importation of the Honda Gyro was discontinued after 1986.
The Stream was introduced in November 1981. It is the first of Honda's tilting three-wheelers, and has the primary features of the type. It is a scooter-like single occupant vehicle with an automatic transmission and a "one push" parking brake. It has a small hinged rear pod containing the 49 cc 2-stroke engine and two drive wheels powered through a limited slip differential.
The Stream was styled and priced as a luxury personal scooter. Honda's suggested retail price in 1981 was ¥198,000, compared to ¥114,000 for a 49cc Super Cub. Unlike the Cub, the Stream can only carry one rider and has no baggage rack. Its only cargo capacity is a small forward compartment rated for 5 kg, and a glovebox rated for 2 kg. It was discontinued in 1984.[30][31][32]
The Joy was introduced in April 1983. It was a considerably less expensive vehicle than the Stream, being priced at only ¥99,800. It a personal transport vehicle, with only a small bicycle-style front basket and an equally small rear rack. The cargo-oriented Gyro X of the same year was twice as heavy and priced at ¥189,000. The Joy was discontinued in 1984.[33][34]
The Just was introduced in May 1983. It is largely the same vehicle as its Joy stablemate. It has slightly more styling, and was priced at ¥129,000. Instead of a bicycle-style front basket, it has a glove-box behind the legshield. It was discontinued before 1984.[35]
The Road Fox was introduced in July 1984. It is a stylistic departure in the series. The scooter-style plastic body panels are dispensed with, and instead the Road Fox has an exposed tube framework with rakish angles suggesting a beach-buggy/chopper look. It has motorcycle-style foot-pegs and no racks. It was discontinued before 1985.[36]
^ abc"ビジネス用途の原付三輪スクーター「ジャイロX」と「ジャイロキャノピー」のエンジンを一新し環境性能と経済性を高め発売" [Updated engines for the three-wheeled commercial scooters 'Gyro X' and 'Gyro Canopy' with enhanced environmental performance and economic efficiency] (Press release) (in Japanese). Honda Japan. March 21, 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
^ ab"Honda e: ビジネスバイク シリーズ第二弾 ビジネス用電動三輪スクーター「ジャイロ e:」を発売" [Honda e: 2nd release in the business bike series | Electric three-wheeled scooter for business use 'Gyro e:'] (Press release) (in Japanese). Honda Japan. March 18, 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
^ ab"Honda e: ビジネスバイク シリーズ第三弾 新型交換式バッテリーを採用した屋根付き電動三輪スクーター 「GYRO CANOPY e:」を発売" [Honda e: 3rd release in the business bike series | Electric three-wheeled scooter with roof adopting new replaceable battery 'Gyro Canopy e:'] (Press release) (in Japanese). Honda Japan. October 28, 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
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