‘British’ café racer unveiled
Target set for 2015 production version of £4,500, 500cc café racer
THIS single-cylinder café racer is one of the new bikes to be unveiled at this week’s NEC motorcycle show.
The HMC (Herald Motor Company) Super Classic is a concept but we can expect a production version in 2015, according to Sales Manager Michael Fish.
The Super Classic is billed as ‘a British-built small-medium capacity single-cylinder classic-style bike with great reliability, great fuel economy and great style – all for £4,500.’
The concept has a Honda XR400 engine but the production version is likely to have a fuel-injected 500cc single made in China, according to Fish. The frame will be made in the UK and the suspension in Taiwan, he said.
He said it produce around 35hp, and firm was trying to secure a tyre deal with Michelin.
There’s already a retro-styled HMC Classic 125, a Chinese model imported by Zing Bikes.
Fish said the quality of Chinese components and motorcycles had improved.
“We had our doubts two or three years ago,” he said. “We used to go there and their favourite word was ‘adequate'.
“Things have improved a lot.”
He said Zing Bikes preferred Chinese manufacturer Lifan due to superior build quality.
