Honda developing supercharged powertrain

Honda was one of the first manufacturers to introduce forced induction in motorcycles in the 1980s. While the trend eventually lost steam, leaked patent drawings now hint that Honda seems to have commenced development on a new supercharged powertrain.

Though details are sparse, the patent images show a belt-driven supercharger mounted on the left side of the engine. While this specific engine seems to be a small-capacity mill because of its compact dimensions, the same supercharger is expected to be compatible with a variety of engines with high displacement. 

We can even expect the Kawasaki Ninja H2 to get some competition from a new Honda litre-class motorcycle. While the 400kmph-capable H2 became the first production bike to feature forced induction through a supercharger, there is more to this technology than just performance. A supercharger can also help improve emissions, which means that we might soon see small-capacity motorcycles featuring this technology.