Honda V4 news - V4 victory - 2008

The Cologne Motorcycle show is full of scary-looking men covered in scary tattoos of their mothers. That’s why it’s not something we tend to cover on Top Gear.

But one thing grabbed us from the Cologne show.

It’s this – the Honda V4 concept. It’s more of a sculpture than a motorbike, don’t you think? And we reckon it looks a bit like a two-wheel version of that Audi from iRobot.

It doesn’t really have wheels, so it probably floats around on its own magic carpet or something.

A very quick magic carpet, that is. Because Honda’s V4s tend to be pretty damn good. Despite sounding like some kind of legal document, a V4 is actually a type of engine. Four cylinders, in a ‘V’ shape, in fact. So you get all the reviness of an in-line four, and all the compactness of a V-twin.

It’s neat and light, and proper quick too. Especially if your name’s Danny Pedrosa. His MotoGP bike has one.

Loads of other quick Hondas have had a V4 nestling in their chassis too – the configuration is 30 years old now, so this is a bit of a celebration.

So happy anniversary, guys. Now can you build us one of these for real please? We’ll even get tattoos of our mums if you like. Promise.