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Through a joint venture called Ultimate Recreational Motorcycling, Honda and Kawasaki have developed a highly power-efficient solar/12 volts DC power hybrid refrigerator suitable for installation on their bigger motorcycles.

They will be initially available as an option for Honda's Gold Wing and Kawasaki's Voyager XII models, starting in the year 2003. The unit will be available in all the colors offered for the models.

Honda Gold Wing	Kawasaki Voyager XII

The refrigerator unit measures 16"(W) x 12"(D) x 14"(H) outside, and its internal capacity volume is 9.23 gallons, enough to hold a 6-pack of beer and one bottle of wine with plenty of room left for other miscellaneous items.

If the ambient light level is above that of a typical cloudy day, the refrigerator will be able to generate enough electrical power to sustain its operation, thanks to the revolutionary solar power generator panels skillfully embedded on the top and side portion of the case. Even with less than optimal light condition, the unit can be operated through the motorcycle's regular charging system without depleting the battery charge drastically.

The retail price is not set at this time, but according to Satoru Horishima, the head of the Marketing Department, it will be in the $400 to $500 area.

If the motorcycle is intended to be parked for a prolonged period of time, the unit can be removed easily without a tool and can be connected to a household electric outlet for continued operation.

"We are very excited about the introduction of this refrigerator for motorcycles," says Masatoshi Yamagata, the head of the Research and Development Department of Ultimate Recreational Motorcycling. "This is just the beginning of our product offering in this area. Future products in our R and D pipeline include grills powered by heat from exhaust gas, folding beds, collapsible parasols and tents, and portable toilets which can empty themselves by pulverizing and spraying out the content rearward while the bike is in transport at high speed. These will be ready for marketing within one to two years. One product which may take longer to perfect is a bathroom on a bike. Our researchers and engineers are working hard on this. Our goal is to push motorcycling to the comfort/convenience level of RVs by the year 2005."

He concludes, in a confident tone of voice, "It won't be easy, but we are determined to succeed."

Let's hope he is right.