[RahulNagaraj]

According to a media report, Honda has filed a patent application for a floor-mounted pedal design for its scooters.

However, unlike the scooters of old, where the foot pedal operated the brakes, Honda's patent showcases the pedal as an accelerator. The patent images are pretty self-explanatory, with very little detail revealed otherwise. The images showcase a small, lightweight scooter with an accelerator pedal on the footboard. The brakes continue to be on the scooter's handlebar, though.



The floor-mounted accelerator pedal design is still in its patent stage. It remains to be seen if Honda actually goes ahead with implementing the design into an actual production vehicle.

Source: RideApart

Link to Team-BHP news

[BullettuPaandi]

Didn't know scooters had brake pedals! But for accelerator, taking U-turns would be interesting. I guess, the pedal needs to be broader - more of a board at that point - to enable taking U-turns on both sides (with foot on the ground).

Sounds weird, but same can be said for the newer generations likings in general. Vertical aspect ratio caught on after decades of cinema pushing the exact opposite. So, we never can tell; just an interesting thought!

[setuniket]

The geared scooters of yesteryears had foot operated pedals for rear brake.

IMO foot operated pedals is a bad idea for 2 Wheeled vehicles. Plus how do they even seek Patent protection on foot operated pedals, it is quite obvious and known and there is nothing novel about of foot operated pedals per se.

Originally Posted by BullettuPaandi

Didn't know scooters had brake pedals! But for accelerator, taking U-turns would be interesting. I guess, the pedal needs to be broader - more of a board at that point - to enable taking U-turns on both sides (with foot on the ground).

[hikozaru]

Originally Posted by setuniket

IMO foot operated pedals is a bad idea for 2 Wheeled vehicles.

Completely agree. I cannot fathom why companies like Ultraviolette have foot rear brakes when a scooter style rear brake could give more progression and feel. Sticking throttle controls behind numbing shoes is even more baffling.

[PreludeSH]

Originally Posted by setuniket

The geared scooters of yesteryears had foot operated pedals for rear brake.

IMO foot operated pedals is a bad idea for 2 Wheeled vehicles. Plus how do they even seek Patent protection on foot operated pedals, it is quite obvious and known and there is nothing novel about of foot operated pedals per se.

Yeah, the Bajajs and others had this. Had to stand on it few times for emergency braking and cable to give away

Patents are to cover oneself from other companies. They may not sue if others use the same. Not just because its completely novel.

[silverado]

If the pedal is on floor, it greatly reduces utility of scooter atleast in India.
We are used to carrying anything and everything on the scooter floorboard.

Imagine your kid pressing the accelarator while standing on the floorboard

[DicKy]

Erm... Why? Old scooters had the pedal operated rear brakes as the clutch and gear used to be in the left side handle bar.
Wierder still that they want to put floor mounted accelerators, not brake pedals. Recipe for out of control runaways. Guess this would be used for least powerful mopeds or the big cruiser/touring scooters like Goldwing. Even then, models like Goldwing will have cruise control making floor mounted accelerator of no particular use.

Originally Posted by BullettuPaandi

Didn't know scooters had brake pedals!

Old scooters with manual transmissions had. Guess, the Honda Eterno was the last scooter sold in India with brake pedal.

[BullettuPaandi]

Originally Posted by DicKy

Recipe for out of control runaways.

How so? I've witnessed multiple accidents due to poorly adjusted play in the cable. So, I thought it'd be safer this way.

[shipnil]

What would happen if a bike rider who is used to having brake pedal at the right foot riding this scooter? Recipe for disaster. High chance of such a thing in a household having a bike and such a scooter.

[payeng]

Not an India Friendly Design.

Where will the Beloved Gas Cylinder go???

[DDIS_RE650]

Where will you place grocery bags, kids on footboard? The space advantage and versatility of scooters will be redundant in this case.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by shipnil

What would happen if a bike rider who is used to having brake pedal at the right foot riding this scooter? Recipe for disaster. High chance of such a thing in a household having a bike and such a scooter.

Hardly any riders are mainstream who are 'used to' riding with brakes under right foot. That sort of scooters came at least 25-30 years ago.
If that was the case, surely nobody thought of it while designing the rear brakes in a scooty like Activa on the left handle bar. Even today all geared bikes have that handlebar reserved for clutch. At least a couple of times, I have pressed Activa's brake lever to change gears

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by saket77

Hardly any riders are mainstream who are 'used to' riding with brakes under right foot.

Probably you missed it, but I was referring to bike (motorbike) riders using these new scooters. I believe the motorbikes still come with brakes on the right foot.

[Crazy_Tripper]

Originally Posted by silverado

If the pedal is on floor, it greatly reduces utility of scooter atleast in India.
We are used to carrying anything and everything on the scooter floorboard.

Imagine your kid pressing the accelarator while standing on the floorboard

Very good catch....
Lot of people use floor area to carry goods/ LPG cylinders.... that's why family people in Bharat consider scooters to be best suited for them even though it is having less fuel economy compared to geared bikes.

[PreludeSH]

Well, we did all the grocery carrying (month's worth from market) and used bike and scooter (with foot brakes) at the same time without problems for many years.

For the bags, you would hang all of them on a hook that was below the seat. Ofcourse plastic was not used as much as now and everyone carried cloth bags. It never interfered with the brake. You carried the cylinder with pillion holding it in between. But I never had to carry a cylinder