The Honda PC800 Pacific Coast brought an unusual approach to touring motorcycles in 1989. Continuous plastic panels concealed the frame, engine and fuel tank. Transitions between surfaces drew the eye away from individual mechanical components.
The distinctive feature was at the rear. The passenger seat rose with the upper body section to reveal two luggage compartments. Carrying belongings was already built into the motorcycle’s shape.
The Japanese model’s 1990 description specified room for two helmets, while noting that some shapes would not fit. Gas struts assisted the lid. Beneath the bodywork sat an 800 cc liquid-cooled V-twin, a five-speed gearbox and shaft final drive.
The PC800’s most interesting design question is an everyday one: where do your belongings go when you set off? Here, the answer shapes the silhouette itself. The enclosed rear visually continues the front panels, making the trunk central to the composition. The motorcycle pictured was photographed in 2007.