We’re nearly - nearly at the time of year when all the new bikes will be revealed. The EICMA Milan show is next month, and BSN will be there to hoover up the news on all the 2018 machinery for you.

And Honda’s been tickling our fancy with a new taster video for what it calls the N.S.C. - Neo Sports Cafe project. It’s par for the course - lots of Japanese engineers working on something that you can’t really see. There is one frame that show the cylinder head though - and it looks like it could be the CB1000R engine, with the camchain tensioner and the angle of the head casting below. What’s different is the machined circles and strengthening ribs formed into the cylinder head casting though - these look like the head on the CB650. Scroll down below the video to compare the castings for yourself.

The CB ‘thou inline-four engine is decent stuff - and this will potentially be a far more powerful bike than something like a Triumph Bonneville or BMW’s latest Boxer retro roadsters. And if Honda can come up with some sweet styling, that harks back to its own heritage, then add in some solid chassis cojones, then the N.S.C. project could well be something quite sweet indeed.

More on new 2018 bikes here, as and when we get it! Meantime, check the Honda video below. Freeze frame on the cylinder head and see whatcha reckon.