Honda Rethinks Sportbike Engine Layout

Who says air intake has to be under the seat and exhaust outlets have to be in front of the engine? Not Honda, apparently. According to this patent application, Honda has found a way to tilt a motorcycle engine backwards in the frame and redirect the exhaust out of the back of the engine. Honda claims that this layout will lower the machine's center of gravity and thereby improve handling. Perhaps we will see this layout in the new Interceptor. Below are some images from the patent application.