6 NEW bikes from Honda USA for 2013

[LostViking]

I was hoping for the Crossrunner or the Crosstourer, but hey it's a start.

[doogiepooch]

I really like the 500 CBR, as a Kawi man who was exited about the new 300....I have to say I'm much less excited about the 300 now. I'm curious to see how the 500's rev. My riding buddy bought a new NC700X last month and we swapped bikes this weekend for a few miles and I was not impressed. Prior to my riding his NC700 I was all excited about the NC500 as a possible replacement small tourer for my KLR (I don't offroad). But after riding the NC700, no wind protection and power for only about 3,000 rpms. If you are on it you better have your hand on the clutch and your foot on the shifter or you are going to bang off the redline. It doesn't feel or sound like it's really working so at 3,000 it starts to pull and unless I'm istaken at like 6,500 it redlines. I was shifting mid 5's so he didn't think I was running the crap out of his new bike.

[rodhersh]

That Gold Wing is hideous. After 35 years on Hondas my jump to BMW & KTM appears to be permanent.

I was secretly hoping for a modernized CBX....sigh

[UJM]

To me, these new bikes tell me that Honda is actually trying again. They might not strike a chord with everybody, but this also might lead to more new and interesting models. Its finally a good time to be a Honda fan again.

[RaY YreKa]

Originally Posted by UJM

To me, these new bikes tell me that Honda is actually trying again. They might not strike a chord with everybody, but this also might lead to more new and interesting models. Its finally a good time to be a Honda fan again.

You have the perfect username for this thread

Fwiw, I tend to agree. For me, in Euro Hi Cost Land, it's the total cost of ownership that is attractive about these bikes. Over the last year or so I've seen more and more 'experienced' riders on things like the CBR250 and the G650GS.

Getting kicks with far less risk (to the wallet, or the licence).

Additionally, the largers ADV bikes (Tiger1200, MS12, S10, new KTM etc) are simply out of reach of the ordinary rider, price-wise.

[mrbreeze]

Originally Posted by RaY YreKa

You have the perfect username for this thread

Fwiw, I tend to agree. For me, in Euro Hi Cost Land, it's the total cost of ownership that is attractive about these bikes. Over the last year or so I've seen more and more 'experienced' riders on things like the CBR250 and the G650GS.

Getting kicks with far less risk (to the wallet, or the licence).

Additionally, the largers ADV bikes (Tiger1200, MS12, S10, new KTM etc) are simply out of reach of the ordinary rider, price-wise.

speaking for myself, I simply cannot understand why anyone would pay big bucks for a motorcycle and then take it out in the boonies and beat the crap out of it.Something like this 500x makes much more sense to me - put some decent tires on it and a skid plate and some tip over protection, and then go exploring. True, it's never going to be a DP bike in the purest sense, but I think it could meet the needs of 90% of the people that want to explore off the pavement. With it's lighter weight and modest power output, it may even do it better than a $20,000 "adventure bike".

[jordan325ic]

Honda is definitely standing out in the big 4. They currently have 5 models I would consider buying new if I felt the need,

CB1100
NC700X
CB500X
CB500F
CBR250

Compared to only 1 per each one of the other big 4.
Kawasaki Ninja 300
Yamaha WR250R
Suzuki TU250X

Which isn't to say those three don't have lots of great models, but if I were going to purchase one it would be used. I like the previous generation KLR650, the previous ninja 250, I liked the V-Strom before it got ABS, I liked the SV650 not the current SVF650, I would buy a used DR650 for a quarter the price of new, etc...

The current crop of Japanese motorcycles was not very exciting until Honda started pushing the envelope in a different direction. Honda is the only Japanese manufacturer who is making brand new products that appeal to me.

That said, I am not in the market for a new motorcycles. I could afford it but my cheapo bikes do the job just fine and I can't justify the premium of a brand-new motorcycle. I think Honda's problem might be that these new models appeal heavily to the frugal-minded, who would be the most difficult to get into showrooms with their check books.

[Oldbutslow]

In many decades of riding, I've never owned a Honda street bike. After the unveiling of these bikes, that might change! Good job, Honda. ,BK

[xrcris]

More chick bikes? I don't get Honda, none of their smaller street bikes - NT650, GB500, Nighthawk, have sold well, so hey let's bring over even more? What's with the 500's - like the NC700 wasn't small enough? (I had a 650 Hawk when new, butn all my friends had FZR600's - was no fun being outrun every time we got on the freeway, it was at that time that I promised myself, 100hp minimum)

Then swinging the pendulum to the other end, who asked for the VFR1200? Would have been nice to see the 800 ADV bike over here to compete with V-Stroms, Tiger's and GS's. Between getting rid of the XR line, and killing the two-stroke CR's, for the last 35 years, there has been a Honda in my garage, but once these are put out to pasture, "Ride Red" won't apply to me......

[eakins]

Originally Posted by Flyinace1

they classify the F6B as a cruiser if you look under there categories its clumped with the shadow, fury, rebel and custom line

it's listed under touring now
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/gold-wing-f6b.aspx

[RaY YreKa]

Originally Posted by xrcris

More chick bikes? I don't get Honda, none of their smaller street bikes - NT650, GB500, Nighthawk, have sold well, so hey let's bring over even more? What's with the 500's - like the NC700 wasn't small enough? (I had a 650 Hawk when new, butn all my friends had FZR600's - was no fun being outrun every time we got on the freeway, it was at that time that I promised myself, 100hp minimum)......

The 700X sold very well here (UK and Europe). Insurance, fuel, servicing, all add up in a high-cost country.

Then add congestion, speed cameras, shitty roads, bad weather.

Starts to look very attractive to be on a 500cc street bike that can carry gear, have the latest sports-touring tyres, and not cost the earth.

[RaY YreKa]

CB500 series mpg: 27 litres per 100km, 63mpg US, 75 imperial, claimed.

[brentde3]

Originally Posted by RaY YreKa

CB500 series mpg: 27 litres per 100km, 63mpg US, 75 imperial, claimed.

So a 275ish range for the CB500x at 4.5 gallons in the tank? That doesn't sound too bad at all. I still like the CB1100 more, but I don't like the idea of stopping for gas all that often.

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by xrcris

More chick bikes? I don't get Honda, none of their smaller street bikes - NT650, GB500, Nighthawk, have sold well, so hey let's bring over even more? What's with the 500's - like the NC700 wasn't small enough? (I had a 650 Hawk when new, butn all my friends had FZR600's - was no fun being outrun every time we got on the freeway, it was at that time that I promised myself, 100hp minimum)

Then swinging the pendulum to the other end, who asked for the VFR1200? Would have been nice to see the 800 ADV bike over here to compete with V-Stroms, Tiger's and GS's. Between getting rid of the XR line, and killing the two-stroke CR's, for the last 35 years, there has been a Honda in my garage, but once these are put out to pasture, "Ride Red" won't apply to me......

Some of us chicks like smaller street bikes. Ok, I am not a chick but I do enjoy smaller bikes to bigger ones.

[RedRocket]

Originally Posted by xrcris

More chick bikes? I don't get Honda, none of their smaller street bikes - NT650, GB500, Nighthawk, have sold well, so hey let's bring over even more? What's with the 500's - like the NC700 wasn't small enough? (I had a 650 Hawk when new, butn all my friends had FZR600's - was no fun being outrun every time we got on the freeway, it was at that time that I promised myself, 100hp minimum)

Then swinging the pendulum to the other end, who asked for the VFR1200? Would have been nice to see the 800 ADV bike over here to compete with V-Stroms, Tiger's and GS's. Between getting rid of the XR line, and killing the two-stroke CR's, for the last 35 years, there has been a Honda in my garage, but once these are put out to pasture, "Ride Red" won't apply to me......

It seems that insurance rates are killing the 600 sport bike market for young kids so I see Honda as being pretty smart dropping so many bikes into the low price, low power market.