Six New Honda Bikes For US Market

Spectre

The Deported
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Looks like the "oh, s**t, we need to fix this now" Honda skunkworks team is beginning to have some effect. Honda introduced six new bikes to the US for 2013 today, which is rather late for a new model introduction.

Some of them are just revisions:
An upgraded CBR600RR: http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cbr600rr.aspx
A lighter, cheaper and stripped down Goldwing called the F6B: http://powersports.honda.com/2013/gold-wing-f6b.aspx

Then there's the all new to the US stuff - the CB1100 is now official and we're getting the CB500 triplets.
The CB1100 at last - and surprisingly they're offering it with optional ABS: http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cb1100.aspx
The CB500F 'sporting standard' or 'naked': http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cb500f.aspx
The CB500R sportbike variant: http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cbr500r.aspx
The CB500X 'adventure' version: http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cb500x.aspx

The 500s are the first true Honda middleweights in the US since the demise of the old Nighthawk 450 and Rebel 450 in the 80s.
 
Going by the European specs I'm guessing the CB500s will have ~50hp.
 
I will own a CB1100. :drool:

It represents everything that got me into to motorcycles in the first place.

I'm a little disappointed they didn't send the Crosstourer, but I wouldn't swap my Tenere for one, so I don't blame them. Maybe in a few years, but as it is, I am very pleased with the new line. Honda is finally back in the game. :D
 
I suspect they had to decide whether to bring over the Crosstourer or the budget bikes. I'm thinking they made the right decision.

What I think is most interesting is that Honda is re-entering a segment that Kawi and Suzi both bailed out of recently. Their perennial middleweights (EX500, GS500) both went up to 650cc and have effectively dropped off the sales charts as a result due to having to compete with the 600-class supersports and the uprate in insurance over 598cc. The Honda 500s will be tapping into a segment that literally has no other new offerings and the used offerings are deficient in desirable features found on the Hondas - fuel injection, ABS, current production parts.

ABS is a $500 option for all of the all-new offerings, by the way. Even the retro 1100.
 
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I'll have one of each, please.
 
I like the looks of the F6B. I do wonder how effective the windscreen is for taller riders though. I am 6', and I see that putting the blast of air at the top of the helmet on me. That would make longer rides tiring.
 
So...Honda makes a "Crosstour" and a "Crosstourer"? Fer serious?

I know it's horrible I wanted to buy an SUV and ended up with a motorcycle. Damn your naming scheme Honda!
 
I will own a CB1100. :drool:

It represents everything that got me into to motorcycles in the first place.

Amen. I'm currently debating getting the CB1100 or maybe a 2013 Bonneville; either way, both are worthy replacements for when I sell the CB550F to some hipster in Venice, no doubt
 
Amen. I'm currently debating getting the CB1100 or maybe a 2013 Bonneville; either way, both are worthy replacements for when I sell the CB550F to some hipster in Venice, no doubt

Bah that isn't a hipster bike, this is about as hipster you can get without going to its sister company.

Moto-Guzzi-V7-racer.jpg
 
I'll need to see scientific measurements to verify that. Hipsters are like cockroaches here.
 
CBR500R, CB1100, and F6B, por favor, and in that order. I'm also really diggin' the "updated" CBR600R retro look.
 
I just read on two different articles that the CB1100 will be $10,000 ($11,000 with ABS). That means they should be pretty decent once they hit the used market.

One of these days I want to buy a brand new bike - but I don't think that will happen in the next decade.
 
Would it be silly to go from a GS500F to a CB500F later on down the road? lol
 
You don't automatically need to go to a bigger engine. I am still considering an MG V7 and that has the same power as my CX500.
 
You don't automatically need to go to a bigger engine. I am still considering an MG V7 and that has the same power as my CX500.

True. This new CB500F really has me confused as to what bike I want to jump on in the future, part of me wants a 696 Monster, another part tells me to go for the MG V7, and now there's a new third part that tells me the CB500F... Granted I'm not in any position (skillwise) to consider a new bike, but a man can still dream....err I mean ponder...
 
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