Honda motorcycles

2012 Honda Sabre

The 2012 Honda Sabre blends a distinctive cruiser style with muscular performance numbers that are just too impressive to ignore. It’s no wonder that of the three new bikes Honda is releasing based on the VT1300, the Sabre is arguably the most versatile.

The bike’s pro-street styling is as sleek and aggressive as any that we’ve seen recently. The distinct open, minimalist frame and long, lean and low-slung design of the Sabre begins with a narrow 21" front tire and an aggressively raked front fork, before continuing with a lightweight steering head that belies its sturdiness. The back of the Sabre also features a hidden shock that exudes a sleek hard-tail look without giving up rider comfort and handling control.

At the heart of the Sabre is an advanced 1,312 cc V-twin engine that comes with Honda’s Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI). Combine that with other sophisticated technology, including a Combined Braking System with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and you have a bike that takes cruiser performance to a whole new level.

Despite sharing some of the same DNA as the other new custom 1300s, the Sabre stands head and shoulders above its competitors before its versatility and muscular style is only the beginning of the impressive overall package it has. Whether you’re looking for a bike that comes with outstanding power, comfortable handling, and an aggressive and eye-catching style, it’s best to understand that the package you’re looking for can all be had with the Honda Sabre.

Find out more about the Honda Sabre after the jump.

2012 Honda Interstate

’Interstate’ might not be the first word that comes to mind when you’re thinking about an all-world cruiser bike, but don’t let the name fool you; the 2012 Honda Interstate is the perfect mix of style and performance wrapped in one awesome package.

Featuring long, low lines that embody all the characteristics of a cruiser bike, the Honda Interstate blends two worlds of motorcycling style: traditional looks plus progressive elements. The deeply balanced fenders arc downward in classic retro style, yet the all-new rolling chassis and overall lines bring a fresh look to the class. The Interstate also has stylish hard leather bags that offer ample storage space, as well as an enormous windscreen that allows you enjoy the spoils of riding one of the best cruisers on the market today. The Honda Interstate was designed to capture the imagination - and bank accounts - of riders who want their motorcycle to not only travel long distances, but also look stylish while doing it.

Meanwhile, the Honda Interstate is powered by a mighty 1,312 cc V-twin engine that lets out a deep throaty rumble that only a big V-twin engine can have.

We know what it feels like to look at a dealership and see a glistening custom cruiser bike staring at you, begging to be plucked. That’s the emotion the Honda Interstate gives you. It’s a cruiser that not only merges style with performance, but it also belongs in the hands of a man that can make the most out of it.

Find out more about the Honda Interstate after the jump.

2012 Honda Rebel

Classic cruising has never been a problem for the Honda Rebel. When you boast of a retro design that’s complimented by a fuel efficient commuter engine, then you can ride around town with the kind of confidence befitting the name of your bike.

The Rebel is not all about power, although it offers plenty of that in its own regard. The bike also features a design that a lot of riders can be proud of. The low-lying stance greatly accentuates the classic styling cues, including the prevalent use of chrome on the make-up of the bike. The low seat height of the Rebel is both comfortable and confidence inspiring, exuding a no-frills, all-business look that’s just right for the taste of a wide range of consumers.

Then there’s the engine. For the 2012 Rebel, Honda fitted the bike with a proven 234cc twin-cylinder SOHC four-stroke engine that’s smooth, quiet, and relatively easy to maintain. The engine is also mated to a five-speed transmission while an electric starter allows you be on your way at just a push of a button. Plus, you get the kind of reliability and low maintenance Honda is known for – all at a shockingly low price.

There is also a semi-double-cradle frame with a hydraulic front fork with dual Syntallic bushings and dual rear shocks that feature five-position spring preload adjustment, bringing together a bike that has taken the long and rich history of the Rebel name to a whole new level.

You don’t expect anything less from Honda.

Find out more about the 2012 Honda Rebel after the jump.

2012 Honda Shadow Aero

Honda boasts of an impressive line-up of Shadow 750 bikes, none more so than the Shadow Aero 750. The retro styled cruiser offers the most satisfying ride for a wide range of enthusiasts, as well as a classic design with a power-packed V-twin engine that’s just right for today’s budget-minded consumer.

As one of the most popular cruisers on the road, the Shadow Aero 750 features a classic, retro style design that underlies the true power inside it. For the 2012 model, the Shadow Aero 750 comes with plenty of chrome details, including the lightbar, the windscreen, the spotlight visors, the back rests, and the fenders, among other things. On top of that, the bike features leather saddlebags for easy-to-store baggage space, as well as a leather front pouch for extra storage. Mixed in with the classic design of the bag are modern elements like the new digital audio system and a digital auto attachment kit.

In terms of performance, the Shadow Aero 750 is powered by a 745cc liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin engine that spews out tremendous amounts of power at all ranges and mated to a wide-ratio five-speed transmission. The engine features a pair of connecting rods that have been bolted to the same crankpin, delivering the kind of rumbling cadence and torque that so many riders especially seek out on their bikes.

In line with the company’s goal of making the new Shadow Spirit 750 look longer and lower like a larger-displacement machine, without sacrificing the friendly ergonomics of the bike, Honda used a single-backbone frame that produces a longer wheelbase while simultaneously stretching the ergonomic dynamics of the bike to accommodate riders of all shapes and sizes.

In a market that offers plenty of unique choices, the Shadow Aero 750 is one bike that’s going to make your choice easier.

Find out more about the full specs of the Honda Shadow Aero 750 after the jump.

2012 Honda CBR1000RR

One-liter sportsbikes usually carry an aura to them; one built on the assumption that they shatter whatever class stereotype they may come across. In the case of the Honda CBR1000RR, that assumption might very well be stated as a fact.

As a potent, high-powered sportsbike, the CBR1000RR blends magnum-level performance along with a near-perfect blend of streetability, versatility, rider feel, and balanced character.

The bike’s layered fairing design is the highlight of its aggressive bodywork that produces aerodynamic flow and high-speed handling, creating a large pocket of calm air around the rider and improving comfort while also helping draw air through the cooling system. The bike also has an integrated chin spoiler in the nose that reduces aerodynamic lift to improve handling. In addition to that, there’s also a multi-function LCD instrument that communicates important information with the option of four readout modes for tachometer display, lap timer, five-level shift indicator, and gear position indicator.

The true calling card of the CBR1000RR, though, is the engine. The bike is the essential superbike—the perfect balance of power and handling designed to work together as one complete package. Packing a 999.8cc engine that pumps out huge mid-range horsepower and torque for class-leading real-world muscle, the bike offers a high-performance package that’s unmatched in the market.

For 2012, the CBR1000RR also boasts even better handling courtesy of a patented Balance-Free Rear Shock, Big Piston Fork, and new wheels. The suspension set-up features a Unit Pro-Link rear suspension that comes with a new, patented Balance-Free Rear Shock from Showa. This set-up incorporates a unique double-tube design featuring a damper case, plus an internal cylinder for more responsive damping and smoother damping action.

In every sense of the word, the Honda CBR1000RR is the quintessential dream superbike at a price of just $13,800.

Find out more about the Honda CBR1000RR after the jump.

2012 Honda CBR600RR

The Honda CBR600RR has a history of racing engineering that’s unmatched in the industry. After all, if you’re a bike that has been honed to perfection on racetracks all over the world, and can match all that research and development with impeccable racing credentials, then you’ve definitely earned your stripes as one of the best sports bikes on the market.

The CBR600RR features a light and compact chassis that was combined with the kind of impeccable power for a remarkably balanced combination. The credentials of the bike alone speak volumes regarding its capabilities, particularly its standing as the only 600cc machine that has won more AMA and World Supersport championships than any other bike in history.

The sports bike packs an impressive 599cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine that’s more impressive if you dive deep into the science behind its capabilities. The CBR600RR comes with the Dual Stage Fuel Injection System (PGM-DSFI), an advanced fuel system that utilizes a set of four 12-hole fuel injectors mounted in new, larger 40mm throttle bodies to go with another full set of 12-hole injectors mounted high in the roof of the airbox. At its maximum red-line limit of 15,000 rpm, the intake and exhaust valves on the bike open and close 125 times a second - the valves will open and close 31 times before the rider can even blink - providing the engine with the kind of throaty power few bikes in its segment can match. Even at speeds below 5,500 rpm, the CBR600RR’s throttle response is as sharp and precise as an atomic clock, and when you combine that with the airbox-mounted showerheads, the sky is definitely the limit as to how much power this sports bike can muster.

Find out more about the Honda CBR600RR after the jump.

2012 Honda Gold Wing

How do you turn a bike that’s already considered the world’s best touring motorcycle into something even better? You can go to Honda and ask them what they were able to do with the 2012 Gold Wing.

The Japanese motorcycle brand has something special for the 2012 Gold Wing, starting with new bodywork that further complements what is the best engine and chassis package the touring world has in the market today. They were also able to put in a new audio system, an updated navigation system, and all-new functionality. Really, are there even any more questions as to what touring bike can match wits with the Gold Wing?

We hardly think that you can find a touring bike that offers such a comprehensive package, so with the 2012 Gold Wing, there’s really no reason to look for anything more. It has long been acknowledged as the pinnacle of two-up motorcycling, and the 2012 model more than lives up to the high standards of its predecessors.

Find out more about the 2012 Honda Gold Wing after the jump.

2012 Honda Rune

It’s very rare that a concept bike captures the heart of riders the way the Honda Rune did when it was introduced into the market. As a bike that draws its ancestry from the original Valkyries and the Gold Wings, the Rune’s introduction had a significant impact on the motorcycle market.

Taking all the set-up characteristics of the two bikes and combining them to form one package, Honda essentially made the Rune one of the most important bikes of its line-up. Its cutting-edge design and expansive powertrain capabilities took the model into uncharted territory, establishing new directions that no other manufacturer had ever attempted.

Suffice it to say, Honda accomplished that and more with the Rune. It’s not enough that it’s inspired by some of the most popular bikes Honda has had in the past, but it also takes all of the company’s technologies and wraps them up into one scintillating piece of touring awesomeness.

Find out more about the Honda Rune after the jump.

2012 Honda ST1300

Just like everything else, certain motorcycle models grow up and are bound to be replaced. That’s the case for the Honda ST1100, which ran for almost 12 years before its time clearly has come to pass. In the 12 years it’s been around, the ST1100 has earned a reputation as one of the best touring motorcycles around, but like we said, everything has an expiration date, and the ST1100’s date has already passed.

Now it’s time to give proper introduction to the eventual successor, the ST1300.

Just like every sports-touring bike on the market, the ST1300 plays double duty as a touring and sports bike. The bodywork, which was carefully built behind the science of wind-tunnel testing, sports all the characteristics of a long-distance hauler and a sports racer. The hard saddlebags on the rear, together with the removable saddlebag liner set, a scuff-pad set, and knee-pad set, comprise some of the ST1300’s touring characteristics. It also has a new fairing air-deflector set, a tank pad, and heated grips to round out the car’s exterior set-up.

As far as performance characteristics go, the ST1300 is powered by a 1,261 cc liquid-cooled longitudinally mounted 90° V-4 engine that’s complimented by a race-bred chassis and ABS technology. The new engine set-up produces 20% more power and 10% more torque than the ST1100, enough reason for this sports tourer to be considered a worthy successor.

Like most of Honda’s high-performance motorcycles, the new ST1300 features advanced aluminum composite cylinder sleeves that are not only lighter in weight, but also more resistant to wear and more effective at transferring heat than conventional iron sleeves.

Find out more about the Honda ST1300 after the jump

2012 Honda Gold Wing

Regarded across the board as the pinnacle of two-up motorcycling, the 2012 Honda Gold Wing is straight-up one of the premier tourers on the market today. The Gold Wing offers the perfect mix of power, performance, handling, and touring comfort with travel-oriented credentials that make it one of the most beloved companions in long-distance joy rides.

The Gold Wing is a renowned bike with a refined drivetrain, delightfully sporty handling and unparalleled comfort for both rider and passenger. The Gold Wing also brings upgraded styling, increased luggage capacity, greater protection from wind and weather, and revised suspension settings for enhanced ride compliance.

On top it being the classic tourer that we’ve all come to love, the Honda Gold Wing also includes plenty of the latest generation of sophisticated electronic amenities, starting with an innovative user-friendly navigation system with the capability to share favorite ride routes with friends and other riders. The Gold Wing also incorporates a new built-in MP3/iPod interface and an SRS CS Auto technology surround-sound system for a premium listening experience.

Find out more about the Honda Gold Wing after the jump.