Honda Motorcycles
Maybe you thought they only make small cars and SUVs.
Honda has one of the largest lines of bikes of any
manufacturer. Half a dozen to a dozen different models in
each category - touring, cruiser, sport, motocross and
off-road - Honda remains one of the most popular brands in
the business.
And for good reason: they make excellent bikes.
Since producing the first production model in 1949, the
company has expanded to create manufacturing facilities in
21 countries. As of 2005, Honda had sold over 150 million
motorcycles. But numbers alone don't tell the whole story.
Those sales were the result of continued excellent designs.
The Honda Valkyrie was a first-rate example. An inline,
liquid-cooled, six cylinder, 1520cc boxer, the Valkyrie
engine is a wonder to behold.
Most cruisers use a V-twin design, but the boxer - in which
cylinders are arrayed in opposite directions, rather than at
45-60 degree angles - delivers smooth power and plenty of
it. Six individual carburetors, one for each cylinder, gave
this beauty tons of torque. It would have been the envy of
its peers, if it had any. The sound of this baby was unique.
Sadly, the Valkyrie was discontinued with a limited edition
'Rune' being the last offered in 2004. But, even with the
Valkyrie available as 'pre-owned' only, the tradition of
great Honda cruisers continues with the Goldwing and other
current models.
Honda is hardly limited to larger models, though. Everything
from the 85cc CR85R for teen motocross to the Interceptor
street bike continue to support the company's reputation for
excellence across the line.
The Interceptor, for example, has been named a top street
bike 11 years running by a number of major magazines. The
Interceptor was one of seven Honda models featured in the
Guggenheim Museum's 'The Art of the Motorcycle' exhibit in
New York.
But the real awards come from the millions of riders who
worship their Honda. They appreciate the tight engines and
reliable manufacturing the company is famous for.
Many of those riders know that nobody dominates off-road the
way Honda does. Whether it's the tiny 49cc Honda CRF50 or the huge
(for off-road) 649cc Honda XR650L, these bikes are built to
conquer any hill or dirt road around.
The smaller bike is perfect as a training vehicle for
younger riders. With a 3-speed automatic transmission, they
couldn't be any easier to drive. And with only a 21-inch
seat height, anyone who can't sit astride it shouldn't be
riding anything bigger than a toy. At just over a hundred
pounds, they're perfect for those who weigh about the same
as the bike.
The larger model, despite its displacement, is still a
single-cylinder model. So, it will deliver lots of torque at
low rpm (revolutions per minute), making it perfect for hill
climbing and accelerating out of those hairpin turns on dirt
roads.
Whichever style of riding suits your personality, Honda has
a model that will deliver years of delightful riding. And,
hey, who could resist that classic Honda red?