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 CRF50 or the huge (for off-road) 649cc 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?!