Entries Tagged as 'Honda models'

Honda’s alternative to scooters

With almost daily reports of people going from SUVs to scooters, I’m very happy to say that while scooters are an alternative to SUVs, Honda has an alternative to scooters. It looks like a motorcycle, it rides like a motorcycle, you can race it like a motorcycle, but it costs like a scooter, both purchase price and running costs including gas. That’s the Honda CBR 125. Not yet available in US, it became available in Canada first - while we had it in Europe for years.

Here is some spec:

  • Engine Type Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 2-valve SOHC single
  • Engine Displacement 124.7cm3
  • Bore & Stroke 58 x 47.2mm
  • Compression Ratio 11: 1
  • Carburation PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
  • Max. Power Output 10kW/10,000min-1 (95/1/EC)
  • Max. Torque 10.6Nm/8,250min-1 (95/1/EC)
  • Ignition Fully transistorised with electronic advance
  • Starter Electric

Now, Lynn Saxberg from The Ottawa Citizen made a quite nice review on the bike’s purpose, target market and joy of ride. “Best suited for solo travel in urban and suburban areas, the 125 has been available in Europe for years. In a bold move, Honda Canada introduced the 125 last year without waiting for its American counterpart to express interest in bringing it to the U.S.”

“If you’re sick of waiting for the bus, goes the narrative on the Honda Canada website, you can hop on this bike, outfitted in most of the protective gear you’ll need, for just $149 a month.

With a fuel-sipping 2.4 litres of gas per 100 kilometres and a three-year warranty, it’s not only economical but also reliable. Heck, Honda will even throw in a half-day rider-training course.”

Here is the rest of the report. See some Honda CBR125 pictures.

Exciting videos with Honda DN01

There aren’t yet much videos with the Honda DN01 - its not available for pucrhase here anyway. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these, so for now I have to settle with these 2 videos on Youtube:

The official Honda video:

Preview from Diginfo.tv:

And a promo:

Well, hope to ride one, someday!

Excellent review of the 2008 Honda CBF600S

Being a CBF 600s owner, I’ve spent quite a good time looking for reviews on my bike, and unfortunately found most of them to be deceiving. It looks like most of the journalists dealing with reviews evaluate the bikes based on how fast they go and their abilities on the track. Does it go with 300 km/h? No? Then is not good.

Here is a sample of deceiving review for the 2004-2007 CBF600 from MCM Motorcyclenews : “The Honda CBF600 is undoubtedly a supremely competent motorcycle but lordy, is it dull! Bulky and heavy for a 600cc motorcycle, the Honda CBF600 lacks any real “go”, despite being well designed and built. It’s a good, safe choice for a new biker but, for those with more experience, it’s unlikely to satiate your need for a rush. Once you’ve mastered the basics, the Honda CBF600 is unlikely to inspire you with passion. It really is a bit soulless.” .

My opinion is totally different as I wrote on my dedicated CBF600s site: “The Honda CBF600s is probably one of the last “classic conception” bikes, with carburetors, classic instruments and naked bike look. I bought it as being the most similar Honda bike to my old CB750 Nighthawk . As you guessed, I’m one of the guys that thinks a bike should be an engine on a frame and 2 wheels and nothing more.

The CBF600s is a motorcycle that looks like a motorcycle, runs like a motorcycle and sounds like a motorcycle. You can clearly see the naked engine (painted in black) and the 4 exhaust pipes, stating is a Honda inline four.

So bottom line, I’ve needed to find a third party positive review to back-up my sayings, and happily I found one in the 2008 Honda CBF600 s review on the TopSpeed site.

Here are the highlights of the 2008 CBF600 s as described by the reviewer:

  • “A lighter, more compact and higher-revving new fuel injected engine based on that developed for the 2007 CBR600RR and CB600F Hornet.”
  • “the new 2008 CBF600 emphasizes its new sculpturally lighter form with sleek and distinctively European style in a beautifully integrated form that shows elegant refinements to its original design.”
  • “Honda Access Corporation will be supplying the new CBF600 with a wide assortment of specially designed optional accessories to further extend its riding range and versatility while elegantly complementing its cosmopolitan style.”

Well, if you are into seeing how nice a CBF600 could be for you, and how cool a “Weekend” motorcycle can be, read the entire review here. Some pictures as well.

And for those thinking CBF is dull, read again the target for this bike as the reviewer (Anthony Kodack) says it so well: “The CBF also stands out as the perfect alternative for novices, weekend motorcyclists and returnees to the sport to gain a new-found feel for their own riding potential—at their own pace.”

More on the CBF600s site.