Honda

HONDA

PREVIEW '89

A QUICK LOOK THROUGH Honda's new-bike lineup for 1989 makes you wonder who just got married. Because in that 25-model selection of motorcycles and scooters you’ll find something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

The “something old” comes in the form of 17 existing models that have been retained for 1989, mostly with just paint-and-tape changes. They include three scooters (Elite 50E, Elite 50LX and Elite 80); the Z50R minibike; the CR80R mini-motocrosser; three XR (100, 250, 600) off-road-

only four-strokes; all three NX (125, 250, 650) dual-purpose bikes; the 1100 Shadow and 600 Shadow VLX cruisers; and the VTR250 and Hawk GT 650 sporty V-Twins. The fourcylinder CBR600 is back again, too, although the “Hurricane” designation has been dropped in hopes of softening the bike’s image as a hardcore street racer. And, of course, the GL1500 Gold Wing Six luxotourer is still with us, boasting a few improvements claimed to reduce backlash in the driveline.

Then there are six “something new” models for ’89. Three of them are the bigger CR motocross models

that we’ve already previewed in an earlier issue. Another is the Elite 250, a full-size scooter designed along the lines of the feet-forward Helix of a couple years ago, but lighter, with new styling, a lower center of gravity and much more storage capacity.

Next in the “new” category is the CB-l, which is, in effect, a latter-day reincarnation of the classic CB400F of the mid-Seventies. In appearance, it’s a close relative of the Flawk GT, with very modern, sporty styling but no fairing whatsoever. Instead of the Hawk’s 650cc V-Twin engine, the CB-l is powered by a liquid-cooled, 400cc inline-Four that is claimed to belt out a whopping 57 horsepower. And rather than using a Hawk-style aluminum-beam frame and singleleg swingarm, the CB-1 —which is in a more price-sensitive displacement category—has a steel-tube, beam-type frame and a conventional dual-leg swingarm.

But there isn’t much conventional about the other all-new Honda model, called the PC800 Pacific Coast, a new-wave sport-tourer with an interesting blend of motorcycle technology and automotive styling. It’s powered by an 800cc V-Twin engine based on last year’s 800 Shadow motor, but with a higher state of tune, a five-speed gearbox (instead of the Shadow’s four) and rubber engine mounts. The bodywork encloses every bit of the engine and twinshock frame, as well as numerous ducts that channel engine heat away from the rider. The windshield uses laminar-airflow technology to reduce wind turbulence behind the shield. And the seat and the entire top half of the molded-in saddlebags are bolted together as a unit and hinged at the very front, allowing the whole works to flip up and reveal a cavernous, U-shaped storage area surrounding the rear wheel.

Honda claims the bike has exceptional engine performance for a VTwin, along with very easy, very sporty handling allowed by a low center of gravity. Whether or not the bike lives up to those claims remains to be seen. But one thing is irrefutable: The Pacific Coast is different.

In the “something borrowed” category, Honda now offers two models that previously were available, but only in markets outside the U.S. One is the GB500, a bike that is, as Honda puts it, inspired by the past but not trapped there. The styling is very

British traditional, circa Fifties and Sixties, with clubman bars, a racingstyle solo seat, wire-spoked wheels and dual rear shocks. But the power is supplied by a modern, ohc, fourvalve 499cc Single that has both electric and kick-start capabilities.

The other borrowed model is the XL600V Transalp. Styled in the Paris-Dakar mold that is so popular in Europe, the Transalp will attempt to broaden America’s definition of dual-purpose riding. It has an integral fairing, a 583cc V-Twin engine and a 4.8-gallon fuel tank to make longish road rides more pleasant, and its long-travel suspension, massive engine torque and reasonable weight (403 pounds claimed) should ease the task of handling the bike during

most off-road excursions.

In addition to the old, the new and the borrowed, there’s also something missing from Honda’s ’89 lineup. Most conspicuous is the 1000 Hurricane, voted 1988’s Best Open Streetbike in Cycle Worlds annual Ten Best Awards. Honda officials are quick to explain, though, that they have enough 1988 CBR 1000s in warehouses to keep the dealers in good supply throughout most of the year. The same goes for the 700 Magna, the 800 Shadow and several other models not in the 1989 lineup.

Oh, and the “something blue?” Well, aside from numerous blue bikes in Honda’s ’89 line, company officials have some rather blue-sky optimism for the coming year. They insist that this lineup has been specifically designed to boost sales and

entice new riders into the sport, but we see little evidence to support that contention. There are a couple of interesting new models in the line, but they aren’t aimed at true entry-level riders; and even if they were, Honda’s current pricing structure would pose a major obstacle to increased sales volumes. A GB500, for instance, will list for $4198; a Transalp $4498; even the little VTR250 will wear a stiff price tag at $3398. And although Honda has not yet set a price for the Pacific Coast, it seems destined to command well over $6000.

Still, there is no doubt that there are some mighty interesting, appealing bikes in this marriage of the old and the new. Honda just prays that due to high prices, the honeymoon isn’t over. 0