Autoblog

Click above for more shots of the 2009 Honda CBR600RR

When it was introduced in 2008, the brand-new Honda CBR1000RR, known as Fireblade across the pond, won accolades from the the press and regular riders alike. Considering its market domination over the last year, we wouldn't be surprised if Honda simply left things pretty much alone for '09. There is one new feature, though, and it's a biggie: optional ABS brakes. This will be the first application of anti-lock brakes in a machine of this caliber, and early reports indicate that people are seeing improved lap times as a result. In addition to the brakes, expect to see some color changes and a Repsol race edition.

Moving on to Honda's smaller-bore machine, the CBR600RR will also get optional C-ABS along with engine changes designed to improve torque right in the middle of the power band, between 8,000 and 12,000 RPM. Along with these changes comes revised styling with flashy colors pulled straight from the mid-'90s. Apparently, neon green and electric blue are back. Why didn't somebody tell us sooner? Update: Title fixed. Thanks!



[Source: Honda]

Besides all being categorized as "Adventure Touring" bikes, what do the Suzuki V-Strom series and Kawasaki's new Versys have in common? They're both less than 1000cc's and sold in America. Not that we're keeping track or anything, but so are the BMW R1200GS, KTM 990 Adventure, Triumph Tiger 1050, Ducati Multistrada, Aprilia Caponord and even the new Benelli TreK 1130. Not so the Honda Transalp, which has just been completely refreshed and is being shown off at the Paris Motorcycle Show. Sporting a liquid-cooled V-Twin of just less than 700cc's, the Transalp would make a very logical competitor to the aforementioned Versys 650 and V-Strom 650, wouldn't you say? It's not so much that Honda's own XR650L is a bad bike -- it's actually quite good at what it does -- we just doubt that many potential buyers cross-shop the XR with bikes in the Adventure category. Consider too that BMW is rumored to be bringing a GS version of the new F800 stateside as well, and a strong argument could be made that Honda should enter the market.

Regardless of whether it comes to the U.S. or not, the Transalp is a fine Adventure Tourer. A look at our hosted pictures will show you that Honda has made some serious upgrades to their super-popular Euro-bound machine. Riders should enjoy the protection provided by the ample windscreen and fairing, and will likely find a comfortable riding position. Pictures also show the serious routing maneuvers the exhaust gases are forced to take as the bike has been made Euro 3 emissions compliant. If you're reading this and you live in the States, take heart... Kawasaki saw fit to make their new Versys available here. Maybe Honda will show us some love too.

[Source: Motorcycle Daily]

Some people say that the type of car you drive is directly proportional to the amount of action you get. The folks over at Honda Motor Company took that a little too literally when they printed up manuals for 18,000 Honda Fits and 8,000 units of the company's 2007 motorcycles. In an attempt to provide customers the number for a government hotline, the manual actually quotes the digits of an even "hotter" line at which a woman -- not the kind of girl you'd bring home to Mom, by the way -- lets callers know that they're welcome to talk at a rate of just 99 cents per minute. Jokes aside, the misprint has irritated enough customers to get the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and affected customers should be receiving a correction in the form of a postcard in the mail somewhat soon.

[Source: Associated Press via Winding Road]