Honda Motorcycle Reviews


Read Honda motorbike reviews. These have been written by owners of Honda bikes for the benefit of fellow bikers. Read other Honda owners' personal opinions of Honda motorcycle ownership. You can also submit your own Honda review.

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Honda LS 125cc Apr '01 (Y)
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Review
you mix the 2 stroke in a can under the seat
the honda ls 125 is the fastes bike robot 2 robot
Submitted by
kc on 14/09/2008
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Honda Varadero 125cc Sept '07 (57)
Overall Rating:
Review
Last October, after 30 years of thinking about it, I decided to take the plunge and get a bike. I had some cash, and had spent years telling myself that if I didn'd do it I would be too old so this was the time. I failed my test when I was 18 (rainy Autumn day and skidded on leaves on my TS125) so needed a 125 for the time being with the plan to take my test when time allowed.

The problem was, at 6'1" and touching 19 stone a regular 125 would be too small and I wouldn't use it. I had been looking (as you do) in the Triumph showroom and got talking to one of the guys and he suggested the Honda Varadero - partly on size and partly because a decent 125 would give the experience to go larger rather than just do the test and get straight on a big bike.

The Triumph dealer (Gedges in Pevensey Bay) also had a Honda dealership in Hastings, so off I went to have a look. In the showroom was a metalic black Varadero. I sat on it to feel the weight and position and it was perfect for my size - it was also uncannily similar to what I remember of my last bike in 1978, a Suzuki TS 125.

I decided it was perfect to get me started, I had never bought a brand new vehicle of any kind before so it was quite a thrill! I had some extras fitted - top box, heated grips, centre stand, engine fairing etc and picked out clothing and helmet.

I had to wait a couple of weeks for the CBT to fit in with me for work and it happened to fall on my birthday, so off out early and over to the school-ground where it was held.

CBT out of the way, into the dealers mid-afternoon (there was a 60 something lady on the CBT with me, her 8th year, and she held everything up. Frightening!).

The bike was all ready for me, top box fitted and the bike sparkling in the sun. I just had to finish the paperwork and on I got. It's funny, but even after 30 years it was as if I had never stopped riding it just seemed natural.

First experience was in traffic. The engine is pretty lively for a 125, I've read a lot of reviews on restricted bikes and they often say they're underpowered - but they're meant to be, it's the law on learner legal bikes. The Varadero isn't fast, but it's competant. Once I started to get a feel for it over the next couple of hours, I was surprised just how well it picked up the pace.

Over the next few weeks I used it daily from Eastbourne to Bexhill and any other time I fancied some fun. The ride was always good, handling for a bike in that class felt safe (it comes with a semi-off road looking tyre so you can feel the tread as you lean into a corner).

The most amazing thing was the money I saved on fuel, going from my car at 20mpg to the Vara at 70mpg was fantastic. This is obviously helped by the 2007 models having fuel injection. And the fun it gave is priceless.

Work changed, and we started a new contract in London. As manager, I don't need to be on site all the time so can use the bike to run up and down.

I was pleasantly surprised how easy the Vara made the journey. Traffic all but dissapears and the time for the journey is slashed typically by an hour each way. The only fault of the bike - but it's not really the bikes fault - is once you get on dual-carriageways you are left behind on pace. On a hill, the speed can drop to 65mph and you can be crowded by cars when it's busy.

Overall, performance from the lights is good (twist & go 125's will beat it because no gear changes), top speed can touch 80mph bouncing off the rev-limiter and the handling is predictable and safe. The Vara is a comfortable ride with a good seat and all the controls have a good feel and are placed well. The disc brakes are good - I never felt I was running out of braking however I rode.

After 5000 miles using the bike over 9 months I had the time to take my test, and passed. I was extremely pleased with the bike and had no regrets buying it - it served me well. I felt a little moved the night before last when I took the deposit from it's new owner to be but just looked over to my Triumph Sprint, the result of the succcesful test.
Submitted by
paul gape in Hailsham, East Sussex on 13/09/2008
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Honda Transalp 600cc 91/92 (J)
Overall Rating:
Review
Honda Transalp

Just completed a tour of the east coast of Spain and the old bull never let me down.
The best mid-range tour bike ever made!
Steve
Submitted by
shagy on 11/09/2008
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Honda CBF 500cc Apr '06 (06)
Overall Rating:
Review
Honda CBF500

If Carlsberg were to make motorbikes that were perfect for new riders, commuters and couriers - the CBF500 would be their creation.
Far sassier than a Deauville (what isn't?!), but not as sexy as a VFR. There is lots of chrome though which looks the part on this naked roadster, especially against the metallic black paint scheme.

The bullet-proof Honda 500cc unit is plenty for today's grid-locked roads. The exhaust note grunts rather than screams and the ride is assured and positive.
No real balls to speak of, but a nice set of ABS on the top of the range model!
Submitted by
Cupcake in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey on 08/09/2008
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Honda CBR 125cc Apr '04 (04)
Overall Rating:
Review
Honda CBR125

The Honda CBR 125 is the greatest second bike I have ever had.
It is reliable, very comfertable and just the right size for me (6 ft 4")
Amazingly I have got this bike secondhad with 14,000 miles on the clock, it has had a new scorpion exhaust and now it sounds FANTASTIC, would highly recomend this bike to a new rider to gears, or to anyone wanting just the fun of being on the open road.
After having this bike for . The bike loves cornering when there is one (even it 13 stone)!
To give my bike (the Repsol version) a meaner look I have changed the suspension to aftermarket, to lower it, but also to stiffen the bike so that I get that bit more speed! The only problem I have now is changing the bulbs, apart from that its a great bike! well done to Honda!
Submitted by
DarrylB in Sittingbourne, Kent on 08/09/2008
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Honda CRF 250cc Sept '04 (54)
Overall Rating:
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Honda CRF250

2004 Honda CRF250R - Right now here is one hell of a machine, This bike is capable of ripping your arms off, climbing the highest hill, going mental round a track, or being on the back wheel in 5th gear at 80mph+.
The CRF250R is the best bike I have ever ridden. The amount of torque it has is ridiculous, and it will leave 125's for dead, the sound of this machine and the acceleration will fill you with adrenaline.
Power: More then enough,
Maintenence: Keep on top of it all the time - regular oil changes and filters and Valve clearence, and engine rebuilds every so often. If you follow the manual it will never let you down. In conclusion I Highly reccommend the CRF250R to any young rider out there just hunting for the right motocross bike, whether you want to ride it on a track or do enduros or race your mates it fits in any catorgory and really is a fantastic machine.
You can use all the power and cope - your arms won't ache like a -stroke does to you, and you can cruise along and everything is cool, you're in a high up riding postion and the bike just pulls and pulls.
Suspension is awesome and handling is just brilliant as are the brakes which rip your face off.
Thanks for reading my review, NOW GET ON EBAY AND BUY THIS EVIL CREATURE.
Submitted by
RUB in Witney, Oxfordshire on 07/09/2008
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Honda VFR 800cc Apr '01 (Y)
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HondaVFR800

Best all round bike by far.
Excellent real term road bike capable of keeping up with latest missiles on road and can blast across the continent two up with hard luggage no bother at all.
Legendary Honda build quality and nothing ever goes wrong! Why would I want anything else?
Submitted by
jonny on 01/09/2008
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Honda FES 125cc Sept '06 (56)
Overall Rating:
Review
Honda FES 125

The Honda FES Pantheon 125 I rate highly because it
is comfortable ,reliable and well built. Big under seat storage area is another plus with this model.
The mpg is brilliant giving over 100+ MPG, the daily commute is so easy on this machine. I especially like the look of the Pantheon the front light and plastics are better than other manufacturers.
Submitted by
punter in Southend-on-Sea, Essex on 30/08/2008
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Honda VT Shadow 600cc 95/96 (N)
Overall Rating:
Review
Honda VT600 Shadow

I’ve owned my VT600C Shadow for 11 years now, on and off. It is, without reservation, a marvelous machine. Not that it is a powerhouse, which it isn’t, nor is it particularly good in the bends or in any other aspect which makes a bike ‘good.’ It is, instead, a brilliant all-rounder.

I first bought the Shadow back in 1997 when it was just less than 2 years old with a very low mileage. 4 years of those 11 years was spent in the company of a friend while I was overseas. He sold it back to me on my return to the UK and I was happy to have it back.

This type of bike never seems to do a high mileage and mine is no different. The total mileage is only 18,000 miles of which I have ridden around 14,000. I might point out at this stage that I have other bikes so I don’t use the Shadow on a day-to-day basis, it is used for long trips mainly.

It isn’t fast but will wind it’s way up to an indicated 100mph if you can hang on long enough. Acceleration-wise it is fairly quick up to 80mph, I’ve never had a car it couldn’t beat from the lights but then again I’m not in the habit of trying to beat Porsches.
It can be held at 90mph if the mood takes you but it takes considerable force to hold on to the bars in the windstream. The chunky grips that go with the 1” handlebars make it a bit worse as one’s fingers don’t get as much purchase as with a thinner bar.
Early-on I changed the bars for straights and that helps to keep one out of the wind a bit. The Shadow has only 4 gears to play with so it does seem a little high revving, not that one notices near the top end as the wind has blown away any engine noise and the vibration from the road cancels out the feeling of vibration from the engine.

At about 60mph it feels as if there is another gear to go and I have often found myself trying to change up to a higher gear. As it is only a 600 I suppose I shouldn’t complain.

Cornering is not a high point but the Shadow can be ridden like a bike. The footpegs have hero blobs which have been ground down a fair bit as they are quite easy to get down particularly at slow speed. They make a nice fireworks show for people following if banked-down on a roundabout at night! On the way down through Spain once in the mountains just north of Huelva I grounded the pipe at quite a high speed which shocked me and slowed me down for a few miles. I was at the time chasing a Yamaha Fazer which was two-up, he was leaving me well behind in the short straights but I was able to catch him on the corners. I can only presume he had even less bottle than me!
That particular fabulous stretch of road went on for miles and at the end of it the outside edge of the front tyre had begun to melt. The first time I’ve managed that on any bike.

The Shadow is a very cheap machine to own. The insurance is cheap too. Nothing seems to wear-out. The chain is the original and I seldom need to adjust it. Seriously, I have probably only adjusted it about 10 times since ’97.
I replaced the original tyres not that long after I bought the bike. I probably managed about 5000-6000 miles on the originals, It was a long time ago but I remember it was within a short space of each other, rear first. The tyres I put on were Avon Roadrunners and they seem as if they have hardly worn, I’m more worried with them perishing than wearing out.
I’ve serviced the bike myself and I bought a Honda workshop manual early on to help me to do so. I’ve always used the best quality synthetic oil and it has never used any between services which I do every 4000 miles. The fuel consumption is brilliant. I religiously check the consumption every time I fill-up. The worst I have managed is 56 mpg, the best 87 mpg! The 56 was on a high speed trip holding 90mph. The 87 mpg figure was in Spain returning from the rally in Faro riding on the motorway behind my mate whose collarbone was broken. He wouldn’t travel at more than 55mph, very dangerous with traffic approaching from the rear at 30mph faster. He was having problems with the wind pressure.
I generally get around 70-75 mpg. As I stated earlier that is mainly during use on long runs. These last few years I find myself travelling extremely slowly in/on all my vehicles on the motorway so you will find me in the slow lane at 62mph. I seldom have to overtake anybody and generally with all the hold-ups these days, it doesn’t make a huge amount of difference, time-wise. I am mostly accompanied by my wife on these long trips.

The Shadow cleans-up fairly well, people generally comment on how clean it is. I don’t spend a lot of time cleaning it, just a once over with a sponge now and then and a really good clean before the MOT.
The chrome has held-up well, just a few spots on the wheels that are below par. The lacquer on the hubs/rear brake is starting to go and the galvanizing on the spokes is not as bright as it was. The exhausts are standard and they seem fine. I once ran my drained oil through them, that may have helped stop them rusting out, also the long runs. I’ve not used it in the winter either.

The only things that have gone wrong are the offside rear indicator mounting screw vibrating out, twice. Not even any bulbs have blown!

To conclude then, it’s a bike for the long term. I’ve had quite a few other bikes along the way which have been faster, more comfortable, more modern but this is the one I will be sticking with. I just need to get it set-up to carry a bit of luggage properly. A larger petrol tank would be nice too as 11 litres is not a lot. I start looking for petrol at around 135 miles but I can live with it. I can recommend one of these to anyone.
Submitted by
ixion in Brentford on 25/08/2008
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Honda X11 1100cc Apr '00 (W)
Overall Rating:
Review
I needed a newer bike that had a sensible seat not a perch and good brakes which the X11 has.(Bike mad daughter on the back). A guy at work had an X11 for sale; I had to look it up on the web. Picked the bike up from him and headed home. Got to the motorway slip road and thought was what I had read just hype both good and bad, as it was acting like a real lady. So I nailed the X or should I say it blew me way...lights around me started to streak like in Star Wars when they go into hyper-space. I am used to large cc bikes of yesteryear but the X11 demands respect so I am happily re-learning how to ride to my limits. I got indoors with the daftest smile ever according to my wife, which returns whenever I take her out the bike not the wife. A "Q"bike for all seasons.
Submitted by
richgsd in Southampton, Hampshire on 22/08/2008
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