The Lenten season is supposed to be a time for rest and reflection, but I suppose most of us won’t be able to do both as we lie awake thinking about what new bikes to expect at the Makina Moto Show 2023 this coming April 14 to 16.

We have just learned that 29 motorcycle brands will be there to showcase their latest offerings to the riding public, and market leader Honda will be launching three new big bike models of their own.

CL500

Making its global debut late last year at EICMA in Milan, the Honda CL500 shares its platform with the Rebel 500, but with some changes to suit the desired form and function. Pegged as a modern-day scrambler, the CL500 has 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels to raise its ground clearance to 155 mm. It also features an upswept muffler to complete the look.  

XL750 Transalp

A bit of a latecomer in the mid-level adventure bike segment, the XL750 Transalp is Honda's latest iteration of the legendary ‘80s dual-sport motorcycle. It now has a 755cc 8V parallel-twin engine boasting of 67.5 kW and 75 Nm. The XL750 Transalp features 4 riding modes: Gravel, Sport, Standard, and Rain. With a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel set-up, the XL750 Transalp is ready for some serious adventures.

Rebel 1100

Practically a Rebel 500 that underwent a 6-month gym program, the CMX1100 Rebel is propelled by a liquid-cooled 1084cc parallel twin that produces 64 kW and 98 Nm. Yet, there’s no reason to be intimidated, as the Rebel 1100 is probably one of the most rider-friendly bobbers out there.

Aside from the low 700mm seat height, It also features Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) which liberates the rider from the bother of operating a clutch and shifting gears.

How do we know all this? Let’s just call it rider’s intuition/wishful thinking. *wink, wink*