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The Kawasaki H2 SX is perhaps the most powerful sports tourer available in the market and for 2023, the supercharged machine will feature auto-high-beam. 

  • The Kawasaki H2 SX received significant update in 2022 including a new radar sensor technology.
  • For 2023, Kawasaki adds Auto-High Beam to the H2 SX electronic package. 

Not much has changed on the 2023 H2 SX as the potent sports tourer already fitted with a host of upgrade last year including a twin radar system that features adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and blind spot detection. 

Kawasaki also equipped the H2 SX with a new 6.5-inch TFT in 2022 that allows the bike to get connected with Kawasaki Rideology app. 

Nonetheless, the most significant upgrade for 2023 is the introduction of the Auto High Beam (AHB) function. 

Although the name itself is self-explanatory, the AHB works together with the light-detecting sensor which then send information to the computer to notify when it is necessary to activate the high-beam. 

The on-board cameras detect the light level from the bike’s surrounding including street lights and vehicles and calculate the whether the high-beam should be engaged. 

“For the system to function, the dimmer/passing switch must be set to high beam and the bike must be travelling above 20 km/h in darkness. With the system engaged a green icon is displayed on the 6.5” TFT multifunction, colour instrument screen,” said Kawasaki. 

Additionally, Kawasaki also welcome the return of the SE variant in 2023, which features Kawasaki Semi-Active Electronically Damped Suspension with Skyhook. 

American motorcycle company, Indian Motorcycle introduced a new FTR Sport model that is set to replace the FTR S for 2023.

  • The FTR Sport replaces the the FTR S for 2023.
  • The FTR Sport sits under the FTR Carbon but placed above the FTR Rally and the base model. 

Notable features on the FTR Sport include a new headlight cowl that also serves as a number plate, a chin fairing and a pillion seat cover.

The biggest addition to the 2023 lineup – including the Sport and R Carbon – includes an all-new 4-inch touchscreen TFT instrumentation with navigation system powered by Indian’s Ride Command technology. 

Indian also improved other aspect of the FTR including a new clutch, reworked front braking which the firm claimed provide a firmer feel.

Also, the speedometer now placed slightly higher to improve rider visibility. 

The 2023 FTR range also sport a new exhaust muffler.

Mechanically, the FTR Sport makes the same 120hp @ 7,750rpm and 117Nm @ 6,000rpm from its 1203cc DOHC, liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-Twin.

Other notable features include:

  • 43mm ZF Sachs fully-adjustable telescopic cartridge forks.
  • ZF Sachs fully-adjustable piggyback IFP
  • Brembo brakes
  • 15.4L fuel tank

Pricing and availability is yet to be announced but the Indian FTR Sport is available in White Lightning with Indy Red and Black Metallic accent as well as Black Metallic with Indy Red accents. 

The highly anticipated Honda CL500 has arrived in a retro-style motorcycle that features the same powertrain as the CMX 500 Rebel.

  • From rumour to realitiy, Honda brings the CL nameplate back to modern times. 
  • Features the highly-capable 500cc parallel-twin engine found in the CMX 500 Rebel. 

If the CL nameplate sounds familiar to some of you that’s because the motorcycle was quite popular back in the day with its 125 to 450cc range. 

Nevertheless, the CL nomenclature has made a comeback in the form of the new CL500. 

Firstly, the CL500 features some similar specifications to the CMX Rebel, although the low-sub sub-frame has been replace with a rear-end that pays homage to the original CL-series including a high slung exhaust. 

As you can expect, powering the CL500 is the same 471cc parallel-twin cylinder engine found in the CMX Rebel that produces 45.9hp and 43.3Nm peak torque. 

However, new on the CL500 is a shorter final drive for more power from the get go and an updated fuel injection settings. 

Meanwhile, the power is delivered to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual transmission mated to an assist/slipper clutch for seamless clutch feel. 

Honda claimed the retro motorcycle tips the scale at 192kg which is an extra kilogram heavy than the Rebel. 

Other notable features include:

  • 41mm telescopic forks
  • rear twin shocks with 5-step preload adjustment
  • 2-piston calliper (front) with 310mm disc
  • single piston calliper (rear) with 240mm disc
  • 19” front wheel, 17” rear wheel with Dunlop Mixtours tires
  • 12L fuel tank

In addition, the CL500 gets a new riding ergonomics thanks to its scrambler-style bodywork. That said, the seat height remains at 790mm. 

To complete the retro look, the CL500 is equipped with a reverse LCD display. 

GALLERY: 2023 HONDA CL500

Honda officially expand the Rebel 1100 range with a new bagger variant that adds a fork-mounted fairing and color-matched hard panniers for 2023.

  • Honda Rebel 1100T joins the Rebel lineup for 2023. 
  • Features similar specification with the base Rebel including cruise control, 16.3L fuel tank and Showa rear shocks. 

Typically, the fairing is an added protection against road elements including the wind and debris while the lockable saddlebags adds 35L of storage. 

Despite the ‘touring packge’, the Rebel 1100T still feature the same 16.3L of fuel tank as the base Rebel. Hence, we expect the same 240km of range. 

Also the additional storage adds to the bike’s overall weight to 245kg for DCT model , that’s 14kg more than the standard Rebel. 

Mechanically, the Rebel 1100T is pretty much similar to the Rebel 1100 DCT, including the same 1083cc parallel-twin engine derived from the Arica Twin and NT1100 that makes 86hp and 97Nm. 

The Rebel 1100T is suspended by a telescopic fork at the front with 140mm of travel and dual Showa rear shocks with adjustable preload and 93mm of travel. 

Braking is done by a four-pot radial-mount hydraulic callipers with 330mm floating rotors at the front and a single-piston callipers with 258mm disc at the rear.

 Also similar to the standard model, braking is regulated by a dual-channel ABS that comes as standard including traction control, wheelie control, engine braking control, cruise control and three riding modes.

The Rebel 1100T is available in two colourways, Metallic Black and Bordeaux Red Metallic. 

GALLERY: 2023 HONDA REBEL 1100T

Honda has officially rolled out the all-new XL750 Transalp after months of speculation and spy shot that took place in Japan and Europe. 

  • The Transalp features the same parallel-twin engine as the Hornet. 
  • Fitted with Showa’s suspension at the front and rear with Pro-Link swingarm. 

The Transalp nameplate returns for 2023 with the middleweight adventure motorcycle set to go up against the Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM 890 Adventure. 

The engine

Mechanically, the Honda XL750 Transalp features the all-new parallel-twin powertrain as found in the recently announced Honda Hornet. 

That said, the XL750 Transalp makes 90hp and 75Nm slotting in between the 74hp Tenere and 105hp 890 Adventure.

Power is delivered via six-speed transmission combined with a slipper clutch with FFC Leaning Segment disc. Honda claimed that the new clutch design helps to reduced clutch drag torque by 30% allowing for a lighter and smoother gear shift. 

23YM XL750 Transalp

Similar to the Hornet, the XL750 Transalp features a 270-degree crank and a new airbox which Honda claimed to offer a low-end beat and top-end howl.

However, the ride-by-wire system has been tuned specifically to best suit the bike’s touring and off-road ability.

The electronics

Electronically, the XL750 Transalp gets four riding modes (Sport, Standard, Rain and Gravel and User) with each of them can be selected while on the fly thanks to a lefthand switch cube. 

Meanwhile, the User mode allow riders to adjust the bike’s electronics to meet their requirements. All of these features can be access via the bike’s full-colour TFT display.

Other electronic features include:

  • four levels Engine Power (EP)
  • three levels Engine Brake (EB)
  • two level ABS
  • five level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC)
  • wheelie control

In addition, both the rear ABS and HSTC can be disabled altogether for better off-road contro. 

The chassis

As you can expect, Honda developed an all-new steel diamond design chassis with integrated subframe for the Transalp. As a result, the new frame tip the scales at just 18.3kg which is lighter than the CB500X.

Also the wheelbase is set at 1560mm with the rake and trail is at 27-degrees and 111mm respectively. 

The bike is suspended by Showa’s 43mm separate function cartridge-type front forks and remote rear shock that runs through a Pro-Link type swingarm. 

Braking is done via a two-piston callipers at the front mated to a 310mm wavy disc and a 256mm disc at the rear paired to a single-piston calliper. 

In addition, the Transalp is shod with a 21” front wheel and 18” rear wheel with Metzeler Karoo Street/Dunlop Mixtour tires.

GALLERY: HONDA XL750 TRANSALP

Bimota has finally stepped out of its comfort zone of fine street bikes by introducing the BX450 enduro motorcycle. 

  • Bimota continue its closed partnership with Kawasaki with the introduction of BX450. 
  • Based on the Kawasaki KX450 dirt bike. 

The BX450 is the firm’s genuine competition motorcycle, ready to take on major enduro events across the globe. 

For the record, the BX450 is built based on Kawasaki’s iconic KX450. It features the same aluminium twin-spar frame with a classic lower double cradle that houses a powerful 449cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-valve single with 12.5:1 compression. 

However, Bimota’s technical team also adds an electric start, an advanced ECU with specific mapping and a traction control system. 

In addition, the Bimota BX450 also features an Arrow exhaust system as standard. 

Nonetheless, some parts from the Kawasaki KX450 are retained on the BX450, including a fully-adjustable 49mm Showa male-slider fork and Kawasaki’s Uni-Trak monoshock linked to the swingarm. 

Braking is done via a Nissin 4-piston brake callipers mated to a single-disc at the front and rear. 

Meanwhile, the spoked wheels are fitted with Metzeler 6 Days M+S tires with 90/100-21 front and 140/80-18 rear. 

More importantly, Bimota shed its weight to just 110kg, making it a lightweight bike ready to take on the dirt road. 

Unfortunately, like all Bimotas, the BX450 will be limited to just a few hundred units. 

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