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The Honda Way for 2001 - Performance First(TM)

14 September 2000

The Honda Way for 2001 - Performance First(TM)

             Motorcycle Division Unveils 2001 Models in Las Vegas

    LAS VEGAS, Sept. 13 Honda's Motorcycle Division unveiled
10 new and updated models in the second wave of a three year strategy designed
to maintain market leadership and leave the competition wondering how Honda
does it.
    Nearly 1200 Honda dealers, gathered here for Honda's annual dealer
meeting, roared their approval as Honda flexed its significant R&D muscle.
Leading the way is Honda's much anticipated, all-new Gold Wing(R) touring
motorcycle.
    Motorcycle Division Vice President Ray Blank told dealers, "'Performance
First' is not just some advertising tagline. It defines who we are as a
company. Cutting edge design. Unparalleled engineering. Impeccable
manufacturing. The new Gold Wing is just one of many products that pay off our
claim of 'Performance First'."

    Gold Wing
    Honda's all-new 2001 Gold Wing shatters traditional touring standards with
world-class power, athletic handling and supreme comfort. A powerful new
1832cc six-cylinder engine produces 118 bhp with 125 lbs/ft of torque.  The
new, lighter weight Gold Wing also boasts sport-like handling, thanks to an
aluminum dual-spar frame, Pro-Arm(R) single sided swingarm, Linked Braking
System(TM) (LBS) and optional Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS). The Gold Wing features a
host of high-tech features including electronic cruise control, adjustable
hydraulic rear suspension, and optional 6-CD disc changer. Available at Honda
dealers in November, the new Gold Wing redefines what long distance motorcycle
travel is all about.

    CBR600F4i(TM)
    Honda has improved one of the best street-going sport motorcycles ever
made and given it a new name, the 2001 CBR600F4i!  The 1999 AMA Pro Honda Oils
600 Supersport Champion gets the performance treatment for 2001 -- more power,
programmed fuel injection, a retuned Pro Frame(TM), and aggressive new
styling.  Competition in the 600 sport bike class is intense, but with the new
CBR600Fi, Honda has raised the performance level of the class again, while
maintaining the real-world competence for which the CBR600F series is known.

    Shadow Spirit 750(TM)
    Honda's new 2001 Shadow Spirit 750 is sure to excite fans of mid-sized
cruisers. The Shadow 750 is a comfortable low rider with street rod styling
that boasts Honda's famous fit, finish and durability.  With its dragster
style looks, 745cc of V-twin power, and two-into-two exhaust with bullet-style
mufflers, the Shadow 750 will move riders down the boulevard like never
before.

    Shadow Aero
    The stylish 2001 Shadow Aero begins the new century with something old and
something new -- classic, nostalgic style and a more powerful dual-crankpin
engine that together provide the best of both worlds. Aero riders will cruise
in style, and with the peace-of-mind that added performance provides.

    XR70R, XR80R, XR100R
    Honda's 2001 off road motorcycles, the XR70R, XR80R, and XR100R now sport
Team Honda-inspired bodywork that draws its styling from Honda's bigger
motocross CRs. In addition to their beautiful design, these bikes also feature
redesigned seats and handlebars that provide comfort and maneuverability for a
broad range of riders. The XR80R and XR100R frames have thicker steel tubing
for added durability, while the XR100R now boasts more wheel travel -- 5.9
inches in front and 5.5 inches in the rear -- for even greater versatility on
challenging trails.

    Sportrax(TM) 250EX
    On the ATV front, Honda's new 2001 Sportrax 250EX is a sporty, fun-to-ride
ATV that's ideal for sport and recreational riding.  Great performance stems
from a 229cc engine that's been borrowed from the popular FourTrax Recon, then
breathed on with a redesigned cylinder head and a higher compression ratio.
Long travel suspension, shaft drive and a nimble light weight add up to a new
leader in the mid-displacement sport ATV category.

    Reflex(R)
    Scooters are IN, and so is Honda's exciting new Reflex, a scooter with
sporting style and break-through performance. Powered by an advanced 249cc
liquid cooled four-stroke engine, the Reflex is equipped with standard
Combined Brake System(R) (CBS) and is also available with an optional
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS with the CBS system). The Reflex not only features
avant garde styling, it is also extremely functional, with a cavernous
underseat storage compartment that holds a full face helmet -- or a large sack
of groceries.

    2002 VTX (production prototype)
    Honda delighted dealers with the introduction of the all-new 2002 VTX, a
cruiser that features the biggest, most powerful mass-produced V-twin engine
available anywhere. A huge 1795cc liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin design with
four-inch bores, the VTX powerplant is the first of a new engine family Honda
calls Vanguard(TM). The Vanguard engine dwarfs other production V-twin engines
and hammers out immense power -- 103 bhp at 5000 rpm and 117 lb./ft. of torque
at 3000 rpm.  Advanced programmed fuel injection, high performance suspension
and show stopping street rod styling make the VTX the cruiser to ride for
2001.  Release of this early 2002 model will be in March 2001.