Motorcycles are what Honda is best known for. Despite being strong in cars, boat engines, and other areas, bikes define the Honda brand. More than any motorcycle manufacturer, Honda is present in almost every motorcycle market sector. From small-capacity urban machines to superbikes and everything in between, you can find a Honda bike to meet your needs.
In 2023, the Honda motorcycle range is wider than ever. Some bikes, like the CRF Africa Twin, have updated colors, and others have seen a complete redesign. In this article, we’ll look through the best bikes in the 2023 Honda range, covering how much they cost and our favorites.
Let’s get started and see what we recommend…
Honda Rebel 1100: From $9,499
The Honda Rebel is a new entrant in the Cruiser market and competes against like the Indian Scout ( from $12,749) and the Harley Davidson Nightster (from 13,499). The Honda Rebel undercuts both of these rivals in price and includes some great features.
Launched in 2021, the Honda Rebel has already made a great name for itself. The 2023 update brings the ‘Bagger’ spec, adding a windscreen and 35 liters of luggage space with hard saddlebags. These additions make the Rebel a more serious option for long-distance touring, but it’s still a bike that feels at home on a Sunday ride.
The Rebel is powered by a parallel twin engine, producing 86 bhp and 72 lb-ft of torque. It’s not the most powerful Cruiser, but that’s enough performance for most riders, and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.5 seconds is impressive. At just over 230 kg the Rebel is light enough for newer riders to handle too.
Overall, the Honda Rebel combines great Cruiser looks and a competitive price for us. Power isn’t the focus here, and in terms of comfort, you would be better with a Harley, but this is still a great all-around option.
The Good
- Great all round ability as a short or long-distance cruiser
- Well priced
- Looks have been improved
The Bad
- lacks the comfort of a Harley or Indian
- Not the most powerful cruiser
Honda Super Cub C125: From $3,749
The original Honda Cub is by far the best-selling motorcycle of all time, with over 60 million made. Honda’s decision to make a face-lift version in 2019 was no surprise and has done a fantastic job of updating this bike to the modern era.
With rivals like the Yamaha Zuma 125 ($3,699) and Suzuki Burgman 200 ($4,999), this is a crowded motorcycle market sector, but none are as iconic as the Honda Super Cub. The 2023 update has added a new color to the Super Cub, but apart from this, it’s the same bike as the 2022 model.
This doesn’t mean the Super Cub is a bike needing improvement. Designed as the perfect urban commuter, this bike offers fantastic lightweight handling, a bike that’s easy to park, and great fuel efficiency.
With 9.7 bhp and 7.2 lb-ft torque from its 125 cc single-cylinder engine, the Super Cub won’t win any drag races. On a good day, though, it will achieve over 60 mph and well over 100 miles from its one-gallon tank, so commuting is more than manageable on the Super Cub.
Overall, with modern features like LED lighting, and a timeless design, the Super Cub C125 lives up to the high standards of the original Super Cub. This bike won’t suit everyone for longer journeys outside the city, and storage space is limited, but if you want a bike for commuting, it’s hard to beat a Super Cub.
The Good
- A remake of a classic design
- Fun and frugal
- Some weather protection
The Bad
- Only really suited to urban environments.
Honda CB 300R: From $5,049
Next up is the CB 300R. Here we have a classic entry-level naked bike, with very modern styling. Designed to be the ideal option for anyone who has just got their motorcycle license, with a price point of just over $5,000, this is a great option for newer riders.
With rivals like the KTM 390R (from $5,499) and the BMW 310R (from $4,999), the CB 300R needed to deliver an impressive experience. Performance comes from a single-cylinder engine with 25 bhp and 20 lb-ft of torque. At only 144kg, the handling on the CB 300R is surprisingly strong, with good maneuverability.
New for 2023 is a gear position indicator in the neat LCD display. The available yellow or black colors on the 2023 CB 300R really make the most of the retro meets modern styling. Decent quality suspension and excellent ABS complete the package, although longer journeys aren’t the most comfortable if you have a passenger.
Overall, we like the CB 300R for its styling, and for $5,000, it’s hard to find a motorcycle that’s as fun to ride. It’s not the most comfortable bike, and the naked styling will put off some owners, but this is still a fantastic choice for new riders.
The Good
- Fun to ride
- Cool styling
- Usual Honda quality
The Bad
- Probably not suited to longer rides with a pillion
Honda NC 750X from $9,399
Next on our list is the NC 750X. This is Honda’s ‘do it all’ motorcycle, and saw a major upgrade in 2021. 2023 has brought some minor changes, including new colors, but it’s still a bike that can compete with both other Honda models (like the CB 500X) and rivals like the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V Strom 650.
The 750 cc engine is rated at a modest 58 bhp and 51 lb-ft torque, which, whilst being well down on sports bikes, gives a decent performance throughout the rev range. The benefit of this engine is the excellent fuel consumption of up to 67 MPG, which can give a full tank range of nearly 250 miles.
The driving experience is strong on the 750X too. The choice of sport, rain, or standard driving modes in the Honda selectable torque control is also available for a rider to match the bike to his needs. The NC 750X is also available with DCT automatic transmission, which can be manually shifted via handlebar buttons.
Overall, the NC 750X has proved a capable bike for long journeys, and fun rides out. The automatic transmission takes some getting used to, but the upsides of amazing fuel economy and the competitive price can’t be ignored.
The Good
- Brilliant do it all bike
- The automatic transmission option is excellent (once you get used to it)
- Really economical
The Bad
- Could have more power
Honda CRF 450 RL from $9,999
If you want to do some serious trail riding, the CRF 450 RL is one of the best options from Honda. This is an expensive option at just under $10,000, but it competes well against main rivals like the Yamaha WR 450F ($9,999) and the KTM EXC 500-F ($12,549).
The 2023 updates are to both the engine and chassis to improve handling and corner exit speeds. To celebrate Honda’s 50 years in motocross, there is also an option of a specific color scheme to celebrate the milestone.
The heart of the CRF 450 RL is the 450cc Unicam engine which has an excellent reputation for both performance and durability. With 42 bhp and 24 lb-ft of torque, this is enough power for a trail bike, and the clutch has been specially designed for excellent low-speed control in difficult conditions.
Handling on the road hasn’t been compromised, either. With a six-speed transmission, the CRF 450 RL is manageable at higher speeds on the tarmac, and although it’s missing some features, you can use this as a commuter.
Overall the CRF 450 RL is everything you’d need in a trail bike. $10,000 will be a lot for some riders, but the CRF offers excellent off-road performance without being a letdown on the road.
The Good
- Superb off-road performance
- Realistic to use on the road too
- Huge motocross heritage
The Bad
- A focused machine, so not ideal as a single bike.
What’s our pick for the best Honda bike?
This is a difficult one, as the bikes on our list vary greatly. If we were looking at a lower-cost option, our choice of motorcycle would be the Honda CB300R. That price tag shouldn’t be overlooked and is perfect for newer riders.
For more experienced riders (with deeper pockets), the Rebel 1100 is our choice. We love a cruiser bike, and with the 2023 upgrades, the Rebel is better than ever for longer journeys.
Overall, every Honda bike on this list will be a great option for some riders – and there are plenty more in the 2023 Honda range. To find out more about the latest Honda bikes, along with motorcycles from other manufacturers, check out our links below:
The Best Honda Motorcycles For Beginners
The Most Expensive BMW Motorcycles In 2023
