2008 Honda Streetbikes - First Look

Honda has released information about some of its 2008 streetbike lineup. There were no earth-shattering changes to speak of, with no info listed about the '08 crop of sportbikes, but some of Honda's most consistent sellers had a few minor tweaks.

The Gold Wing returns for its 33rd year in the Honda lineup and remains the sport-touring standard. The 1832cc six-cylinder engine in unchanged and conforms to stringent 2008 emissions standards. The Gold Wing delivers all the sport-touring amenities and then some. Headlining the list is the fully-integrated airbag system available on full-featured versions. Other options offered on select models are the Cold-Weather Comfort Package, which features heated grips and seat/backreast, as well as the Honda Satellite Linked Navigation System, which sports a color screen and voice prompting via head sets or speaker. Standard on all models is an audio system. What, no central air?

So what's the Wing's big news for 2008? Colors! New for '08 are Black, Pearl White, Titanium, and Metallic Red as color options alongside Dark Red Metallic. Not ground-breaking, but a refined package like the Gold Wing already sports every conceivable sport-touring amenity. After installing the industy-first airbag on a production motorcycle, engineers must be having brainstorming sessions to think of what more can be added.

Other models whose biggest changes include color schemes are the Honda Rebel and the Shadow Spirit 750 C2. On the trusty 234cc Shadow the new option is Silver Metallic, which teams with classic Black. The Spirit now offers Metallic Silver, Dark Red/Flame and Ultra Blue Metallic/Flame with '07 carryover Black - although the "new" red/flame scheme looks just like the Honda Shadow Spirit 750 we tested last year.

The Spirit's 750cc cruiser cousin, the Aero, swaps out its 2-into-1 exhaust for a dual 2-into-2 system similar to the Spirit. Cosmetic changes include the addition of the "Shadow" moniker to its fuel tank and some new color options too, with Candy Dark Red, Metallic Silver/Black, Black/White, Candy Dark Red/White teamed up with classic Black.

Honda's 2008 sportbike lineup remains unveiled, but rest assured we'll deliver the goods as soon as we are able.