2024 Honda SCL500 and Honda Shadow Aero First Look Preview

Excessive pipes with 19-inch entrance and 17-inch rear tires add to the scrambler character of the Honda SCL500. (Honda/)

2024 Honda SCL500

Honda’s Insurgent 500 platform helps resurrect a basic motorcycling staple. Huge Crimson simply introduced the existence of the brand new SCL500 “scrambler-style” bike. If it appears to be like acquainted, that’s since you noticed it unveiled at EICMA in Milan because the CL500. It appeared solely a matter of time earlier than it could hit American shores. True to hypothesis, right here it’s.

Press supplies play up the connection to previous Honda classics just like the ‘60s-era CL72 and CL77, which is completely honest. And like different basic scramblers such because the CL175, CL350, and CL450, the SCL500 comes from modular design ideas whereby one platform begets a number of new bike fashions.

That’s not a criticism. Scramblers are a wise advertising transfer. One-off engineering marvels seldom assist an organization’s backside line. Versatile, adaptable platforms are what retains the lights on. Apart from, few riders want true off-road bikes for his or her scrambling wants. Upright ergonomics, a user-friendly 471cc parallel twin, and customizable paint and optionally available equipment will doubtless produce new Honda riders.

Excessive exhausts, respectable suspension journey, and nominally chunky tires are mated to Honda’s 500cc parallel twin inside its acquainted metal tube body. ABS comes commonplace, as does LED lighting and LCD instrumentation. However different rider aids usually are not included, and telescopic fork are nonadjustable. American Honda’s web site claims rear suspension is a “Professional-Hyperlink® single shock with nine-position spring preload adjustability; 4.5-inch journey.” This might be nice, however it’s incorrect. Conventional twin side-mounted shocks, function two-step preload adjusters. Riders get 5.3 inches of journey up entrance, 5.7 inches within the rear. A 3.2-gallon tank is small, although it doubtless received’t trouble novice city scramblers.

A brand new subframe was designed to enhance the prevailing 471cc parallel-twin engine contained in the metal tubular body on Honda’s SCL500. (Honda/)

Right here’s what you would possibly appear to be aboard the Honda SCL500 whereas scrambling round in city environments after darkish. (Honda/)

Orange you glad there’s different colour choices? The Honda SCL500 with optionally available Mat Laurel Inexperienced Metallic paint. (Honda/)

Accessible colours embody Sweet Orange and Mat Laurel Inexperienced Metallic. A really affordable $6,799 MSRP aids the trigger. As a result of personalization issues to riders, a complete of 25 equipment are mentioned to be out there. Zero footage of those equipment are included within the official Honda press launch. C’mon, Honda. Enquiring scramblers need to know.

Accessible for buy proper now.

The 2024 Honda Shadow Aero, now with rear disc and optionally available ABS. Proven right here in black, tan, and brown. (Honda/)

2024 Honda Shadow Aero

They are saying no information is nice information. However for the long-lived Honda Shadow Aero, any information is huge information. However fret not, Shadow Aero lovers. Engine, body, wheels, and shaft drive are unchanged. And naturally, the premise of trouble-free cruiser enjoyment is identical, untroubled by the price of Bar & Defend possession.

The Shadow Aero cruiser now will get a rear disc brake with an ABS choice. Californians take observe: Solely the ABS model is offered to you. In any other case, the Shadow Aero retains doing its Shadow Aero factor. “Black” is the colour scheme supplied, that includes tan and brown accents. The Shadow Aero with out ABS has a $7,949 MSRP, whereas the Shadow Aero ABS is about at $8,249 MSRP.

Accessible for buy proper now.