TORRANCE, California – Honda America’s first new-model announcement of 2021 confirms a refreshed member of the Gold Wing family with a number of upgrades intended to deliver more long-distance comfort and convenience.
One is a larger ”boot” on the bikes to accommodate two full-face crash helmets.
Honda America also announced upgrades to its smallest dual-sport models, now re-named CRF300L and CRF300L Rally, with a 15% increase in engine displacement, some weight-shedding, and longer suspension travel to improve off-road capability without sacrificing city traffic performance.
The Rally version, Honda America adds, will have a larger fuel tank.
Lee Edmunds, senior manager for Powersports Marketing for American Honda, told The Corner: “We listen to our customers. The 2021 Gold Wing and our smallest street-legal CRF units have met buyers’ requests and the motorcycles are better as a result.”
GOLD WING CHANGES
THE 2021 GOLD WING, Honda Amerca told The Corner, expands long-distance touring luxury with more comfort and convenience. The Tour’s top trunk is 11 litres larger (now 61 litres) and the pillion’s backrest has a more-relaxed angle, thicker foam, and a taller profile.
The seat has a suede-like cover with piping for colour contrast. Audio improvements include 45W speakers; automatic volume-adjustment and a standard XM radio antenna are included.
Android Auto joins Apple CarPlay integration and the rear turn signals are red ”for a clean, stylish look”.
- Colours
- Gold Wing Tour Air Bag DCT: Candy Ardent Red
- Gold Wing Tour DCT, Gold Wing Tour: Candy Ardent Red; Metallic Black
- Gold Wing DCT, Gold Wing: Deep Pearl Gray
- MSRP
- Gold Wing Tour Air Bag DCT: $32 600
- Gold Wing Tour DCT: $29 300
- Gold Wing Tour: $28 300
- Gold Wing DCT: $25\ 100
- Gold Wing: $23 900
- Available in the USA in February 2021
CRF300L CHANGES
POWER HAS BEEN improved with a 15% displacement increase, reduced weight and better off-road performance – ”all without,” Honda America says, ”sacrificing the value, reliability and styling that have played a large part in the bike’s popularity”.
Suspension travel and ground clearance have been increased for 2021 and overall weight cut by reduced by five kg through optimizing plate thicknesses and tubing size on a number of components.
”Styling has been carried over from Honda’s CRF Performance line,” Honda USA says,”and standard and ABS versions are ready to provide economical transport and true dual-sport adventure.”
- Colour: Red
- MSRP
- CRF300L: $5,249
- CRF300L ABS: $5,549
- Available: March
CRF300L RALLY CHANGES
DESIGNED TO LOOK similar to Ricky Brabec’s Dakar Rally-winning CRF450 Rally, the CRF300L Rally is based on the CRF300L but with a larger tank, hand guard,s and a frame-mounted windscreen to suit long-distance adventuring ”without sacrificing nimble performance in city traffic – or even trails”.
The CRF300L Rally gets the 15% displacement increase for improved power and torque and the fuel tank can take an extra 13 litres.
- Colour: Red
- MSRP
- CRF300L Rally: $5,999
- CRF300L Rally ABS: $6,299
- Available in the US in March 2021
Carman's Corner 