Honda preparing Dakar assault

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281130_437369009632659_1719223621_o.jpg

1 each, or 5 on 1 bike -

Suspect yes - maybe not quite with the same race engine or suspension set up, but sufficient for mere mortals to ride at their limit, but to be added to if you have the $$$$$$$

I don't know all the factors that fed into Honda's decision to take this course, but it looks like the ASO's decision to bump engine sizes down to 450 is paying off. Would Honda have developed a rally bike without the change? Behind the scenes did Honda agree to step-up their efforts if the ASO made the change? Only God knows, and top brass at Honda/ASO . . . well, and probably TSC.

Whether the bike performs extremely well or falls short this January, it's nice to watch a second player join the game.

Agreed 100%. I remember all of the moaning and crying when the 450 rule came in. I think with HRC, FB, Yamaha, Beta, BMW/Husky the diversity of machines and teams, the proof is in the pudding. It was a good thing after all.

Having said that, I don't for a minute pretend that any of these bikes will "trickle down" to anything remotely close to consumer products anytime soon.

Even for KTM, who has lived and breathed this philosophy for more than a decade, the closest we ever got to trickle down was the 640 Adventure (pretty close in form to the 660 Rallye of the late nineties), the 950 Adventure (pretty close in form to the 950 Rallye), and the 690 Enduro (which was actually pretty far from the 690 Rally except for the chassis use). However, the trend right now is away from these toward more road/touring machines (see 2013 1190 Adventure for evidence)

So - I wouldn't expect to see a Honda 450 Rally anytime soon, any more that I'd expect to see a KTM 450 Rally Replica at a KTM dealer anytime soon...

I'm the first that would love to be wrong about that, but history just isn't on our side I don't think....

From MOTO.IT
Just click on the picture of the bike and the whole gallery will unfold. Oh yeah.

That plexiglass screen actually reminds me of...

I'm worried about the efi. The safari would have been a good shakedown with its days of dust.

Pgm-fi has been on the 450x for 18 months now though

Anyone know what this tube might be?


The image is a still from the promo video

Looks like some filter material on end

Automatic tire inflator/deflator..........

Are the side tanks plastic or alloy?

Maybe a filter for the vent lines to run into.

The bottom thingy is the charcoal cannister for the emissions equipment.

Yup, from the emissions equipment.


Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??

So those side mounted engine tanks are alloy judging by the welds.

Air filter up where gas tank usually sits.

Is anyone concerned about the EFI?

Even Aliens run carbs

Japanese know electronics and have been doing EFI for years.

KTM not so much.

Ummm the KTM system efi is made by Keihin which Honda owns

and I don't doubt that one bit. Not my point.

At Sardinia rally last year when talking with Cryil about his plan to come to Safari 2011 he said to me his 450RF only topped out at 165kph and he asked me if that was enough, Roland his mechanic also said the same

That makes sense then, I had heard too that "some" of the bikes can do 170 - 175, must have been the BM's?
Don't know if the Honda will, certainly not for Morocco, but you never know what will happen between then and Jan?

And just compare them to the last years 450 Dakarx -

http://www.team-honda-europe.com/?page=bike&language=en

The new one makes last year's look like it was put together in someone's garage - Which I suppose it was
But wow doesn't it make the new one look the part?