Honda preparing Dakar assault

[Deadly99]

Ya that certainly doesnt sound like he is riding..well I suppose if Helder was looking for a "w" then JC would be a good one. Navigating, speed, maturity, etc he will be a good addition to the team. Can't wait until january to see how this all works out for HRC

[too old]

Jordi Viladoms (KTM - Bordone Ferrari) ran a nearly perfect stage today. We say nearly because the Catalan rider started very strong in the first part, before losing a little concentration later on. As he explained in his usual calm and direct way: “The second part of the stage was faster than the first. I left the refueling point with a thirty-second lead on the others, but Barreda and Goncalves were able to catch me. I was impressed by their speed, as their bikes were going at least 10 km/h faster than mine. That distracted me a little bit.” That said, Jordi still won the 307 km stage with an advantage of 1'12'' over Jakub Przygonsky (KTM – Orlen team), another rider who was fast in the first half of the stage, “but they lost me towards the end,” the Polish rider explained.

Quote from the Pharoans site - so, the BMW Husqvarna is 10kph quicker that the KTM 450RR - or the one that Viladoms has at least - so what is that, 170 kpm verses 160 kpm?

The Aliens will have quicker bikes for sure, wonder what the CRF 450 R top end will be?

[doyle]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

Ya that certainly doesnt sound like he is riding..well I suppose if Helder was looking for a "w" then JC would be a good one. Navigating, speed, maturity, etc he will be a good addition to the team. Can't wait until january to see how this all works out for HRC

From the HRC site

From Honda's R&D Center in Japan, Katsumi Yamazaki is the project leader and team director. The team manager is Henk Hellegers, who can boast 18 participations in rally raids. An experienced team of mechanics and staff will support the five riders with the aim of competing at the highest level and fighting to give Honda its sixth Dakar victory.

The international line-up of the five-rider team , with Portuguese Helder Rodriguez, Brazilian Felipe Zanol, Briton Sam Sunderland, American Johnny Campbell and Argentinian Javier Pizzolito, perfectly reflects the idea of a global Honda.

[too old]

Originally Posted by doyle

From the HRC site

"perfectly reflects the idea of a global Honda" - global sales & marketing! - not daft these guys

"Honda of South America branding on the bike" - so budget from SA also?

[pfdskipper]

Is there any real chance that a similar production bike will make it to the USA for sale to the general public???

My guess is no

[too old]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...19223621_o.jpg

1 each, or 5 on 1 bike -

[too old]

Originally Posted by pfdskipper

Is there any real chance that a similar production bike will make it to the USA for sale to the general public???

My guess is no

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 $$$$$$$

[Dread Pendragon]

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.

[Flanny]

Originally Posted by Dread Pendragon

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....

[auguzt]

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

[auguzt]

That plexiglass screen actually reminds me of...

[rmhrc628]

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

[rmhrc628]

Anyone know what this tube might be?


The image is a still from the promo video

Looks like some filter material on end

[pfdskipper]

Originally Posted by rmhrc628

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..........

[rmhrc628]

Are the side tanks plastic or alloy?