Honda preparing Dakar assault

[mcguyver]

Pretty cool interview here with the team director.



Q&A with Team HRC Leader Yamazaki

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/...eader-yamazaki

[too old]

Originally Posted by mcguyver

Pretty cool interview here with the team director.



Q&A with Team HRC Leader Yamazaki

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/...eader-yamazaki

Some interesting additions on this one, certainly not a one race wonder

[ThomasVolomitz]

Great movie! (Got the t-shirt too).

[too old]

A happy new year from Sam, but I'm sure his thoughts are elsewhere - promise's us some action in 2013 though

[doyle]

Seems HRC is offering "customer" kits such as this one for Pablo Rodriguez from Honda Argentina. Not sure if the kits are yet being offered outside of the Honda realm of companies, but even so, it doesn't include the base CRF450X or the crucial bits like motor or PGM-EFI.




Apparently HRC is pretty tight lipped on what all is included in the kit, I think it's a "you'll find out when the boxes arrive" type of deal.

[Ferrys]

Despres with Honda next year???????

[doyle]

Originally Posted by Ferrys

Despres with Honda next year???????

That's the rumor. At least as I've heard it from a very reliable source.

[rmhrc628]

Any news on official Crf rallye suit like in the pic below?


I'd easily stump up $1000 for the gear if goretex.

[rmhrc628]

Can someone with more info please advise on the reason for alloy tanks over plastic on the Crf rallye ?

Haven't we used non plastic tanks 30 years ago and learnt they were no good? (steel)

I can't figure out why Honda persist with alloy tanks. Is the reason they are still r and deeing?

[mxmum]

Originally Posted by rmhrc628

Any news on official Crf rallye suit like in the pic below?
Attachment 314065

I'd easily stump up $1000 for the gear if goretex.

See Team HRC facebook page:-

"Racing kits will be available from next year!


Team HRC for more information please write to media@teamhrc.com

Hope this helps

[doyle]

Originally Posted by rmhrc628

Can someone with more info please advise on the reason for alloy tanks over plastic on the Crf rallye ?

Haven't we used non plastic tanks 30 years ago and learnt they were no good? (steel)

I can't figure out why Honda persist with alloy tanks. Is the reason they are still r and deeing?

I've asked and received zero answers. With the might of HRC, I would suspect plastic tanks or a full plastic subframe could be developed pretty readily. It's not like it's new technology and they even exist for the CRF already. I was also thinking heat dissipation. Perhaps the aluminum is acting as a bit of a heat sink to help combat the extreme temperatures expected in Dakar? Either way, they've changed quite a bit even from Morocco to Peru, but they remain alloy no one seems to want to answer why that is.

[bajaboundmoto]

Originally Posted by rmhrc628

please advise on the reason for alloy tanks over plastic?

Only a guess but I'd say it's because everything is still being figured out. Why spend the mega $$ to make plastic until it's a set shape.
In some FBook pics you see the rear view of the X and both side tanks look to have a little box at the top tip. That was because not too long back they cut off the top few inces of tank and relocated those ounces down lower. So the side plate was left with a sharp point and they basically just filled it in. I only know because I asked "WTF?" when a couple weeks ago I saw the sharp point of the side tank. They said it was going to get filled in, but not with gas.
If that was plastic it would be huge $ to make that change.
Guestimate only.

And yes it might be HRC but there's always a budget. If there was no budget wouldn't they have supplied all their own support?
And even the little tool boxes in the bash plates are new and weren't installed until bikes were at Lima. They were made by JC's brother and in his shop a couple weeks ago.
Yes Factory HRC but...
.

[amazing ricardo]

Originally Posted by bajaboundmoto

both side tanks look to have a little box at the top tip.

i saw that as well 'teem'.. my guess is the little 'box' houses a fuel pump for the rear tank..

[amazing ricardo]

rear tanks HRC

[amazing ricardo]

another view