Honda preparing Dakar assault

[too old]

Originally Posted by rmhrc628

So the new 450x has efi.

Dual apparantly

[Flanny]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

If the two front lower fuel tanks are feed via fuel lines from above (which looks to be the case), how long will it take to fuel up the bike or am I missing something?
..

Pretty sure those are tank vent lines...

Bike looks awesome. The design on those front tanks is ace - keeping the CofG really tight.

The Dakar just got a whole lot more interesting!

[Brodovitch]

Hopefully come October 14th we'll get our grubby hands on some bivouac pics in Morocco...

The more I look at it, the more questions / queries I have

.. paging Troy .... paging Troy ...

[Brodovitch]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

If the two front lower fuel tanks are feed via fuel lines from above (which looks to be the case), how long will it take to fuel up the bike or am I missing something?

Edit: maybe those tubes are from fuel pumps and the tanks are connected to the top tank "behind" the tanks...

Good points... discuss...

[Flanny]

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

Good points... discuss...

Those are Air vents - that's why they are right at the top of the tank...

If I had to speculate, I would guess that the top tank is probably not really a "tank" at all, but just a glorified filler neck leading to two hefty hoses (maybe 1" or more) to allow for reasonable fill speeds.

[Brodovitch]

Originally Posted by Flanny

Those are Air vents - that's why they are right at the top of the tank...

If I had to speculate, I would guess that the top tank is probably not really a "tank" at all, but just a glorified filler neck leading to two hefty hoses (maybe 1" or more) to allow for reasonable fill speeds.

But if the sides are connected to the centre tank (I agree, with a large diameter feeder hose), wouldn't the one breather hose in the centre tank be enough?

(Theory of communicating vessels etc?)

[640 Armageddon]

One vent would suffice if the tanks are connected together and if the geometry is simple Complex geometries may need more breathers and I think may be this is the case here. It is way too small in diameter to achieve proper flow rates. In the pictures, it seems smaller than the breather above. If I had to guess I would put my money on the breather. I am just thinking out loud

[doyle]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

I sincerely thought we were going to see Quinn Cody as the fifth rider, can't help but feel he had bad timing leaving red for orange.

Leaving for Orange or being asked to leave? I would have though Quinn, at least a more recent experienced rider for Dakar, but surely JC must have known about the HRC plans prior to QC leaving the team, right?

[too old]

Originally Posted by doyle

Leaving for Orange or being asked to leave? I would have though Quinn, at least a more recent experienced rider for Dakar, but surely JC must have known about the HRC plans prior to QC leaving the team, right?

Ha ha - you can speculate on that one forever, but I don't believe any of the Honda riders had a sniff until April/May, but the powers that be must have on the case for a while before that?

[zenjen]

Johnny Campbell article from Cycle News.

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/of...50-rally-bike/

.

[ArthDuro]

well now this looks promising

can't wait to see one of these with the shrouds off
some folks may go very very fast on this bike

JC on a bike!!!
2013 will be epic
maroco cant come fast enough

[too old]

51 mm forks

Looks that they may have taken a leaf out of the F1 manual also - front filler cap, the plastic is raised and suspect that there is a free airflow (ram air) through the upper level of the bike into the air box

[gagnaou]

So it seems like the gas tank are down low and I understand that, you want the weight as low as you can get it. However the tank hugging the engine so closely, don't you think with the heat in SA and all the issues we heard about boiling fuel that it could be an issue for those guys? On the other hand heat rises so it may be better to have those tanks down low rather than straight above the engine, especially when the air is not moving very much...

I figure that Honda has already thought about this and they optimized it, I was just wondering

[Brodovitch]

"My participation in the DAKAR rally over the past few years has been an amazing experience. I have been working very hard to bring the enthusiasm and attention of the USA to this prestigious global event. I am excited to be part of Honda's official DAKAR race team and committed to it's success. My role will be to provide consultant, development, rider and mechanical services as needed to the project. Our first race will be a shakedown for the team and bike at the Morocco Rally, beginning in just a few short weeks." -- Johnny Campbell

For a minute I read that and thought he was not riding but managing the team... weird

more here

[too old]

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

"My participation in the DAKAR rally over the past few years has been an amazing experience. I have been working very hard to bring the enthusiasm and attention of the USA to this prestigious global event. I am excited to be part of Honda's official DAKAR race team and committed to it's success. My role will be to provide consultant, development, rider and mechanical services as needed to the project. Our first race will be a shakedown for the team and bike at the Morocco Rally, beginning in just a few short weeks." -- Johnny Campbell

For a minute I read that and thought he was not riding but managing the team... weird

more here

I think as much as anything he will be riding support for Helder; certainly wouldn't use the W word, but I don't think he will be flat out for a win.

But who knows, the strategies can change on a daily basis in this rally, however Honda will certainly hope it doesn't come to that, but a 5 man factory team could be a bit like a Tour de France team