Dakar 2013 - Official Event Coverage - thank you ALL TeamF5, lurkers and posters!

[Dekatria]

Originally Posted by Jurassic

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but the whole thing looks a bit of a mess to me. I think the learning curve is maybe a little steeper than HRC anticipated.

HRC has been out of the Dakar for quite some time - I'd say they didn't fully expect to be riding for top places right from the start. If anything, it sounds rather naive to do so.

My guess is they'll use everything this year for next year, and come back with a vengeance.

[640 Armageddon]

Originally Posted by catas

And air filter is near rear wheel, like oem... Not upwards like ktm or yz...

I think the question is about how they can mold plastic for the air box and they cannot do plastic rear tanks. No ?

[Screamingeagle3]

Originally Posted by sparkplug678

Light weight and compact, fits nicely in your jacket pocket.

[Misery Goat]

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

wp6 in 39th

I guess I should've got up earlier.

[640 Armageddon]

Originally Posted by sparkplug678

Light weight and compact, fits nicely in your jacket pocket.

That pump is actually the same size as the one in 1.4 lt Polo '92 ... I could actually get them the VAG number

[8340SU]

Originally Posted by Bruno T .

All that and Helder did better out of a van with 2 guys and a bottle of Port.

[Jurassic]

Originally Posted by Dekatria

HRC has been out of the Dakar for quite some time - I'd say they didn't fully expect to be riding for top places right from the start. If anything, it sounds rather naive to do so.

My guess is they'll use everything this year for next year, and come back with a vengeance.

Maybe they'll have time to build a proper fairing for next year as well instead of using a screen out of the Harley Davidson accessories catalogue (and don't get me started on that silencer mount!)

[Stagehand]

Did this get posted earlier, and I missed that wp?

[Resist]

HRC's overriding philosophy is to learn it's own lessons. Their engineers don't like to adopt other designs, and they trust nobody else's development. This is true across their range. It's why they often use a lot more time developing things while others stand around going "why?!".
They will do their own thing and test it, test it, re-do it, test it until the cows come home, and they will only settle on the same thing everyone else does once they've exhausted all options.
It's a cool philosophy, but it's impractical and inefficient.

[garfey]

[Stagehand]

Originally Posted by Resist

HRC's overriding philosophy is to learn it's own lessons. Their engineers don't like to adopt other designs, and they trust nobody else's development. This is true across their range. It's why they often use a lot more time developing things while others stand around going "why?!".
They will do their own thing and test it, test it, re-do it, test it until the cows come home, and they will only settle on the same thing everyone else does once they've exhausted all options.
It's a cool philosophy, but it's impractical and inefficient.

I thought you were talking about BMW until you didnt mention throwing in the towel, or getting distracted by a pretty streetbike.

[640 Armageddon]

Originally Posted by Jurassic

Maybe they'll have time to build a proper fairing for next year as well instead of using a screen out of the Harley Davidson accessories catalogue (and don't get me started on that silencer mount!)

I am sure an anti-cow system is already being developed

[8340SU]

Originally Posted by Stagehand

Did this get posted earlier, and I missed that wp?

[Stagehand]

Originally Posted by 8340SU

15mins for me. Not my best day. wrangling 5year old co-pilot at work adn CANT STOP TOUCHING THIS THREAD

[Dekatria]

Originally Posted by Resist

HRC's overriding philosophy is to learn it's own lessons. Their engineers don't like to adopt other designs, and they trust nobody else's development. This is true across their range. It's why they often use a lot more time developing things while others stand around going "why?!".
They will do their own thing and test it, test it, re-do it, test it until the cows come home, and they will only settle on the same thing everyone else does once they've exhausted all options.
It's a cool philosophy, but it's impractical and inefficient.

It's a good train of thought when your goals are, say a few Dakars away. I would really be surprised if Honda expected the boys to outgun the Orange brigade right from the get-go; the CRF is still lacking on too many fronts for that. They probably use this as a 'building year' to test their current design and redo everything which bollocksed it up for this edition.

Slow indeed, but Honda being Honda, I'm all too curious about what will come out at the end of it.