Factory Honda Going to Dakar
Started by
sandman671
, Jul 02 2012 09:58 PM
7 replies to this topic
Posted 02 July 2012 - 09:58 PM
I dont know if this is old news howerer i just spotted on an australian web site http://fullnoise.com.au that hrc honda is developing a full blown dakar bike based oround the crf450x. i hope this means a new more competative x is on the way
Posted 03 July 2012 - 05:12 AM
Yup. 'Factory prepared prototype motorcycles".
"Honda ran a factory-backed motorcycle team in the legendary Paris-Dakar Rally from 1981 thorough 1989. In this nine-year period, Honda won the event five times on three different motorcycles (the XR550, the NXR750 and the NXR800).
It’s been 23 years since Honda last ran the event in an official capacity, and much has changed since. The route no longer runs from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal, as the region is deemed too dangerous and politically unstable.
[Artist rendition of Honda's Dakar entry]
Today, the event is simply called the Dakar Rally, and it’s run in South America, thousands of miles away from the city it’s named for. That doesn’t make the rally any less challenging or any less dangerous, and it’s still considered to be among the most grueling motorsport events on the planet.
Team HRC, Honda’s effort, will enter the 2013 event with riders Helder Rodrigues (who finished third in 2012), Felipe Zanol, Sam Sunderland and Javier Pizzolito. All will be riding specially prepared prototype Honda CRF450X motorcycles, and HRC will further support a few non-factory teams riding the CRF450X as well.
The 2013 Dakar Rally begins in January and starts in Lima, Peru. The two-week event will run through Peru, Chile and Argentina, with the motorcycle group racking up over 5,000 miles of terrain that varies from sandy desert to rock-strewn mountain passes.
Honda faces serious competition from KTM, the Austrian motorcycle brand that’s won the event the past 11 years running. There’s no doubt that Honda can throw more resources at its effort, but winning the Dakar Rally still requires an element of luck. Even a Honda-sized budget can’t buy that. [As reported By Kurt Ernest/MotoAuthority]"
_________________
"Honda ran a factory-backed motorcycle team in the legendary Paris-Dakar Rally from 1981 thorough 1989. In this nine-year period, Honda won the event five times on three different motorcycles (the XR550, the NXR750 and the NXR800).
It’s been 23 years since Honda last ran the event in an official capacity, and much has changed since. The route no longer runs from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal, as the region is deemed too dangerous and politically unstable.
[Artist rendition of Honda's Dakar entry]
Today, the event is simply called the Dakar Rally, and it’s run in South America, thousands of miles away from the city it’s named for. That doesn’t make the rally any less challenging or any less dangerous, and it’s still considered to be among the most grueling motorsport events on the planet.
Team HRC, Honda’s effort, will enter the 2013 event with riders Helder Rodrigues (who finished third in 2012), Felipe Zanol, Sam Sunderland and Javier Pizzolito. All will be riding specially prepared prototype Honda CRF450X motorcycles, and HRC will further support a few non-factory teams riding the CRF450X as well.
The 2013 Dakar Rally begins in January and starts in Lima, Peru. The two-week event will run through Peru, Chile and Argentina, with the motorcycle group racking up over 5,000 miles of terrain that varies from sandy desert to rock-strewn mountain passes.
Honda faces serious competition from KTM, the Austrian motorcycle brand that’s won the event the past 11 years running. There’s no doubt that Honda can throw more resources at its effort, but winning the Dakar Rally still requires an element of luck. Even a Honda-sized budget can’t buy that. [As reported By Kurt Ernest/MotoAuthority]"
_________________
Edited by Krannie, 03 July 2012 - 05:12 AM.
Posted 03 July 2012 - 03:57 PM
Glad to hear Honda is getting back into this. It makes perfect sense to do it now since ther adventure rider market is geting so huge internationally. Honda will sell some bikes and, of course, add more prestige to its name. I think my 650R would be a great bike for these races with the 7 gallon tank and 200 mile range. Plus it's fast and reliable as an anvil. Seems Honda has plenty of its own history to draw on to take some wind out of KTM's sails. KTM dominates because the company spends the money and hires the talent for its racing programs....IMHO.
Posted 03 July 2012 - 06:19 PM
cubera, on 03 July 2012 - 03:57 PM, said:
Glad to hear Honda is getting back into this. It makes perfect sense to do it now since ther adventure rider market is geting so huge internationally. Honda will sell some bikes and, of course, add more prestige to its name. I think my 650R would be a great bike for these races with the 7 gallon tank and 200 mile range. Plus it's fast and reliable as an anvil. Seems Honda has plenty of its own history to draw on to take some wind out of KTM's sails. KTM dominates because the company spends the money and hires the talent for its racing programs....IMHO.
And you can rebuild every day.........pretty important for a KTM !
Posted 08 July 2012 - 05:07 AM
My 530 has 240 hours on it and is just now in need of rings. The bike has been extremely reliable and it's had the peouss ridden out of it. The 300 I had wouldn't run long without expensive rebuilds so IME you KTM bashers are only partly right. And I'm only going to talk about first hand experiences 
