Jerez testing goes well for Repsol Honda team

The MotoGP riders completed the second and final day of testing during the last testing session of the year at Jerez de La Frontera in Spain, with Marc Marquez second fastest and just 0.025” off fellow HRC rider Takaaki Nakagami.

Marc and Jorge Lorenzo took advantage of another day in ideal weather conditions to continue their preparation for the new season. Marc set his fastest time of 1’37.970” on lap 53/56. Meanwhile, Jorge finished a very positive fourth with a time of 1’38.105” on his 65th –and final–lap.

It has been a long and successful racing season for the Repsol Honda Team, and the preparation for next year has got off to a positive start. Testing will resume after the winter break, when Marc and Jorge are back on the track in Malaysia, on 6-8 February 2019.

Order your 191 Honda now and save €600!

Tis the season of giving and all that, so this December we’re giving you the chance to save a whopping €600 on four of our most popular motorcycles when you order your 191 now!

What motorcycles you say?!

Only the super stylish:

  • CB500FA – now €6,700, usually €7,300

  • CBR500RA- now €7,000, usually €7,600

  • CB650FA – now €8,300, usually €8,900

  • CBR650FA- now €9,200, usually €9,800

 

Explore the stylish and powerful CB500F, CBR500F, CB650F and CBR650F now.

Visit your local dealership now to get yours pre-ordered now!

 

*Terms and Conditions: €600 discount applies to stock available now, 17YM & 18YM models only. Only valid from December 1st – January 31st 2019.

Winter Storage for your Honda Lawnmower

Booo, it’s officially winter, which means it’s time to put the lawnmower away until the nicer weather returns.

It’s highly advisable you take some precautions to reduce likelihood of mower damage during the winter and ensure a smooth start next spring.

You can follow our steps below or contact your local dealership

1. Clean

The mower should be thoroughly cleaned before it’s placed into winter storage. Generally, this breaks down into three key areas:

– The Engine: Cleaning the engine should be done by hand, with a damp cloth and a mild detergent. The engine should be dried off as soon as the cleaning process is finished, in order to prevent corrosion that could limit its longevity.

– The Grass Bag: Storing clippings all summer can leave behind quite a bit of dirt. Clean and spray the bag with a garden hose and hang it up to dry. Only reinstall the bag when it has fully dried.

– The Cutting Deck: Turn the fuel valve to “off” and disconnect the spark plug, then spray the cutting deck until any remaining clippings and residue have been removed from the surface. Dry the cutting deck to prevent corrosion.

2. Charge

Many Honda push mowers come with a battery, as well as a charger for the battery, and the company recommends that this battery be charged both before and after an extended period of storage. Use a wall outlet and give the battery several hours to sufficiently charge before reinstalling it.

3. Fuel

Given here in Ireland we have such a long winter it’s best to turn on the lawnmower and allow it to run out of fuel. If it will be used within 3 months then a simple fuel stabiliser should be added to the fuel so that it does not oxidize or deteriorate over that time period.

4. Engine Oil

Prior to storage, a full engine change should be completed. Drain all oil from the mower into an approved disposal container. Refill the oil to the recommended “fill” line on the dipstick, using only the type of oil recommended in your owners manual.

5. Engine Cylinder Maintenance

The engine cylinder can suffer a significant amount of damage if it’s not properly maintained before long-term mower storage. Before starting cylinder maintenance, remove the spark plug to ensure safety. To make sure that no damage occurs during the winter, pour approximately 2 tablespoons of regular engine oil into the cylinder. To ensure that the cylinder is properly lubricated and protected, pull the starter grip several times. This will distribute lubricant throughout the cylinder and reduce the risk of sticking or corroding during the winter.

Reinstall the spark plug properly, and then pull the starter grip again. Pull the grip only lightly, until resistance is felt. This process will ensure that the valves within the cylinder are closed, further safeguarding the cylinder and keeping distributed lubricants in place until the spring mowing season.

6. Handlebar Folding

Handlebars should be folded downward so that the mower can be easily stored in a compact space without being overly intrusive. Before folding the handlebars, make sure to remove the grass bag from the mower completely. Push the handlebars forward, but also make sure that the cables attached to the handlebars aren’t getting caught on the engine or any other mower parts.

The most popular motor vehicle ever returns – The Super Cub C125 is now available

61 years since it’s original inception the Honda Super Cub C125 is now available in Ireland!

The Super Cub C125 marks a new page in the unique story of a vehicle with such universal appeal that it has been sold in over 160 countries, and with such an instantly-recognisable look that it was the first vehicle in Japan to be granted a 3 dimensional trademark.

While the look does not deviate from the classic template, an increase in power and torque thanks to its 125cc engine helps keep the Super Cub ahead of city traffic; its automatic centrifugal clutch has also been upgraded to match the output boost and give ultra-smooth, quiet gear changes.

The steel frame too, has been optimised with a tuned rigidity balance that maintains the Super Cub’s famously welcoming usability. Longer travel front and rear suspension, 17-inch cast aluminium wheels and disc front brake deliver a supple, confident ride with strong stopping power. Full LED lighting brings a modern touch, the Smart Key day-to-day convenience.

Pearlescent paint highlights the evocative design of the Super Cub C125, which will be available in the following options: Pearl Niltava Blue & Pearl Nebula Red

Features:

  • A subtle evolution of the classic clean and timeless Super Cub style, plus full LED lighting
  • Easy to use, with comfortable riding position and smooth, stable handling
  • Longer travel suspension, 17-inch front/rear wheels and front disc brake; single channel ABS
  • Honda Smart Key with ‘answer-back’ function for day-to-day convenience

The Honda Super Cub C125 is priced at €4,200.00 and is available from your local Honda Dealership from today!

 

Honda clinch 2018 MotoGP Triple Crown in soaked Valencia, at Dani Pedrosa’s final race

Dani Pedrosa completed his racing career in Valencia, scoring a fifth-place finish in incredibly tricky weather conditions that caused the crashes of nine riders—2018 World Champion Marc Marquez among them—and prompted Race Direction to interrupt the first race on lap 13 and re-start a new one half an hour later.

Marc suffered a crash from third place at Turn 9 on lap seven and was therefore unable to take part in the second stint. Dani restarted from fourth in the 14-lap second race and closed fifth, bringing to 46 points the final advantage with which the Repsol Honda Team secured the Team Championship, thereby earning back-to-back MotoGP Triple Crowns, having already achieved the Riders Title in Japan and the Constructors Title in Malaysia. He commented:

“For sure I had a particular feeling before today’s race, knowing that the moment of my final race had arrived. Well, actually it turned out that I had two! Unfortunately the weather was really tricky. In both races, I struggled so much with the rear and couldn’t really get on the gas. I was actually expecting to have a better feeling in the second race, as there was less water on the track. But we changed the tyres and I had no grip, so I could only try and finish the race with no crashes. It’s a bit of a shame, but when I got back to the pits, I found everybody waiting for me—the team, my family, my people—and there was a very emotional atmosphere. I was pleased to see their emotion. It meant a lot to me. Now I’ll have several events to attend, but after that I’ll try and have some time to myself and relax a bit before next year.”

Dani ends a highly successful 18-year GP career, all of it as a Honda rider, having achieved three World Titles (125 in 2003, 250 in 2004 and 2005) 49 poles, 54 wins, 153 podiums and 64 fastest laps out of 295 starts.

After celebrating at the FIM MotoGP Awards ceremony on Sunday evening, the Repsol Honda Team will start 2019 winter test season on Tuesday, with a two-day test.

Source: HRC News

Dani Pedrosa named MotoGP™ Legend in Valencia

Ahead of his retirement at the end of the season, the Spaniard has been inducted into the MotoGP™ Legends Hall of Fame at Valencia.

Three-time World Champion Dani Pedrosa has been named a MotoGP™ Legend ahead of hanging up his leathers at the end of 2018, with the Spaniard inducted into the MotoGP™ Legends Hall of Fame at the season finale at Valencia. Pedrosa won the 125 Championship in 2003, the 250 title in 2004 and 2005, and is one of the most successful riders of all time in the premier class.

In 2007 Pedrosa was second overall to only Casey Stoner and added more wins and podiums to his tally, and he was in the top three in the Championship in 2008 – despite breaking his right hand in pre-season testing and sitting out the US GP after injuring his left hand at the German GP. In 2009 he managed the same top three despite more struggles with injury, and in 2010 was runner-up once again. 2011 was another battle through the pain barrier, before an incredible assault on the title in 2012 that saw the Spaniard only narrowly miss out on the crown – and win the most races that year.

In 2013 Pedrosa was leading the standings before a collarbone break and was third overall, and in 2014 he suffered with arm problems throughout the season and despite that, took another win. 2015 began with career-saving surgery to fix the problem, and Pedrosa was back on the top step towards the end of the year at Motegi and at Sepang. In 2016 he won at Misano as he destroyed the field, and 2017 saw him make another piece of history as he took to the top step in the 3000th race counting towards the World Championship, in Jerez. He also won the season finale in style, underlining an incredible achievement: he’s the first rider in history to win at least one Grand Prix per season for 16 consecutive years.

After taking the third most podiums of all time behind only Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini, Pedrosa retires at the end of 2018 – and now joins the ranks of MotoGP™ Legends.

Source: MotoGP

 

 

Repsol Honda aims to seal the Triple Crown in Valencia before Dani Pedrosa’s farewell

The Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana will be an emotional event for Dani Pedrosa, his numerous fans around the world, and paddock friends in the MotoGP community. The three-time World Champion announced his retirement from racing at the German GP earlier this year, after 18 seasons in Grand Prix racing as a Honda rider.

One of the most successful riders of all time, (eighth on the All Time Wins list), Dani will be inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame on Thursday in Valencia.

Meanwhile, Marc Marquez paid a visit last Tuesday to the Honda stand at the EICMA Show in Milan, Italy, then headed home to Spain to celebrate his seventh World Title with a great party in his hometown of Cervera.

Next Sunday, the squad will try to seal the Team Championship and thereby clinch the MotoGP Triple Crown, having already achieved the Riders Title in Japan and the Constructors Title in Malaysia.

The Repsol Honda Team have earned four double-podium finishes at the track where Pedrosa (last year’s winner) is the most successful rider: 2013 (Pedrosa 2nd, Marquez 3rd), 2014 (Marquez 1st, Pedrosa 3rd), 2015 (Marquez 2nd, Pedrosa 3rd) and 2017 (Pedrosa 1st, Marquez 3rd to win that year’s World Title).

At the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana

Marc Marquez has 2 wins—1xMoto2 (2012) and 1xMotoGP (2014)—plus 4 podiums and 3 pole positions.

Dani Pedrosa has 7 wins—1×125 (2002), 2×250 (2004, 2005), and 4xMotoGP (2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017), plus an additional 5 podiums and 5 pole positions.

 

Source: HRC news

Check out the video Leon Camier: A Life Behind The Bars

In ‘Leon Camier: A Life Behind The Bars’ the British WorldSBK star talks candidly about how his love affair with motorcycles began and how it sowed the seeds for a career as a World Championship racer.
Shot on location in and around Camier’s home in Andorra, the video also provides insight into what drives the Honda World Superbike rider, his other passions and how he maintains both his mental and physical edge when he’s away from the circuit.

This interview forms part of Episode 19 of Honda Racing TV which also features 24-time World Trials Champion Toni Bou, the NSX GT3 at the 2019 Castrol Honda Experience and five-time 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan riding a customised CB1000R at the Glemseck 101 motorcycle show.

Honda News from EICMA 2018

We’ve got all the news from Honda at EICMA. In 2019 Honda will be bringing new energy to middleweight line-up with 5 product reveals at 2018 EICMA show.

  • CB650R completes ‘Neo Sports Café’ family; brings unique look to naked middleweight sector
  • Fully-faired CBR650R draws on CBR1000RR Fireblade styling; offers high-revving four-cylinder 70kW engine performance in lightweight chassis
  • Three 500cc machines get a raft of spec upgrades and stronger roadster, sports and adventure identities
  • New colour schemes and refined ‘Next Stage Total Control’ for CBR1000RR Fireblade and CBR1000RR Fireblade SP
  • New colours for GL1800 Gold Wing and X-ADV
  • New features for SH300i

Honda today reveals its full 2019 European motorcycle line-up at the EICMA show in Milan, with the introduction of two new model names and three extensively upgraded models, which bring new energy to the middleweight area of Honda’s uniquely broad and deep product line-up.

CB650R
Having introduced the CB1000R, CB300R and CB125R trio of naked models for 2018, Honda now brings its unique ‘Neo Sports Café’ look to the middleweight arena. The styling ‘language’ is modern and minimalist, and mixes café racer inspirations and a super-compact ‘trapezoid’ form to eye-catching effect. The in-line four-cylinder engine is fully on display, and the signature round headlight and sculpted fuel tank underline the ‘Neo Sports Café’ family feel.

With the premium look comes premium specifications: 41mm Showa upside-down ‘Separate Function’ forks, radial-mount four-piston front brake calipers, Honda Selectable Torque Control, assist/slipper clutch and ultra-modern instruments.

The result is a desirable naked middleweight with a unique combination of looks, performance and top-line specifications.

CBR650R
Another new model name on the Honda line-up is the CBR650R sports middleweight.

It features new styling which draws strongly on the CBR1000RR Fireblade for its sharp, aggressive lines and extended side fairings, plus super-short rear section and narrow dual LED headlights. The CBR650R is 6kg lighter than the CBR650F (which it replaces) with a sportier riding position thanks to handlebars repositioned 30mm forward, and footpegs moved both rearward and higher.

Its classically-Honda in-line four-cylinder engine revs 1,000rpm higher, producing 5% more top end power with peak output of 70kW arriving at 12,000rpm ensuring that – along with the sculpted looks and honed chassis – the new machine’s new ‘R’ designation is well deserved.

35kW conversions will be available for both the CB650R and CBR650R.

CB500F, CBR500R and CB500X

Honda’s lively parallel twin 500cc engine has been sold in over 75,000 motorcycles in Europe since its arrival in 2013.

Having first arrived in the A2 licence-friendly CB500F, CBR500R and CB500X, for 2019 the engine has stronger power and torque between three and seven thousand rpm, and powers the light middleweight trio in upgraded packages with higher specifications and stronger roadster, sport and adventure identities.

All three models now have new rear suspension, assist/slipper clutch, full LED lighting, modernised LCD instruments with gear position and shift-up indication, and new dual-exit muffler for a richer engine note.
The CB500F roadster has sharper new styling from front to back, with more angled nose fairing and side shrouds that interlock cleanly with the fuel tank. The CBR500R is also re-styled: it’s narrower and sharper with strong Fireblade styling inspiration and a sportier riding position.

The CB500X compact adventurer, meanwhile, has a much stronger ‘X factor’ thanks to a new 19” front wheel, longer suspension travel front and rear, slimmer seat, wider steering angle and tougher, more rugged fairing which also improves wind protection.

The 500cc and 650cc engine platforms constitute 35% of Honda’s large motorcycle sales in Europe. These five new products for 2019 offer a well-rounded balance of exciting middleweight performance for riders of all experience levels, while providing potential stepping stones to Honda’s flagship roadster, adventure and sports models.

 

Also revealed at EICMA are a number of other product updates:

CBR1000RR Fireblade and CBR1000RR Fireblade SP

After a full model change in 2017, the Fireblade’s ‘Next Stage Total Control’ is enhanced for 2019, with changes to its electronics package aimed at optimal circuit performance. Thus, HSTC and ABS have been modified, and the top Power setting boosted based on input from the HRC MotoGP programme. Honda Selectable Torque Control and Wheelie Control functions are now separated, with a new ‘W’ indicator on the instrument panel.

The Grand Prix Red colour has a thicker white stripe for a slightly more ‘tricolore’ effect, while the Matt Ballistic Black Metallic version is now totally black, save for its red CBR logo.

X-ADV

Having been an instant hit on its arrival in 2017 and upgraded in 2018 with multi-level Honda Selectable Torque Control and a ‘G’ switch for more off-road friendly gear changes from its Dual Clutch Transmission, for 2019 Honda’s ‘motorcycle SUV’ will now come in new colours including a striking ‘camouflage’ green.

GL1800 Gold Wing

Synonymous with long range comfort, luxury and quality for over 40 years, the Gold Wing was redesigned from the wheels up for 2018 to be sharper, lighter and more compact, while maintaining its reputation as a technological flagship with numerous new features including the first adoption of Apple CarPlay on a motorcycle.

For 2019, both the GL1800 Gold Wing itself and the Manual Transmission version of the Gold Wing ‘Tour’ will be available in a new ‘moody’ Darkness Black Metallic colour. The top of the range Gold Wing ‘Tour’ with Dual Clutch Transmission will be available in a new ‘Pearl Hawkseye Blue’.

SH300i

For 2019, the perennially popular high-performance mid-sized scooter is newly equipped with Honda Selectable Torque Control and a ‘Smart’ Top Box linked with its remote key system.

Further colour updates

CB1000R – Honda’s flagship ‘Neo Sports Café’ naked model will be available in a sharp new Sword Silver Metallic colour, both in standard guise and in a ‘CB1000R+’ version with a wide range of ‘factory-fit’ accessories including heated grips, aluminium fender panel and rear hugger panel, flyscreen, single seat cowl, radiator grille with CB1000R logo, and quickshifter.

Rebel – Honda’s unique 500cc take on custom cool will be available in a new Pearl Cadet Grey and Matt Axis Grey Metallic.

Integra – a new Pearl Glare White for the machine which integrates scooter usability and motorcycle dynamic performance.

NC750X – darker silver side fairings for the supremely practical ‘do-anything’ 750cc machine.

SH125 and SH150 – black (silver for the white colour) front panels and floor side panels add further class to the premium step-through scooter.

Marc Marquez earns Honda the 2018 MotoGP Constructors Title

From seventh on the grid to the 70th win in his career: In Malaysia, Marc Marquez took his ninth win this season and his 44th in MotoGP, earning Honda its 24th Premier Class Constructors Title. Furthermore, thanks to today’s win of newly crowned Moto3 World Champion Jorge Martin, Honda has achieved also the Moto3 Constructor Title bringing its tally to 69 over all classes, a record in the Championship’s history.

Such were the numbers, but today’s competition was also another master class race for the 2018 MotoGP World Champion, who recovered from the third row of the grid to second place within five laps of the start before beginning a long chase of erstwhile leader Valentino Rossi. Marc was preparing for what seemed certain would be a battle for the victory when the Italian slipped off four laps from the end.

On the other side of the garage, Dani Pedrosa matched his best result of this season, taking fifth place after displaying a strong pace during the race.

Now the Repsol Honda Team will pack up and fly back to Europe, where Marc will pay a visit to the Honda stand at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday before heading home to Spain.

Credit: HRC News