Dani Pedrosa announces retirement

Dani Pedrosa, of the Repsol Honda Team, has announced his retirement at the end of the 2018 season. At 4pm on Thursday 12/7/2018 at the German GP, the three-time World Champion ended speculation about his future and made the decision public, bringing his successful 18-year career to an end.

One of the most successful riders of all time, Pedrosa has the third most podiums, 54 wins and three World Championships to date before he prepares to hang up his leathers.

“Next year I won’t compete in the Championship, I’ll finish my career in MotoGP this season. It’s a decision I’ve thought about for a long time and it’s a hard decision because this is the sport I love but despite having good opportunities to keep racing, I feel like I don’t live racing with the same intensity as before and I now have different priorities in my life.”

“I would like to express how fortunate I feel to have had this experience and these opportunities in my life, it’s been an amazing life to have been racing for such an important team and in front of all the fans. I achieved way more than I expected and I’m very, very proud of what I’ve done in the sport. I’ve fulfilled my dream of becoming a racer and that’s something that I didn’t expect when I was a kid watching TV, watching riders in the World Championship. I would like to take this time to say thanks to Dorna and to Honda for giving me this opportunity way back in 1999, and to all my sponsors who’ve been with me throughout my career. I would like also to say thanks to my family, and to all the fans who supported me throughout my career and through the thick and thin, who helped me sending so many messages to overcome difficult things in the past.”

As we previously reported, Dani Pedrosa will be replaced by Jorge Lorenzo for 2019. 

For now we’ve got the German GP to keep us entertained. The action kicks off at Sachsenring this weekend.

Credit: MotoGP News

Keeping your Honda Marine Outboard in it’s best condition

You’ve invested in a Honda Marine outboard engine and you’re all set for the water, how do you keep that outboard in the best condition possible?

Follow our easy guide:

  • Correct service intervals: Read your Owners Manual and know when your outboard is due it’s regular service at the correct intervals. If you use your outboard engine in demanding or commercial conditions it may need more frequent servicing. Your dealer can tell you more about this.
  • Use the professionals: Your Honda Marine Authorised Dealer is best placed to maintain and repair your machine on a regular, ongoing basis. We advise that any maintenance or repair be performed by the dealer you bought the equipment from, because they know it better than anyone else.
  • Genuine Parts: To make sure you get the best quality and reliability, we recommend you use only new Honda genuine parts.
  • Always check the oil level before you start the outboard
  • Listen for irregular sounds upon starting.
  • Check that the water to be used for engine cooling is flowly freely
  • Check the propeller and cotter pin are secure
  • Check that all bolts and fastenings are tight and the engine is secured to the boat.
  • Check the anode
  • Check the fuel lines
  • Check the emergency stop switch
  • Check the tightness of the battery cable and connection
  • Check for coolant leaks after use
  • Always thoroughly rinse off, or flush out salt water with clean fresh water to stop corrosion.
  • Grease the engine lubrication points
  • If you’re storing the engine for a long time, disconnect the battery and drain any fuel that’s left in the tank.
  • If your Honda is for commercial use, long hours of work may determine more frequent maintenance checks.

There’s nothing better than heading out on the open water, make sure you don’t get caught out by following the list above. if you ever have any outboard queries your Local Honda Marine Dealer can assist you.

Explore the range of Honda Outboards here. 

 

 

A campsite in every county – a list of campsites in Ireland

No one has enjoyed the heatwave that we’ve had here in Ireland more than us here in Honda HQ. A couple of the team headed off camping last weekend and it got us thinking where would you go if you were headed on a camping weekend to Kerry, Waterford or Donegal?

We’ve complied a list of campsites for each of our twenty six counties that might be worth the visit, we’re planning ourselves as we type!

Carlow: 

Raven’s Rest, Ballysallagh Upper, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow

Cavan:

Wildflower Camping, Gartbrattan, Killykeen, Cavan, H12D993

Clare:

Strand Camping Doonbeg, Killard Rd, Doonbeg, Co. Clare

Cork:

Blarney Caravan and Camping Park, Curraghnalaght, Blarney, Co. Cork

Donegal:

Wild Atlantic Camp, Main St, Creeslough, Co. Donegal

Dublin:

North Beach Caravan Park, North Beach, Rush, Co. Dublin

Galway:

Clifden ecoBeach Camping & Caravanning Park, Claddaghduff Road, Leagaun, Clifden, Co. Galway

Kerry:

Glenross Caravan & Camping Park, Ring of Kerry, Curraheen Little, Co. Kerry

Kildare:

Forest Farm, Dublin Rd, Ardscull, Athy, Co. Kildare

Kilkenny:

Tree Grove, New Ross Road, Kilkenny, Co. Kikenny

Laois:

Laois Camping, Mountrath Rd, Clondouglas, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Leitrim:

Battlebridge Caravan & Camping Park, Lustia, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim

Limerick:

Adare Camping and Caravan Park, Drehidtrasna, Adare, Co. Limerick

Longford:

Bramblewick House Campground, Kilnashee, Drumlish, Co. Longford, N39 FW63

Louth:

Gyles Quay Caravan & Camping Park, Gyles Quay, Riverstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Mayo:

Belleek Park Caravan & Camping, Farrannoo, Ballina, Co. Mayo

Meath:

Loughcrew Caravan and Camping Park, Drumsawry, Oldcastle, Co. Meath

Monaghan:

Poor old Monaghan, nowhere to hit with the camper van or tent!

Offaly:

Lough Boora Discovery Park, Boora Leabeg, Lea Beg, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Roscommon:

Lough Key Caravan & Camping Park, Rockingham Demesne, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Sligo:

Greenlands Caravan and Camping Park, Rosses Point Village, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo

Tipperary:

Ballinacourty House Caravan and Camping Park, Ballynacourty, Tipperary

Waterford:

Newtown Cove Caravan & Camping Park, Newtown Rd, Newtown, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Westmeath:

Lough Ree East Caravan And Campin, Ballaghkeeran Little, Ballykeeran, Co. Westmeath

Wexford:

The Trading Post, R741, Ballinamona, Ballaghkeeen Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Y21WIR8

Wicklow:

Moat Farm Caravan & Camping Park, Donard Demesne West, Donard, Co. Wicklow

Honda provide a full range of domestic generators ideal for camping. Ideal for charging portable electronics or powering the kettle to make the perfect cup of tea.

Visit your local Honda dealer to get yours.

The benefits of grass mulching

A lot of our Honda lawnmowers have in-built mulching capabilities, and you’ve heard on the grapevine that mulching is good for your garden – but how exactly? Let’s investigate:

What is mulch?

In the case of mulching lawn mowers, the mulch consists of grass clippings from the cut grass. The clippings are cut into fine pieces that fall easily to the soil surface. There, they can be rapidly broken down by soil microorganisms, which release nutrients from the mulched plant material back into the soil.

Why should I mulch instead of  using the grassbag ?

It’s good for your garden:

Mulching enhances the health and growth of the grass by reducing evaporation of moisture from the lawn and keeping soil temperature cooler. This coupled with our usual Irish climate means the grass becomes much healthier.

In addition, it has been estimated that mulched clippings, which are 85 percent water and five percent nitrogen, can provide up to 25 percent of fertilizer needs for an average garden.

It’s good for the environment:

Mulching keeps grass clippings out of landfills and dumps. In the USA Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the grass cuttings make up approximately 13 percent (or 28 million tons) of the national waste stream.

It’s good for you:

Mulching takes less time than collecting, because you don’t have to stop to empty the bag. This makes it much easier when doing the garden, particularly if you’ve a large area.

How do I avoid clumps?

Clumps aren’t the ideal look for your garden, and when left on the surface of the grass, clumps also can damage the growth underneath. Fortunately, Honda makes it easy to avoid clumping.

Honda’s exclusive twin blade systems cut grass clippings into tiny pieces. The blades make not one, but two cuts along each blade of grass. This results in smaller pieces that naturally mulch better.

Smaller clippings fall more rapidly to the soil surface and are less likely to clump. The smaller the clipping, the better your grass will look.

What about if the grass is too tall or wet?

This is a common problem. Wet or tall grass can result in clumping. Grass with a high moisture content can also have this problem at times.

Many customers find that they can mulch successfully when using a Honda mower, even in wet or tall grass. Honda mowers offer superior mulching design, and our twin blade system often makes a bag unnecessary.

If your garden conditions are really severe, try a Honda HRX mower. The HRX series offers our patented Versamow System, which enables you to both mulch and bag simultaneously. You can incrementally adjust the amount of grass being mulched until clumps disappear. While you may have to bag some clippings, you will still be able to get some of the benefits of mulching – and you’ll reduce the number of times you will have to empty the bag.

Versamow gives you the flexibility to mulch without sacrificing the appearance of your lawn.

For more information on the Honda Lawnmower range you can explore online or speak to your local Authorised Honda Lawn and Garden Dealer.

 

Repsol and Honda renew MotoGP alliance to reach 25 year anniversary in 2019

The Spanish energy company and the Japanese manufacturer extend their contract through to 2020 and consolidate the most successful relationship in motorcycle racing history.

Repsol and Honda have extended their contract in MotoGP for a further two years, thus consolidating an alliance based on technological collaboration and commemorating its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2019.

In 1995, Repsol and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) joined forces for a project that will be next year celebrating a quarter-century in motorcycle racing. Since then, the energy company and vehicle manufacturer have won 13 rider World Championships in the premier class and taken 163 Grand Prix wins, the most recent coming this past weekend at the Dutch TT through Marc Márquez.

Repsol’s Executive Managing Director of Communications and the Chairman’s Office, Begoña Elices, and HRC President Yoshishige Nomura, signed the extension of the agreement, through which Repsol will continue to be the main sponsor of the Honda factory team in MotoGP and the supplier of the fuel and lubricant used by their bikes -unique prototypes to which technological excellence, products and the innovation of both companies is transferred.

For the 2019 season, current World Championship leader Márquez will team with Jorge Lorenzo. Between the two they have won seven of the last eight MotoGP titles, with the exception being that won by Casey Stoner with Repsol Honda in 2011.

The collaboration between Repsol and Honda goes beyond conventional sports sponsorship and is reflected in a close relationship between the Honda laboratories in Saitama (Japan) and the Repsol Technology Center, which is located in Móstoles (Spain).

This long term teamwork is an example of the enduring collaboration between two global companies that always seek to overcome challenges and aspire to excellence. Repsol and Honda have been able to make the most of their strengths and achieve a winning formula, which is based on the combination of bike, rider, fuel and lubricant.

In the 1990s, the collaboration began with the development of two-stroke engines and fuel, moving on to the challenge of developing the best four-stroke engines and fuels in the world.

More than half of the premier class world titles won since 1995 have gone to the Repsol Honda team. In addition, the Repsol-Honda collaboration has led to the winning of the Team Championship on seven occasions since the award was created in 2002. A record of 163 wins and 419 podiums in 500cc and MotoGP has been reached thanks to riders such as Mick Doohan, Álex Crivillé, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Márquez.

The team with the most recognisable colours in the MotoGP World Championship will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Repsol and Honda’s relationship in 2019, an event that coincides with the 50th anniversary of the energy company as a sports sponsor.

 

Credit: HRC News 2018

The all new Super Cub 125

Honda has unveiled the all new Super Cub 125, the legendary machine dates back to 1958, when the original was designed by Soichiro Honda and his long-time business partner Takeo Fujisawa, its stated aim was straightforward: ‘to provide the joy of playing a useful part in people’s lives’.

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 is expected to arrive in Ireland in Autumn 2018.

You can register your interest with any Irish Honda Motorcycle Dealership now!

Marquez takes the win at Assen, in one of the best GP races of all time

The 70th Dutch TT at Assen will probably long be recalled by bike fans around the world as one of the best MotoGP races in the series’ history; the eight protagonists for a podium finish in yesterday’s 26-lap battle will definitely remember it that way.

The fight began when the lights went off and only ended when the chequered flag established the top-3 riders who fought in the closest top-fifteen of all time.

By that point, Marc Marquez had finally pulled a two-second gap on the chasing group, but until around three laps from the end he had been fighting tooth-and-nail with Rins, Viñales, Dovizioso, Rossi, and Lorenzo, without a moment’s pause.

The World Champion ultimately prevailed over all his opponents to take his 65th career win and his 39th in MotoGP, extending his advantage in the world Standings to 41 over Valentino Rossi.

Dani Pedrosa struggled to find a good pace in the early phases and was unable to make up ground from his back-of-the grid start. Step by step, he improved his speed and ended the race in 15th place.

 

Credit: HRC Team News

Summer Quad Savings from Honda

Save this summer on selected Honda TRX500 ATV’s!

This July and August you can grab some great savings on selected Honda TRX500 models

The TRX500FE – Save €2000!                                                               The TRX500FM – Save €1000! 

Was: €10,999.00                                                                                    Was: €9,999.00

Now: €8,999.00                                                                                     Now: €8,999.00

To get your hands on this discount contact your local Honda ATV Dealership today!

Offer valid only until August 20th 2018. Strictly while stocks last.

Save up to €1000 on selected 182 Honda Motorcycles

Save on your 182 Honda Motorcycle this July!

We’re giving up to €1000 off selected Honda Motorcycles! Check out what’s on offer below:

NC750XA

The NC750X is packed with strong modern design and improved performance features. Built with a refined 750cc engine, long-travel suspension, and optional Dual Clutch Transmission – it has everything you need to ride fearlessly towards adventure.

 

Was €9,100.00, Now €8.100.00

SAVE €1000.00

 

 

NC750XD

The NC750X DCT has compact, rugged design and new performance features that ensure you explore in both comfort and style. With a high riding position for clear visibility, agile handling, and torquey performance – it’s the perfect travel companion for wherever you’re going.

 

Was €9,900.00, Now €8.900.00

SAVE €1000.00

 

CBR650FA

The CBR650FA is a fine looking four-cylinder motorcycle with the added finesse of a sleek fairing, it’s compact, light and a real blast to ride anywhere.

 

Was €9,800.00, Now €9,200.00

SAVE €600.00

 

CB650FA

The CB650FA is a middleweight Naked Street style motorcycle with a 649cc, DOHC inline, four-cylinder engine, new 6-speed short ratio gearbox, LED lights, two-channel ABS and 41mm SDBV telescopic fork.

 

Was €8,900.00, Now €8,300.00

SAVE €600.00

 

 

PCX125

We’ve taken what made the PCX Europe’s favourite, best-selling scooter and added some extras. Sleek new style, improved comfort, even greater fuel economy and a host of enhancements to enable life on the move. It’s the same spirited scooter about town it’s always been – just better.

 

Was €3,600.00, Now €3,100.00

SAVE €500.00

 

NSC110 Vision 

When all you need is to be transported quickly from one part of town to another, the simple, straight forward and affordable NSC110 has the answer.

 

Was €2,800.00, Now €2,500.00

SAVE €300.00

 

 

If you’re interested in any of these 182 deals visit your local Honda Motorcycle Dealer today.

 

*All model discounts are valid from July 1st – August 31st 2018. Strictly while stocks last.

Gagne caps successful WorldSBK homecoming with ninth place in Laguna Seca Race 2

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team rider Jake Gagne scored a career-best ninth place in Race 2 at Laguna Seca while Leon Camier fought back from an early crash to recover to P13 and secure valuable championship points.

After claiming his first ever WorldSBK top-ten finish in Race 1 yesterday, Gagne lined up in P15 for today’s race and in carbon-copy style to yesterday, showed great pace in the early laps on his CBR1000RR SP2.

Gagne worked his way up into the top ten by lap five and maintained a strong pace throughout the second half of the race, bringing his Fireblade over the finish line with an emphatic wheelie in ninth place.

For Camier, it was another frustrating race with the Briton crashing at turn 2 on the third lap, however he recovered brilliantly to catch up to the pack and made several passes to ultimately finish in the points in P13.

With five rounds remaining in the 2018 WorldSBK season, Camier is twelfth place on the championship table with 75 points while Gagne is in seventeenth place with 37 points.

The Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team will next be in action at the Pirelli Riviera di Rimini round at Misano Circuit from July 6-8.

Credit: Red Bull Media Team