2006 Honda Shadow Motorcycle on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Classic Off-Road Bikes Featured in Braving Baja: 1,000 Miles to Glory Exhibition

Back in the 60s, American Honda tested the durability of its motorcycles by sending a CL72 Scrambler on a 950-mile trek through rocks, sand washes, dry lake beds, mountain passes and paved roads. Fifty years later, that legendary run is remembered for inspiring one of the most significant off-road races in the world—the Baja 1000. In celebration, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is hosting a tribute dinner, one-day off road show, and summer-long exhibition called Braving Baja, 1,000 Miles to Glory.

Having a Randy Mamola moment

Back in 1985 Randy Mamola was captured on film performing the most miraculous save of all time, hanging on for dear life as his Honda NSR500 tried to fling him from his seat. Recently, we've seen some impromptu homages to the original with Jonathan Rea at Assen and the near-save from Jakub Kornfeil in the Moto3 race at Jerez. Now we have on-board footage of American racer Genki Hagata calming a high-side at the Infineon Raceway in California.

A Weighty Issue

For as long as I can remember, motorcycle manufacturers have been playing fast and loose with regard to what they claim for the weight of their bikes. The “dry weights” they foisted upon us had little basis in reality. The “dry” part of that claim meant that listed weights on a spec chart were the result of all fluids being MIA from the bike, including necessities like engine oil, coolant and fork fluid (not to mention fuel), but even that didn’t fully explain the overly optimistic specs.