Honda CL Motorcycles in Reno, page #25

Moto blog

Day 3 Dakar 2014: Barreda Maintains Overall Lead, Despres Catches Up

Joan Barreda won his second special stage this year and now boasts a lead of more than 13 minutes over Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, the two other beneficiaries of a particularly decisive stage. Today’s stage, part one of the first marathon stage with no team service, was characterized by the highest ever racing altitude in Dakar history. Facing the 22,841 foot summit of the Aconcagua, South America´s highest mountain, the motorcycle riders had to cross a pass over 14,107 feet in elevation in trial-like conditions.

A Feel Good Purchase

If you’re diggin’ the ’73 CB450 pictured above it’s currently for sale on eBay with nearly three days left in which to bid. The side benefit to purchasing this custom cafe classic is that 15 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the CB go to Wellspring International Outreach. Built by Hangar Cycleworks the vintage Honda boasts a rebuilt motor, a custom 2-into-1, high-mount exhaust system, Mikuni VM32 carburetors, a Dyno electronic ignition, power coated frame, swingarm, hubs, wheels, triple trees and motor mounts and custom color-matched Tyrolean Green Metallic paint among a scored of other niceties.

Day 1 Dakar 2014: Barreda Draws First Blood

Team HRC’s Joan Barreda on the Honda CRF450 Rally, got off to a storming start in day one of the 2014 Dakar rally, clocking up the fastest time of all the 175 riders at the first time-check. The former Husqvarna rider who moved to Honda in the middle of the season inaugurated his 2014 Dakar with an acrobatic performance. The motorcycle competition was expected to be wide open, and that is indeed what the classification shows after the opening stage. It was a very early start for the Rally Dakar. The pack of riders headed off at four in the morning on a long 251 miles that took them towards the vibrant city of Rosario for the start of the 112 mile special.

Day 2 Dakar 2014: Sunderland Wins First Special Stage

Honda won the second day of competition with Team HRC’s Sam Sunderland claiming victory in the first special stage of this year’s Dakar. Sunderland has had a frustrating time at previous Dakars, dropping out after three days of racing in 2012 and withdrawing a month before last year’s event due to fracturing both his wrists. Today, however, Sunderland made a grand entrance into the club of elite riders by brilliantly winning his first special stage of this year’s Dakar. Having started well behind his teammate, Joan Barreda, the 23-year old Brit superbly overtook Michael Metge and Juan Pedrero on the first part of the route.

2014 AMA Supercross – Anaheim 1 Results

KTM rookie Ken Roczen captured his first 450 class win in the AMA Supercross world championship, taking the season opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. An audience of 45,050 fans watched a clean race from the rookie while errors by veterans like James Stewart and three-time reigning champion Ryan Villopoto knocked them out of contention. Villopoto had a strong start, taking the holeshot and leading the first eight laps, just like the Kawasaki rider had done so often the last few seasons.

Team HRC CRF450 Rally Prototype Video

In a just released video HRC Team Director Katsumi Yamazaki describes Honda’s Dakar weapon, the CRF450 Rally. Warning: Yamazaki-san’s monotone delivery manages to snuff the excitement factor of what is an incredibly trick motorcycle, but it’s still interesting to watch. Honda returned to the Dakar Rally for the first time in 24 years in January 2013.

Dakar Begins This Sunday!

Dakar is an international, bad-ass, multi-day off-road event and if you’re not a fan you should be. Crossing the borders of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile the route takes motorcycle and ATV competitors through more than 5400 miles of extreme riding conditions. Competing cars and trucks go even farther.

2014 Monster Energy Supercross Season Preview – Video

The highly anticipated 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, gets underway this Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., as three-time 450SX Class Championship Ryan Villopoto will stage his title defense against the deepest field of riders the sport has ever seen. Live coverage will begin at 10:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.

Classic Race Finishes: 1991 250cc Misano Grand Prix – Video

More than just a medium to view countless hours of cat videos, YouTube allows us to look back at classic motorcycle races otherwise lost to the depths of the VHS tape. This time around features the no-holds-barred, back-and-forth action between Luca Cadalora, aboard the Rothmans Honda NSR250 and Helmut Bradl, father of current MotoGP rider, Stefan Bradl, riding the HB Honda NSR250. The stage is the 1991 250cc Italian Grand Prix at Misano — back when it was run in the correct, counter-clockwise, direction.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Groms

We’re big fans of the Honda Grom, not just because of the grin-inducing experience it offers but also for its potential for customization. Just look at the RC-X Mini Vintage Racer for an example of the Grom’s ability to transform. MORE: Top 10 Modified Honda Groms It’s no surprise then that Honda would present some more special Groms for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon, an annual showcase for automotive performance and customization similar to the SEMA show here in the U.S.