Honda Teases New 2014 Off-Road Model – Video

American Honda released a video teasing a new 2014 off-road model which will be revealed in May 14. The 2:21 video was shot with an action camera mounted along the top of the swingarm as the mystery model races around a motocross track.

The most obvious conclusion is the teaser is for the 2014 Honda CRF450R or CRF250R. Honda already updated the CRF450R for 2013, so it’s unlikely to be the model in the video, but the CRF250R hasn’t had a serious update since 2010 making it a more likely candidate.

Of course, it’s possible Honda may have something different in store. Why else would you hold a teaser campaign if there weren’t something unexpected? Perhaps Honda decided to follow KTM’s route and introduce a 350 model. Honda’s also ramping up its racing efforts by competing in the Dakar Rally again, so it’s possible this is a production version of its rally racer which itself is based on the CRF450X.

That being said, off-road motorcycle sales in the U.S. have been on a downward slope the last few years. The sales decline is only recently starting to flatten, but is this a good time to offer something drastically different?

There is a distinct rattling sound, most audible at the start of video when the motorcycle is idling, but the placement of the camera would cause some distortion, making it sound a bit different than it would if you were sitting on the bike.

The brake disc and sprocket appear almost identical to those on the current CRF250R, so perhaps the simplest answer is correct, and this is the 2014 Honda CRF250R. We’ll find out for sure on May 14.

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[Source: Honda (YouTube)]

By Dennis Chung