Honda Shadow Motorcycles in Lansing, page #79

Moto blog

Is this Honda's inspiration for mass-centralisation

SORRY TO keep carpin’ on about porcelain bathroom products but this beauty, I think, is of great motorcycling significance. Feast on its elegant lines and classical, elegant beauty. Combining an integral hand basin (with a nifty electrically operated water pump in the cistern lid) this john not only provides ingenious space saving design techniques but also serves as a timely reminder to wash your hands once you’ve pointed Percy at the porcelain.

Honda VFR1200F Launch: Tokyo (no) Show

IF YOU'VE never been to the Tokyo show before, let me tell you this: you’re missing nowt.‘You picked a bad year to come,’ said the Yamaha designer and he was spot on. Three halls of mainly Japanese car manufacturers and lots of empty spaces wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. Maybe my expectations were too great, maybe I should have been expecting my glass to be half empty?

Honda VFR1200F launch: Even the toilet has ABS

Just touched down in Tokyo after a twelve-hour flight from Heathrow and, as a total Japan virgin, I can tell you it’s all as weird as you’d probably imagine. Check out my hotel room’s toilet with inbuilt electronic arse power washing facility. Going to check that bad boy out as soon as I’ve filed this copy.

Geeky snippets ahead of the Phillip Island MotoGP

Valentino Rossi has finished on the podium eleven times in his twelve visits to Phillip Island across all three GP classes. The only race at Phillip Island that he did not finish in the top three was on his first visit riding a 125cc machine in 1997 when he finished sixth. In 1998 and 1999 he won the 250cc races and since then has had nine podiums in the premier-class including five victories, the last of which was in 2005.

Honda’s V-4 History

As Honda prepares its new VFR1200 for its official unveiling, the red-wing company has set up a website detailing its long involvement in V-4 engines. It began back in 1979 with the introduction of the NR500 grand prix racebike. Rather than fielding a 500cc two-stroke engine, Honda used a four-stroke oval-piston V-4 motor – essentially a V-8 with four cylinders that could be revved to 19,500 rpm!

Quick Impressions on the Honda NT700V

UPDATE:  Read the full review of the 2010 Honda NT700V now on Motorcycle.com It should be obvious, but one of the perks of being in the business of evaluating motorcycles is the opportunity to see and ride a huge variety of bikes. Recently, while returning a CRF230M to American Honda’s main offices I spotted the new-to-the-U.S. NT700V sitting amongst the gaggle of bikes set aside for the moto media.

Motorcycles at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

Two weeks ago, I took a break from my regular duties gathering news for Motorcycle.com to fly to Germany to cover the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show for our sister site AutoGuide.com. For two hectic days, AutoGuide editor Colum Wood and I scrambled across the massive 6.2 million square foot Messe Frankfurt trade fair compound, running from press conference to press conference to get the latest on exotic sport cars, futuristic concept models and international unveilings from the automotive world. It was heaven for car lovers, but for me, it meant fighting my way through hordes of photogs, auto-journalists and car show models to get the first photos of four-wheeled goodies from MINI, Ferrari and Lotus.

Wheelie with Guy martin at Hein Gericke!

LINCOLNSHIRE NUTCASE and all-round top lad Guy Martin, will be making a special appearance at Hein Gericke Leeds on Saturday 26 September.The Hydrex Honda rider will be on hand from 2-5pm to mug it up for your camera and sign autographs. Guy is sponsored by bike-mad clothing brand Red Torpedo, and there’ll be special offers on their range of funky threads, as well on other items throughout the store. Freebie and prizes are up for grabs in a free prize draw, and Leeds Tyres will be there to answer all your ‘black ‘oop’ related questions, while shop partner Paul will be cooking up his famous five alarm chilli and other attractions are to be announced.Plus, you can experience the EXTREME WHEELIE MACHINE powered by Hein Gericke.

Honda CBR900RR Go Kart [video]

J&D Fabrications located in South Florida has created a go kart with a Honda CBR900RR engine.  With all that power behind it, I would say the go kart is doing a lot of drifting rather then driving but its fun to watch.  Don’t be jealous Mario… Check it out after the jump. See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

2010 Honda V4 Teaser [video]

Based on the concept model unveiled last October at Intermot 2008, the new motorcycle is expected to be a sport-tourer powered by a 1200cc V-4 engine with variable cylinder technology which can allow it to run on only two cylinders to conserve fuel.  There are also rumors that the motorcycle will have a semi-auto gear box which will give the rider the option of going manual or automatic. Honda has a dedicated website for the V4 where you can enter for a chance to win a spot to be one of the first to test drive the new bike, unfortunately, the contest is only open to Europeans. Hit the jump to see the new promo video (you can hear what the motorcycle sounds like!) and an interview with design project leader, Teofilo Plaza.