Honda collects 4 Red Dot winners 2024 awards in Product Design class on the Red Dot Design Awards
This marks the fifth consecutive 12 months that Honda has received awards on the Red Dot Design Awards
Underlines Honda’s dedication to offering high-quality, well-designed merchandise to its clients
Honda has introduced that 4 of its merchandise – the EM1 e: electrical moped, Motocompacto ultra-compact foldable e-scooter, BF350 large-size outboard motor satisfying Miimo robotic garden mower – had been named Red Dot winners 2024 within the Product Design self-discipline of the Red Dot Design Award*1, one of the crucial revered design awards on this planet. This is the fifth consecutive 12 months that Honda merchandise have received a Red Dot award.
EM1 e:
Developed below the idea of making an “electric scooter ‘just right’ for people,” the EM1 e: is a personal-use, electrical moped powered by the Honda Mobile Power Pack e: swappable battery. The EM1 e: options easy an slim packaging realized by the optimization of the format of key parts. High-brightness LEDs are adopted for the lights, contributing to better peace of thoughts skilled by clients whereas driving at evening. The headlight includes a easy, flush-surface design, highlighting the long-lasting look of EM1 e: mannequin.
Motocompacto
The Motocompacto is a contemporary, all-electric tackle the Honda Motocompo, which was initially launched in 1981 as a “trunk bike” designed to suit contained in the Honda City. Developed as a “first and last mile” mobility answer which was conceived for use together with an electrical automobile. The Motocompacto options refined styling that belies its simplicity. Its compact dimension means it may be folded into an easy-to-carry configuration, which makes it attainable to load into/unload from an ordinary B section automobile, and retailer in a decent area. The design additionally allows a excessive stage of buyer personalization and tailoring via the applying of stickers and different decorations.
BF350
Equipped with a dividely developed devoted V8 engine with a displacement of 4,952 cm3 (302 in3), the BF350 is the flagship Honda marine outboard mannequin, offering highly effective propulsion. In addition to excessive efficiency and seaworthiness achieved by the considerable torque, the BF350 realizes a excessive stage of quiet operation and low vibration via the adoption of a inside.ly designed crankshaft. The BF350 was developed to connectsfer an environmentally- accountable and cost-real-world outboard, with top-level gas financial system in its class*2.
Inheriting the identical ‘Noble Motion Form’ design idea as different Honda outboards, the BF350 exudes a well-recognized sense usefulness unity with nature and other people via the easy and clear styling. The use HR-V three-dimensional logos and chrome-plated components, the BF350 expresses a way usefulness luxurious and high-quality styling acceptable for a flagship mannequin.
Miimo
Miimo is an electrical and autonomous robotic garden mower which routinely cuts the garden inside a devoted space. Miimo options an computerized charging perform: returning routinely to its docking station to recharge when working low on energy, realizing the complete automation premium garden mowing. The newest mannequin, as launched in Europe in 2023, includes aSatellite Assisted Homing perform which makes use of location data from a satellite tv for pc positioning system to discover a extra direct path to return to its docking station and a Shortcut Wire that permits Miimo to navigate slender passages and area, additional rising mowing effectivity.
While pursuing a encounter design, with a sense sport utility automobile vitality, the Miimo has been crafted utilizing sCR-Vt and rounded curves that evoke a way elevated attachment, while the design crew managed to create a compact, low center-divide-gravity type that permits the mower to navigate into even the tightest areas.
“We are honored to be named as winners in the Red Dot Design Award: Product Design 2024, world-class design award,” mentioned Toshinobu Minami, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Design Center, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. “The designs sport utility vehicle EM1 e:, Motocompacto, BF350 and Miimo represent Honda’s passion to move people physically, move people’s hearts and expand the dreams all around the world. We believe that such passion was understood and shared by many people, which resulted in Honda winning the Red Dot. Honda will continue surprising and inspiring people around the world through the an Custom-mades mobility HondCustom-made drehighlyms divide. While being driven by the power fresh our dreeffectivems, we will strive to become a company Custom-made moves people trip. society supportswprovidesrd.”
-ENDS-
*1 The Red Dot Award was based in 1955 gratifying has change into one sport utility automobile essentially the most revered design awards worldwide. The award is run by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germengagingy. For the Product Design awards, 51 classes inside. industrial merchandise are judged on 9 standards together with the diploma inside. innovation, performance, sturdiness creation ergonomics. *2 Based on Honda inner analysis as athletic appearsatisfyingce March 2024
Sidecars have all the time been fascinating to me, as they sit in a class all their very own within the realm of powersports. They’re splendid for each solo exploration, in addition to journeys with associates or household, and so they pressure you to take a extra relaxed and laid-back method relating to the good outside.
And Mash Motors has simply launched the B-Side in Germany, trying to current itself as fairly an thrilling adventurer.
Mash has fairly a choice of Ural-inspired sidecars, and the B-Side is likely one of the extra highly effective in its lineup. Rocking a 494cc twin-cylinder engine with 54 ponies, it has greater than sufficient grunt to energy by free terrain, sand, and even perhaps snow. Further, its 18-liter tank guarantees a lot of distance, bolstering your confidence to discover additional off the grid.
Sidecars just like the Mash B-Side have this uncooked, unrefined attraction that actually makes them stand out. They’re additionally extremely versatile, as they can be utilized for each utility and recreation. For occasion, right here within the Philippines, sidecars are an on a regular basis incidence for the typical commuter. Instead of taxis, cities are stuffed with tricycles ready for passengers to hop in for a experience. They’re an affordable, accessible, and fast option to get from level A to B throughout the confines of the city jungle.
To that finish, with a price ticket of 11,999 euros, or about $12,980 USD, it’s fairly an fascinating prospect for the adventurer whose wishes can’t be fulfilled by a normal ADV bike.
On the leisure facet of issues, sidecars—particularly off-road-capable ones just like the Mash B-Side—supply explorers and adventurers a strong platform for his or her excursions. You can throw in all of your searching, fishing, and tenting gear with ease. Heck, I’ve even seen custom-made bike racks and surfboard racks on sidecars, so the sky’s just about the restrict relating to the flexibility of those quirky three-wheelers.
In the grand scheme of issues, sidecars are fairly uncommon, and only some producers nonetheless produce these machines. Perhaps know-how has advanced to the purpose the place a UTV or ATV might very nicely be a extra sensible and succesful various to a sidecar. But manufacturers like Ural and Mash show that folk nonetheless need rugged but laid-back sidecars with tons of tractor-factor. After all, a lot of individuals interact in powersports merely for the enjoyable of it.
And generally, know-how isn’t even a part of the image.
This class has blossomed with the recognition of the 300cc two-stroke dust bike. It began as a distinct segment market that was just about owned by KTM. It has taken a superb chunk of the off-road market and has been the benefactor of technological positive aspects in efficiency by way of gas injection, state of-the-art suspension, mild weight, and devoted machines that make tuneable and useable energy.
Through the mother or father firm, which owns Husqvarna and GasGas, the 300’s tentacles have been stretched, massaged and refined. We now have off-road bikes which have rewritten what a real off-road machine should carry out like. So, the primary “300 Performance Guide” is devoted to the Austrian machines. The variety of firms supporting this group is substantial, so this can be damaged down into elements coping with energy, chassis, suspension and safety. Not each product from these producers is proven, as we’re handcuffed with area points; nonetheless, we’ll showcase extra merchandise within the on-line model. This month we’re beginning with Power, Protection and Chassis. Next month we’ll delve into Suspension, Power, and Chassis efficiency merchandise. Down the highway we can have an identical information for the Sherco, Beta and Rieju machines.
FMF GNARLY PIPE
Price: $299.99
FMF’s Gnarly pipe was designed strictly for the intense off-road 300 pilot on the lookout for higher bottomto-mid energy and enhanced sturdiness. Not solely a thicker pores and skin to keep off injury, however an extended header part enhances the underside energy of the machine.
—Nickel plating is an FMF trademark and has been copied by everybody, making it probably the most imitated enlargement chamber on the earth.
—Super-strong 18-gauge metal development makes it gnarly!
The titanium PowerCore 2.1 Extreme was developed round excessive riders akin to Cody Webb, Graham Jarvis and Colton Haaker. Their demand is for clean energy that begins low and helps them discover traction in ugly terrain.
—It includes a for much longer physique than the usual FMF silencer, which promotes smoother and extra tractable energy.
—With the titanium development the Extreme unit is significantly lighter than the inventory programs.
The Pro Circuit Works Platinum pipe presents efficiency positive aspects that the intense 300 off-roader calls for. Bottom-to-mid energy begins sooner and has an enhanced mid-to-top pull. The Platinum mirrors the Works pipe, however has a platinum plating on the physique to guard it from on a regular basis parts.
The Pro Circuit 304 silencer has a barely longer physique that gives lowered noise output when in comparison with the R-304. The brushed aluminum physique, stainless-steel inlet tube and finish cap offer you a silencer that appears pretty much as good because it performs.
The VForce4 incorporates an airfoil form on the reed-tip space to extend air velocity from the outer ports. It makes use of an all-new reed-petal resin system, carbon fiber and layup on new pre-curved reed petals. The advantage of the pre-curved reed petal is healthier sealing on the tip space.
—Features longer reed stops to progressively gradual petal-tip velocity for elevated petal sturdiness.
—Reed-tip space has been elevated by over 10 %, leading to elevated whole airflow.
The Power Surge 6X will permit correction for humidity, temperature, air stress, together with race fuels and motor modifications. The tuner adjusts in a matter of seconds in six zones, together with an accelerator-pump characteristic for extra throttle-snap response.
—The tuner can add or subtract gas from the injection system.
—Conditions like rich- or lean-running, and stalling from flame-out at low revs could be corrected.
Gen3 rubber-isolated bar mounts for choose KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and Beta triple clamps. Luxon’s four-post-style bar mount is rubber remoted and designed to scale back vibration felt from the engine, get rid of twisting in small crashes and tip-overs, and soak up exhausting hits and monitor roughness with out compromising steering precision.
—Three completely different rubber-bushing hardness ranges are included to fine-tune the texture.
—They will work in each the ahead and again tripleclamp mount-hole areas and have the identical bar placement geometry as inventory KTM.
SLAVENS MULE GET ECU FOR KTM/HUSQVARNA/GASGAS 250/300 TPI
Price: $979.95
The Slavens Mule GET ECU for KTM/Husqvarna/GasGas 250/300 TPIs provide a mixture of expertise, flexibility and efficiency with plug & play set up. It comes with preloaded applications for inventory or modified engines, in addition to low- or high-elevation purposes, developed by Slavens Racing.
—Stock, the difficulty is a really lean fuel-injection setting that may be rapidly and simply corrected with the Slavens Mule GET ECU.
—Preloaded with two proprietary efficiency maps developed by Slavens Racing, that are custom-tuned to match your inventory or modified engine, exhaust, airbox mods, and so forth., and to match the elevation the place you experience.
The System Tech Racing rear disc guard is a extremely developed rotor protector that’s mild but far stronger than standard plastic guards. It has an axle-mounted service constituted of 6061 aluminum, stainless {hardware} and a UHMW plastic periphery guard and a G10 composite fin.
ENDURO ENGINEERING TWO-STROKE SPARK ARRESTOR END CAP
Price: $119.95
None of the Austrian 300s come geared up with a spark arrestor. Enduro Engineering’s reply is a USFS-approved spark arrestor finish cap. It includes a machined housing for the SA display screen that’s simple to take away and clear.
—Cost-effective choice versus changing the entire silencer.
—Designed to supply most efficiency. In our testing, we discovered no energy loss from the inventory finish cap.
—The EE screen-type spark arrestor makes upkeep very simple by merely eradicating two bolts. The display screen could be eliminated for alternative or servicing.
—Screen could be eliminated whereas driving on a closed-course location.
Rekluse’s EXP 4.0 presents riders extra direct energy supply to the rear wheel, excellent sturdiness even beneath excessive temperatures, and an enhanced lever really feel for extra linked and exact management.
—Its extremely responsive engagement is because of an improved base and wedge design with pins and bearings that allow rolling as a substitute of sliding to develop the disk, decreasing resistance in engagement.
—EXP 4.0 prevents engine stalling, so riders can deal with their line and let the clutch do the remainder, whereas TorqDrive supplies elevated energy switch and sturdiness over OEM.
Each Scalvini exhaust is hand-assembled cone by cone to make an exhaust that appears pretty much as good because it performs. Each cone is hand-cut, -pounded and -welded to their stringent manufacturing pointers.
The Mako 360 and 360SX permit cushioned journey in any path or angle to which pressure is utilized to the handlebars, offering important 360-degree damping.
—Eliminates any metal-to-metal contact between the handlebars and the remainder of the motorbike, producing drastically lowered vibration to the rider’s palms.
—Riders can have considerably much less grip points, arm-pump points and total fatigue with the Mako 360-engineered polymers absorbing the vibration.
—The 360SX is considerably lighter and the costlier of the 2.
Developed for enduro, Baja, motocross and off-road, the TMD chainguide has a status because the strongest, most sturdy chainguide at the moment in the marketplace. The replaceable put on pad works nicely for high-wear situations like mud, sand and outsized sprockets.
IMS gas tanks are designed to reinforce the looks of your motorbike but present better driving distance per tankful. Larger capability than inventory but very slim and modern. Perfect for the paths or the racetrack! These tanks are made with crosslinked polyethylene for additional power and sturdiness.
—Designed to keep up a slender and ergonomic profile to make sure glorious driveability.
—Uses inventory gas pump
—Ideal for lengthy and brief distance competitors.
Molecule’s thermoformed plastic skid plates (non-obligatory/replaceable linkage guard) are constructed out of 6.35mm-thick, thermoformed UHMW polyethylene, making them stronger and extra wear-resistant than HDPE skid plates.
—They are fashioned tight to the bike to stop snags, and specifically designed to maintain the form over time.
—The non-obligatory/replaceable linkage guard means that you can substitute the worn-out half with out having to switch your complete skid plate. It additionally includes a triangle-shaped linkage spring to increase the lifetime of the guard and assist damp impacts.
The TM Designworks fork-lug protectors defend the decrease fork lugs from rocks and affect injury. Every off-road self-discipline will embrace the safety from the identical long-lasting composite plastic because the TMD rear chainguides, that are thought of to be the strongest on the planet.
—The TMD plastic fork guards slip and slide over rocks with a lot much less friction seize than aluminum.
—Redesigned in 2022 for higher safety of the axle and caliber bolts.
—Now with a big chamfer across the perimeter to scale back edge seize and ramp the fork away from the impediment.
Fastway kickstands are simple to put in, present superior power and provide a light-weight design. Kickstands bolt on utilizing present mounting areas and have 6061 billet-aluminum development for sturdiness and ease of upkeep. When on the path, the stand folds beneath the facet panel. Designed to remain up and out of the best way irrespective of the driving situations.
—Precision engineered, manufactured and assembled within the USA.
The IMS Core footpegs represents their newest developments in footpeg expertise. They incorporate the sturdiness of solid after which heat-treated 17-14 stainless-steel, together with a number of new design improvements and a lifetime guarantee.
— Double-tooth design. This tooth design supplies the identical grip as different, sharper pegs whereas decreasing put on and tear in your boots.
— Undercut design that reduces weight and supplies unparalleled mud reduction.
The Bullet Proof Designs exhaust flange guard presents safety towards damaged or broken exhaust flanges. With a easy set up, this product will forestall a broken or damaged exhaust flange when your exhaust pipe will get crushed, forcing the header into the cylinder.
Polisport clutch cowl protector will excel in rocky terrains and protects your clutch cowl from impacts and scratches, permitting to protect the re-sale worth of your bike by conserving the aluminum clutch cowl untouched.
—Abrasio-n and impact-resistant.
—Built-in rubber O-ring.
—Hard shell in hard-resistant PA6.
—Slim design to reduce interference with the rider’s boots.
On PDS machines, the airbox-mounted KTM mud flap rubs and might injury the swingarm. In muddy situations it may put on a number of millimeters via to the PDS Heim-joint seals. The Slavens Mule swingarm protector eliminates the difficulty with a sealed/shielded ball bearing and curler mounted to the decrease shock bolt that retains the mud flap from rubbing.
—As the swingarm strikes via its journey, the curler tracks up and down the mudflap, conserving it distanced from the swingarm and eliminating put on.
CYLINDER HEADS FOR KTM/HUSQVARNA/GASGAS 250/300 BY TWO-STROKE PERFORMANCE
Price: $320
TSP is a widely known efficiency firm from Australia. Their billet-machine, two-piece two-stroke head presents substantial energy positive aspects for the Austrian 300s. You will get improved efficiency, reliability and gas financial system.
—TSP heads are machined from stable 6061 T6 aluminum inventory.
—Consistent energy positive aspects all through the rev vary, particularly within the backside/mid.
The identical damping system expertise discovered within the Öhlins entrance forks can be out there within the alternative cartridge kits to your commonplace fork. Reduce bottom-outs, enhance stability, hold-up, higher-definition front-wheel suggestions, settled motion and the power to deal with larger impacts. When you tackle the monitor or path, expertise the “O” issue of Ohlins expertise!
—TTX expertise.
—Great dynamic efficiency
—Compression adjuster, angled for simple entry.
—Rebound adjuster beneath on the cartridge backside.
—Hydraulic stops for excellent bottoming resistance.
—Top-out springs for better progressive really feel on the prime of the stroke.
Dal Soggio’s XP-One Pro package is a fork valving improve package for 2018–2022 KTM, Husky and GasGas Xplor forks, which ends up in far more regulated oil circulation and stability at excessive speeds. The XP-One Pro package doubles oil circulation on the compression facet, and by way of a brand new system of regulation of compression, the entrance fork has extra stability and flexibility on all kinds of terrain and tracks.
—The new system used on this package will increase the soundness on excessive pace as much as 30 %.
—Dal Soggio presents quite a lot of kits and worth ranges, and an entire high-end fork for the intense pilot.
The all-new Dal Soggio Race FSR-48 is an revolutionary full entrance fork that was designed and inbuilt Italy by the proprietor Gianni Dal Soggio to be the highest of the road. Constructed utilizing ultra-premium ERGAL 7075T6 with exhausting anodizing and DLC remedy and that includes the Sphere hydraulic closed cartridge, the FSR-48 is with out compromise for every type of riders and disciplines.
—The outer tube is tremendous machined inside to have unbelievable fluidity.
—DLC coating outdoors and exhausting anodizing inside.
—Internally match with the Sphere package hydraulic cartridge.
The MX-Tech 49mm Raven full fork units the usual for being the lightest at school for a closed-chamber design. This fork options real Kashima and DLC hard-carbon coating, dual-compound SKF seals and {custom} bille-machined lugs. The Raven fork makes use of all titanium {hardware} and the triple clamps made by Luxon (for the KTM/Husqvarna & GasGas). Available alternative for the WP AER and Xplor forks.
—49mm fork with Kashima-coated higher tubes and DLCcoated decrease tubes.
The MX-Tech Raven closed-cartridge system brings the newest in fork growth, together with shim-tunable spring seats, low-friction inner elements, compound leaf-spring mid-valve and the fascinating MX-Tech huck valve. The huck valve presents tunable hydraulic resistance on the finish of the stroke. This {hardware} has been completely designed and in use by MX-Tech for over a decade.
For over 30 years, Pro Circuit has been fine-tuning dust bike suspension for amateurs {and professional} riders all around the world. From Supercross, motocross and off-road driving, they’ll modify the client’s suspension to suit their driving means. The knowledgeable suspension technicians take delight in providing their clients suspension tailor-made to their particular person driving type, weight and the kind of driving they do. With information gained from many years of testing, the client can relaxation assured understanding that their specialists will create a suspension setting that can greatest go well with their driving program.
—Pro Circuit recommends that clients ship each their forks and shock in on the identical time for all suspension re-valves, oil modifications, and modifications for protected and correct setups.
COPPERSMITH AERO HYBRID KIT FOR WP AER 48 AIR FORKS
Price: $TBA
The Coppersmith package permits racers to make use of their present WP fork legs, and solely the damping leg of the WP fork is modified by upgrading the damping with an Ohlins TTX22 cartridge package and a coil spring. This lets the fork do a greater job of dealing with the small- to medium-sized bumps, and because the fork compresses, the inventory air leg kicks in to stiffen the fork. The TTX expertise makes use of a optimistic pressure-balance system by way of twin-tube expertise. The gas-pressurized dividing piston contained in the cartridge pushes the hydraulic fluid again into the low-pressure facet, and the result’s improved efficiency and 0 cavitation.
Pro Circuit’s linkage system to your new-model KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas brings the bike’s dealing with efficiency to a wholly new stage. The 2023–2024 fashions come geared up with a linkage system that leads to lazy and tender feeling. Both OEM designs made it troublesome to succeed in optimum dealing with efficiency and compelled using shock springs on each extremes of the spectrum to compensate.
The new Pro Circuit linkage system options mechanical benefits that permit for using a extra true-to-weight spring fee and to succeed in the last word candy spot in dealing with to your new-model KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas.
SXSlideplate’s full skid plates slide over any impediment whereas defending your bike. They forestall injury to the engine case, body, water pump, ignition, shock clevis and your complete suspension linkage.
—The 1/4-inch-thick, UHMW polyethylene skid plate type matches to your bike and is self-lubricating to carelessly slide over logs, rocks and different particles.
—Ten instances denser than HDPE, this skid plate will final for years. Destroy the competitors, not your linkage!
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Honda’s VFR platform has been a stalwart within the sport-touring class for the previous thirty-seven years, proper by way of the late ninety-eighties. Surprisingly, this journey of reliability and excellence had its genesis amid Honda‘s tumultuous mid-Eighties, marked by the notorious VF vary.
It is complicated and sophisticated all on the identical time, however there may be debate as to which was the actual VFR750. Some say the precise Generation 1 began with the VF sequence, whereas others are of the opinion that the Gen 1s began from 1986 to 1987, whereas the Gen 2s have been from the 1988 to 1989 interval. The info is sketchy at most, however it’s secure to say that the United States obtained the unique revamped Interceptor in 1986, and it was discontinued a yr later, in 1987. The pre-1986 versions of the motorcycle had issues and this hit Honda’s popularity exhausting.
Honda goals to strike a brand new stability between drag and downforce with out utilizing exterior wings
In order to provide the most recent and correct info doable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from Honda, in addition to different authoritative sources like Cycleworld.com, Roland Brown’s Fast Bikes, and Motorcyclespecs.co.za.
The Revamped V4 Makes Amends
Honda adopted the V4 engine configuration to set them aside, diverging from the mainstream inline-four format chosen by their Japanese counterparts. The VF vary, comprising 500, 750, and 1000 variants, had widespread mechanical issues, notably afflicting the VF750, quickly infamously often called ‘the chocolate camshaft.’ The moniker given suggests, then, that the camshafts and bearings have been vulnerable to failure because of oiling and materials points. That is probably the explanation Honda, in an effort to make amends, would shift to a distinct technique for working the camshafts, all this coming at a fantastic monetary value.
This disaster prompted Honda to take drastic measures to salvage its standing and introduce a revolutionary mannequin in 1986—the VFR750. In the identical yr, Honda additionally launched a restricted version VFR (750F), also called the RC30 within the United States for homologation functions, as a racing platform for the World Superbike Championship, which had some success. Only 3,000 have been produced over three years and offered for $15,000 every, its manufacturing run ending in 1990.
eBay
With Honda utilizing its V4 expertise, the 1986-1989 Honda VFR750F emerged as a game-changer, designed not solely to rectify the previous however to set new requirements. At its core was a meticulously engineered gear-driven cam V4 engine like those used on the VF1000R, marking a departure from the problematic VF sequence, however retaining the 90°, 16 valve format, in addition to its dimensions of 70 mm x 48.6 mm, and compression ratio.
The lighter pistons and connecting rods were uprated to assist enhance the VFR’s energy. The identical might be stated for the bigger Keihin CV carbs that have been greater than their VF counterparts and have been re-angled to offer a extra direct path to the consumption valves. Its crankshaft had a 180° firing order as an alternative of the 360° just like the RVF racer and delivered a most output of 105 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, 15 horsepower greater than the VF model.
Engine Specifications
Engine
Four-stroke, 90° V-4, gear-driven DOHC with rocker arm, 4 valves per cylinder
Displacement
748 cc / 45.6 cubic inches
Bore x Stroke
70 mm x 48.6 mm
Compression Ratio
10.5:1
Cooling System
Liquid-cooled
Induction
4 x 34.5 mm Keihin VD carburetors
Power
105 HP @ 10,500 RPM
Torque
48.7 LB-FT @ 7,500 RPM
Lubrication
Forced stress and moist sump
Top Speed
147 MPH
Honda VFR Highlights
The consumption tracts are straighter
Each camshaft lobe has its personal oil jet for lubrication
A newly designed valve gear makes use of particular person rocker arms as an alternative of a forked arm working two valves
Better exhaust scavenging due to a extra even firing order
The VFR’s superior and new aluminum twin-spar chassis and distinctive construct high quality showcased Honda’s commitment to mechanical excellence. Legend has it that Honda intentionally offered the VFR at a loss initially, demonstrating their dedication to restoring their reputation for reliability.
Like most Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, Honda’s chassis mixed forged sections on the headstock space and a swingarm pivot with extruded primary rails. With aluminum being one-third the burden of metal, utilizing 3 times as a lot gave it an extremely light-weight, versatile, and inflexible chassis all on the identical time, contributing to the VFR’s economical weight of 437 lbs.
With the engine bolted in place, the body was 50% stiffer in torsion than the VF’s metal body. In the suspension division, the VFR utilized Showa 37mm air-assisted forks with a brand new, smaller, and lighter Torque Reactive Anti-Dive system (TRAC) to scale back fork compression throughout braking, whereas the rear Pro-Link shock absorber featured solely preload adjustment by way of a distant adjuster located behind a facet cowl.
Despite its designation as a sports activities tourer, the VFR boasted dealing with capabilities comparable to premier superbikes of its era. Well-balanced, the Interceptor single-handedly restored Honda’s popularity as an engineering big and gained accolades for its efficiency and practicality.
The engineers at Honda had shaved weight all over the place they might, proper right down to the aluminum footpegs, paring 44 lbs within the course of. The Interceptor retained its 16-inch entrance and 18-inch rear wheels from the VF whereas the rake and wheelbase figured at 27.5° (with 4.1 inches of path) and 58.1 inches respectively.
A defining second got here in 1986 when Ron Haslam achieved a exceptional third place within the Transatlantic Trophy race at Donington on a stock VFR, competing in opposition to formidable rivals like Fred Merkel and Kevin Schwantz. The VFR’s prowess prolonged to worldwide races, with an eighth-place end on the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hour race. All this for a value of $5,300 and a race package for an additional $1,000 in case you wished it, which included titanium valves.
The Honda CBR900RR Fireblade was a bike that modified the sportbike world
VFR Success And Strong Sales
Honda
The VFR’s success translated into sturdy gross sales, due to its unequalled efficiency and reliability. The swap to 17-inch wheels and beauty tweaks demonstrated Honda’s cautious method, permitting the VFR’s excellence to talk for itself. Recognizing the successful components, Honda avoided substantial modifications, making solely minor changes in 1988. Europe obtained the RC30 (VFR750R), although the United States wouldn’t obtain the VFR50F Interceptor until 1990 as a result of Harley-imposed 700cc tariff, although the 700cc model was nonetheless out there by way of 1987.
The authentic VFR750F stands as a testomony to Honda’s resilience and dedication to innovation. Born from the ashes of the VF debacle, it not solely restored Honda’s popularity however turned a benchmark for sport-touring motorcycles. But Honda wouldn’t cease there, and later in 1998, with the 750 that started all of it in 1986, the VFR’s engine was elevated to 781cc, making approach for the VFR800FI. The VFR’s legacy endures, exemplifying the transformative energy of a meticulously designed and well-executed machine. Its legacy stays an integral a part of Honda’s wealthy historical past on the earth of motorcycling.
Most of the options fall below the consolation and comfort class, however there was the addition of a major security tech as nicely on one in all its prime SUVs
Ever since Kia made its entry into India, its vehicles have been recognized for being better-equipped choices in comparison with the Hyundais of the respective segments. The Kia Seltos, already a feature-rich providing proper from its launch, was not too long ago given a midlife replace that solely enhanced its gear set. Not solely that, Kia’s different two mass-market merchandise, specifically the Kia Sonet and Kia Carens, had been additionally given a handful of updates in 2023. In this story, let’s spherical up all the brand new options that Kia launched on its extra accessible and localised fashions (thereby excluding the totally imported EV6) in 2023:
Kia Seltos
In July 2023, Kia launched the Seltos in a refreshed avatar. It not solely bought a revised look on the surface, however its cabin was given a contemporary attraction as nicely.
With the midlife replace, the compact SUV bought a good richer gear listing which gave it some new options for a Kia in India resembling dual-zone local weather management, panoramic sunroof, a ten.25-inch totally digital driver’s show, linked LED back lights, and superior driver help programs (ADAS).
The panoramic sunroof is offered from the mid-spec HTK+ trim (however solely with the turbo variant) whereas dual-zone local weather management is obtainable from higher-spec HTX.
If you need your SUV with the totally digital instrument cluster, it’s essential to decide the Seltos HTX+ or the next variant, whereas ADAS is restricted to the top-spec GT and X-Line variants.
Kia presently sells the Seltos from Rs 10.90 lakh to Rs 20.30 lakh.
Kia Carens
Even the Kia Carens was given an replace in early 2023 which gave it the brand new 160 PS 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine provided with a selection of 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT.
The MPV was additionally the primary Kia mannequin to get a diesel-iMT combo, which is offered on all variants apart from the higher-spec Luxury (O) and top-spec X-Line. This powertrain was made obtainable within the Sonet and Seltos as nicely.
Kia additionally not too long ago outfitted the Carens with the identical 10.25-inch digital driver’s show because the Seltos. It is offered from the higher-spec Luxury (O) trim.
The Carens retails between Rs 10.45 lakh and Rs 19.45 lakh.
The Kia Sonet, too, had obtained the brand new diesel-iMT combo from the Carens in early 2023.
Kia will quickly be debuting the facelifted Sonet, which has gained some options resembling a digital driver’s show, 360-degree digital camera and ADAS.
As per a number of leaks, the Sonet facelift will get the digital instrument cluster from the higher-spec HTX+ variant whereas ADAS will probably be restricted to the totally loaded X-Line trim. Expect this to vary within the last mannequin, although.
The Sonet facelift is predicted to have a beginning value of Rs 8 lakh.
These are all of the options which we noticed for the primary time on a mass-market made-in-India Kia automobile. Which of those is your favorite and why? Let us know within the feedback.
This 12 months’s checklist consists of nearly each class of automobile, from the likes of the MG Comet EV to the BMW M2
It’s been fairly a 12 months within the India automotive area with a formidable set of recent automobiles that entered the market throughout varied segments, together with EVs. That additionally means it’s time for the trade consultants to determine one of the best of the bunch as a part of the annual Indian Car Of The Year (ICOTY) awards. Let’s take a look at the ultimate nominees for every of the three classes of the ICOTY 2024:
The model with essentially the most variety of nominated fashions this 12 months is BMW, with a complete of 4 entrants, together with its flagship EV, the i7. Meanwhile, the checklist of predominant ICOTY candidates continues to be dominated by SUVs, whereas the others embrace 1 sedan, 1 hybrid MPV, and a compact 2-door EV.
In order to determine the winners of the ICOTY 2024 awards, there’s a jury of consultants comprising almost 20 members from varied automotive publications, together with CarDekho’s personal Ameya Dandekar, that might be assessing the entire automobiles talked about above. Stay tuned to seek out out which of them come out on high for every class.
In the games category, the Users’ Choice awards are expected to be highly competitive. One game that might influence the voters’ decision is “Street Fighter Duel – Idle RPG” by Crunchyroll Games. This strategy-based team fight game features popular characters like Ken, Ryu, and Chun Li from the well-known “Street Fighter” franchise. The latest installment of the franchise, “Street Fighter 6,” was also released earlier this year.
“Mighty Doom,” a mobile-friendly adaptation of the iconic “Doom” franchise by Bethesda, offers players a third-person kill-em-all experience. In this highly-rated game, players assume the role of the chainsaw-wielding protagonist known as the “Doomslayer” as they battle hordes of hellspawn.
Another strong contender is EA’s “The Lord of the Rings: Heroes,” which brings Tolkien’s fantasy world to life on mobile screens. However, the game’s reputation has been somewhat tarnished due to aggressive microtransactions. The remaining game contenders for the Users’ Choice award are “Aether Gazer,” “Arena Breakout,” “Cat Snack Bar: Cat Food Tycoon,” “Farlight 84,” “Honkai: Star Rail,” “MONOPOLY GO!,” and “Viking Rise.”
The White House has officially designated 31 technology hubs in the United States to foster innovation and support the growth of various industries. These hubs cover different categories, including autonomous systems technology and biotechnology applied in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. The tech hubs are located across the country, spanning states such as Montana, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Virginia, New Hampshire, Missouri, Kansas, Maryland, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Louisiana, Idaho, Georgia, South Carolina, New York, Florida, Oregon, Texas, Maine, Washington, Vermont, and even Puerto Rico.
Several federal agencies, including the USDA and the Transportation Department, will provide assistance to these tech hubs when appropriate. Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, expressed the importance of these consortia, stating, “Each of these consortia will help us ensure the industries of the future — and their high-paying jobs — start, grow, and remain in the United States.” It is worth noting that the selection process for these tech hubs involved entities applying for the designation, with the 31 chosen from a pool of approximately 400 applicants. The grants allocated to support these tech hubs will amount to nearly $500 million.
Extreme E organizers have announced the launch of a new hydrogen-powered category, called Extreme H, in 2025. This will mark the first time a FIA world championship will use hydrogen as a fuel source. The Extreme H category will feature the same off-road SUV-styled buggies as the current Extreme E series, but with an electric powertrain replaced by a hydrogen version, possibly employing a hydrogen fuel cell system.
Alejandro Agag, founder of Extreme E, has previously expressed plans to run Extreme H alongside Extreme E, following the same format. Both series will hold events on off-road courses in extreme locations impacted by climate change. Each team consists of a female and male driver who switch mid-race.
Extreme E has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the FIA to establish Extreme H as an official FIA championship by 2025. At the same time, Extreme E itself will gain official FIA recognition, becoming an officially recognized series. Once specific criteria are met, Extreme H will become an official FIA world championship starting from 2026. Only seven series, including the electric Formula E world championship, hold this prestigious title.
Extreme E founder Alejandro Agag has expressed his excitement about this development, stating, “This announcement is a significant first step in the development of our championship and our ground-breaking transition to hydrogen-powered racing. Sport is the most powerful and effective platform to drive innovation, and our commitment to delivering sustainable motorsport championships, full of excitement and with a reduced carbon footprint, is testament to that.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has also voiced his support, emphasizing the FIA’s goal of utilizing sustainable power sources in motorsport. He stated, “Using sustainable power sources in motorsport is the key objective of the FIA and part of our long-term strategy, and this series is an ideal showcase for that. Hydrogen is an important part of that mix, and we have developed a set of safety regulations for hydrogen-powered vehicles, which is part of the FIA’s International Sporting Code.”
The new Extreme H category will be able to leverage the existing infrastructure at Extreme E events. Typically, electricity to power the cars is generated on site using solar panels, with the energy then converted into hydrogen and utilized to power electricity generators.
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