Honda Riders Magazine July 2011

8/6/2019 Honda Riders Magazine July 2011

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No. 116



ContentsAugust/September 2011

HRCA News

4 - 2011 Motocross Update

6 - MotoGP andWSB Update

8 - Honda Launches NSF250R Road Racing Machine

10 - Cover Story: JCR Honda One-Two in Baja 500

- Honda’s Off-Road Racing Update

11 - USGPs:Just Around the Corner

- Lap of Champions

12 - Ride for Kids Summer Events Heat Up Donations for PBTF

13 - Canard Crowned Supercross Rookie of theYear

- Follow Honda Online

Features

14 The Ultimate Apex Predator:2011 Honda RC212V18 Casey Stoner: BackWith Honda

22 More 2012 Hondas Fill the Ranks

28 Makin’Miles:2012 GoldWing Press Ride

38 Shooter Dave and His XR650L:In Search of America—and Honda Dealers

42 SoYouWant to Ride a Dual-Sport Event?

46 Dehydration:WhyYou Should Pay as Much Attention

toYour Body’s Radiator as Your Bike’s

50 MakeYour Shadow a Reflection ofYourselfWith Honda Genuine Accessories

August/September 2011 Honda

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Honda Red Rider August/September 2011

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ONTHE COVER:Summertime’shere,andif youthink thingsare prettywarmrightnow,youshouldhavebeeninMexicowhenKendallNormanandthe JohnnyCampbellRacingcrew werescorchingthe competitionin theBaja 500.Photo: MarkKariya




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Honda Red Rider August/Septemeber 2011

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HRCANews

MotocrossUpdate

overall in the points. The team welcome

Grant backat Coloradoafter recuperatingfrom

injury, and he’s working on getting back up t

race speed. Another Honda racer having solid season is Troy Lee Designs/Lucas O

Honda’s CHRISTIAN CRAIG. The 450-clas

rookie has been a regular in the top 10, twic

nabbing holeshots, and currently sits eighth i

the points.

The250 classnever fails toproducenail-b

ing action, as is the case again this season

After winning the 2011 Supercross Lites Eas

title,GEICOHonda’sJUSTIN BARCIA contin

ues to lay it all on the line each week.Barcia

shown incredible speed aboard his Hond

CRF250R out of the start gate, grabbing th

holeshotsix times,andafterlandinga stringo

top-10 finishes including finishing runner-up i

two motos, is seventh overall in the champ

onship. Barcia’s teammate ELI TOMAC ha

beena strongcontenderup front allseasonan

after six rounds is fourth in the championship

Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s COL

SEELY rounds out ninth spot in the points.

The Women’s motocross championsh

classcontinues to showcasetight battleseac

week, and after winning two of four rounds

including a 1-1 sweep at RedBud, Hond

Racing’s Fiolek leads the Women’s champ

onship by eight points. Troy Lee Design

Lucas Oil/Honda’s TARAH GIEGER has fin

ished on three of four overall podiums and

holds down third in the championship.

TARAHGIEGERAND ASHLEYFIOLEK

CHADREED (alsoshownat left)

The Honda Red Riders came out of the gate

hardin the2011 AMAMotocrossand Women’s

Motocross Championships. At the halfway

point in the series Team TwoTwo Motorsports’

CHAD REED leads the 450 Championship,

winning four of six rounds, while American

Honda Racing’s ASHLEY FIOLEKis the front

runner in the Women’s Championship.

Honda-mounted Reed is clearly the man to

beat for the 2011 Motocross title after racking

up six moto wins and four overall victories.

Aboard his TwoTwo Motorsports/factory

Honda–prepared CRF450R, Reed took back-

to-back victories at Hangtown and Freestone,and finished on top at Budds Creek and

RedBud.He hasa 16-pointlead in thechampi-

onship. With American Honda Racing’s TREY

CANARD and JOSH GRANT unable to com-

pete at the start of the season due to injuries

they sustained during the Supercross season,

veteran Honda racer KEVINWINDHAM made

his return to the factory Honda squad aboard

an American Honda Racing CRF450R.

Windhamhas beena strong contenderup front

and after finishing just shy of the podium in

fourth place three times this season is sixth




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HRCANews

The 2011 MotoGP season is well underway and R

Honda racers CASEY STONER, DANI PEDROS

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO have done a valiant job of

Honda’s RC212V up front each week. Honda has f

on top at five of the eight completed rounds, and w

rounds to go in the series, it’s shaping up to be one h

a season for Honda.

It didn’t take long for team newcomer Casey St

find his feet on his Repsol Honda RC212V, winn

opening round of the season at the Grand Prix of

After getting caught up with another racer at the s

roundand crashingout ofthe race,Stoner rebounde

ish third in Portugal and then take victory at the fol

twoeventsin FranceandSpain, aswellas atthe Bri

Repsol Honda teammate Pedrosa began his seaaccompanying Stoner on the Qatar podium in third,

went one better the following round finishing sec

Spain. Pedrosa’s first win of the season came in Po

However, his2011 campaignsuffereda majorsetbac

he crashed at roundfour,breakinghis collarbone.He

went surgery to repair his injury and is expected to m

full return to racing later in the season. Dovizioso ha

a contender up front at each round, finishing on the

four timesandjustshyof thepodiumin fourthplaceo

occasions.The Repsol Honda team currently holds

thetop threepositionsin thechampionship:Stoner le

riders and Dovizioso holds down third.

Flamboyant newcomer to the field, Italian M

SIMONCELLI, has also made his mark on the ch

onship. Riding a factory-supported RC212V for th

Carlos Honda team, Simoncelli opened the season

fifth, finished fifth again in France and Assen, an

proved he was the real deal by grabbing his first M

pole position in Spain, plus a second pole at Assen

InWorld Superbike Racingaction, JONATHANREA

his Castrol Honda CBR1000RR to the overall victory

team’s homeracein Assen, Netherlands.His winin rafollowedby thirdplaceinracetwowereenoughtoput

top for the round and record the team’s first win of th

son. Rea was holding down sixth in the championsh

completing five rounds, but he then injured his arm d

warm-up get-off at round six in Misano, Italy, and w

several races.His Repsol Honda teammate RUBEN

has recorded several top-10 finishes and is 16 th in po

MotoGPandWSBUpdates

CASEYSTONER

ANDREADOVIZIOSO

DANIPEDROSA




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HRCANews

HondaLaunchesNSF250RRoadRacingMachine

Honda Racing Corporation announces the debut of the NSF250R, a

developed and commercially available road racing motorcycle purpo

for the Moto3 class that will be added to the FIM Road Racing

Championship Grand Prix (WGP) in 2012.Sales of the new vehicle a

geted to begin in December 2011.

In developing the NSF250R, Honda took the “Next Racing Stand

its development concept and reaped the benefits of extensive and adv

racing technology cultivated in the RS125R. The liquid-cooled four

single-cylinder DOHC 249cc powerplant was specifically designed for

applications as a lightweight and compact unit that delivers a rema

high output. To achieve such power along with excellent responsivene

engine incorporates a front-intake/rear-exhaust configuration with

charging efficiency, while adopting a layout with the cylinder tilted b

degrees to centralize mass.

To ensure strong power throughout the high-rpm range, the NS

adopts titanium valves for both intake and exhaust to reduce frictio

lighten the valve train.Furthermore, the design reduces friction betwe

ton and cylinder and improves durability by offsetting the cylinder ce

and applying nickel silicon carbide (Ni-SiC) for the cylinder surfac

ment. The cassette gearbox design was selected for quick and easyset changes for the close-ratio six-speed transmission, thereby allowin

selection to be optimized over a large variety of racing circuits.

The new frame design ensures excellent cornering traits and an

that doesn’t just meet but surpasses the RS125R by revising the rigid

ance and shape, while retaining the compact dimensions of the RS

The basic structure of the front and rear suspension remains the sa

on the RS125R, and the NSF250R-exclusive settings produce a m

with excellent riding stability. The wind-cheating bodywork mak

NSF250R the equal of the RS125R in aerodynamic performance,

cooling duct on the under cowl improves the engine’s cooling perfor

The Honda NSF250R stands tall as the next-generation road

machine conforming to Moto3 standards, one that will bring a new

excitement to World GP road racing.

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL:NSF250R

ENGINETYPE:Liquid-cooled four-stroke

DOHCsingle-cylinder

DISPLACEMENT: 249.3cc

BOREAND STROKE:78mmx 52.2mm

INDUCTION: PGM-FI

IGNITION: Fulltransistor

CLUTCH:Wetmultiplate

TRANSMISSION: Constant-mesh six-speed

SUSPENSION

Front: Invertedtelescopic

Rear: Pro-Link®

BRAKES

Front: Hydraulic,296mm disc

Rear:Hydraulic,186mmdisc

TIRES

Front: 90/580R17

Rear: 120/600R17

WHEELBASE: 48.0inchesGROUNDCLEARANCE:4.2inches

RAKE(CASTER ANGLE):22.0°36’

SEATHEIGHT:28.7inches

FUELCAPACITY:2.9gallons

COLOR:White

CURBWEIGHT:185pounds

(Coloringshownforbodyand stickersis forphotographicpurposesonly.The bodycolorisall w




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HRCANews

Honda Red Rider ™ Vol.20 No.116 August/September 2011

Publisher - American Honda Motor Co., Inc.Editorial Office - Vreeke & Associates Inc., 845 E.Easy St., Suite 101, Simi Valley, CA 93065

Honda Red Rider assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, drawings or photographs, and such materials will not be returned unless accompanself-addressed, stamped envelope.

Publication of any article, photograph, illustration or advertisement in Honda Red Rider should not be construed as an endorsement by American HonCo., Inc., or its affiliated companies or dealer organization, of specific products, accessories or their use.The opinions expressed by the con-tributing writers of this publication are the sole opinions of these contributors, and should not be construed as an endorsement by AmericanHonda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda Red Rider is published for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., byVreeke & Associates.Copyright ©2011 American Honda MotorCo., Inc.All rights reserved.Reproduction in w hole or in part without w ritten permission is prohibited.

Honda, Honda Red Rider , Honda Riders Club of America and HRCA are trademarks of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Other trade-marks in this publication are property of their respective owners.

JCR Honda’s KENDALL NORMAN returned

to his winning ways on April 23 after missing

three rounds of the AMA Racing Hare & Hound

Championship Series with a knee injury.

Aboard his Honda CRF450X, the defending

champion clinched his first victory in the 2011

series, winning the Lucerne Valley, CA, event.

Norman’s teammate COLTON UDALL raced

his JCR Honda to his best finish of the series—

sixth—while fellow CRF450X-mounted rider

Purvines Racing Honda’s DAVID PEARSON

placed fourth.

Honda’sOff-RoadRacingUpdate

USGPs:JustAroundtheCorner

JCR Honda’s KENDALL NORMAN and QUINN CODY, along with JCR

teammates COLTONUDALL and DAVEKAMO, dominated the 2011Tecate

SCORE Baja 500, giving Honda the top-two overall motorcycle finishing

positions.Aboard their JCR Honda–prepared CRF450X, Norman and Cody

crossed the finish line in a winning time of 8:47:07 at an average speed of

51.76 mph, marking the duo’s second-straight Baja 500 win. The victory

marked Norman’s fifth win in this event in the last six years, and it was

Cody’s second time winning the grueling race.

Initially Udall and Kamo were thought to have won the event; however,

after data tracking was complete, the duo received a 10-minute time penalty,

resulting in Norman and Cody getting the overall win. It was the first time

Udall and Kamo had paired together, and JCR Honda dedicated the race to

the memory of Udall’s former teammate Jeff Kargola, who died recently fol-

lowing a riding accident in Baja.

Honda’s record of domination in Baja stretches back many decades, but

in the last 20 years Honda riders have really ruled south of the border.The

2011 Norman/Cody win earned Honda its 16 th overall motorcycle victory and

a remarkable 15th consecutive Baja 500 victory.

JCRHondaOne-TwoinBaja500

The Grand National Cross Country Series

(GNCC) has been a washout—literally.Rounds

five and six were cancelled due to rain.The two

washed-out rounds have been rescheduled for

theweekendof November4-6.The rescheduled

November race will mark the first-ever double-

header in GNCC history. The competition

resumed with the running of the first-ever Rock

Run GNCC held in Patton, PA, in late May, and

Honda’sfactory-supported GEICO/JGOff-Road

team took away top-10 finishes at the event.

SCOTT WATKINS finished seventh in the XC2

Pro Lites Class; RORY MEAD, sitting in for

injured rider JIMMY JARRETT, took eighth in

the XC1 Pro Class; and ASHLEY CROUCH

nabbed sixth place in the Women’s Class.

Imagine taking a parade lap with racing

KevinSchwantzat theworld-famousIndia

Motor Speedway, when the track is still h

MotoGP qualifying. You can make that

come true when you join the Pediatri

Tumor Foundation ® (PBTF) Lap of Cham

on Saturday, August 27, during the Re

IndianapolisGP. You’llalso getthe chance

some dream gear, including a custom-p

2010HondaCBR600RR.The Lapof Cha

is limited to 300 motorcycles, so reserv

spot before the event sells out. Proceeds

fit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundatio

ported by Ride for Kids ® .

LapofChampions

• For more information and to register, clic• To learn more about the MotoGP events and ticket packages, click here

KENDALLNORMAN

COLTONUDALL

Did you buy your tickets to the Laguna Seca MotoGP yet? How about the

MotoGP at Indianapolis? Well, don’tmiss yourchanceto seeRepsol Honda’s

Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, along with San Carlo

Gresini Honda’s Marco Simoncelli and Hiroshi Aoyama, take on MotoGP’s

finest on U.S.soil, as well as AMA racing action, in this dual event at the sto-

ried Laguna Seca racetrack.

Takeadvantageof twodiscountoffers to bothUSGPs through yourHRCAmembership! For anyone who is an HRCA member, special ticket packages

are now being offered to the 2011 Red Bull MotoGP at Laguna Seca, July

22-24,in Monterey, CA,andthe2011RedBullIndianapolis GPat thefamous

Brickyard, August 25-28, which includes Moto2 series action.

Whileyou’rethere, besureto stop bytheHondadisplay toseethe latestin

Hondamotorcycle,ATVand BigRed ® models onshow.In additionto Honda’s

stellar modellineup, don’tmissyour chance to seefirsthandPedrosa’sRepsol

Honda RC212V race machine, which will be on display at Laguna Seca.

Details of the Indianapolis event and available packages are listed on the

ticket purchase page of the HRCAWeb site.

Click on the bar below to learn about everything that’s included in these

ticket offers, andbuy yourpackageto attendthe 2011Red BullU.S.MotoGPs

at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis now!

https://secure3.convio.net/pbtf/site/Donation2?idb=268405441&df_id=2302&2302.donation=form1


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RideforKids®SummerEventsHeatUpDonationsforPBTF

OnJune5, Ridefor Kids ® events in Georgia,Virginia,Ohio and

NewMexicoraised over$346,000 forthe PediatricBrainTumor

Foundation ® (PBTF).

Atlanta held its 28th Ride for Kids and raised $116,537 on

a hot June morning.Nationall y syndicated talk show host Neal

Boortz was the grand marshal for the ride, which left from

North Point Mall in Alpharetta and followed four-lane high-

ways and scenic back country roads to the historic gold min-

ing town of Dahlonega.

Richmond riders came out in the rain to raise $89,488 forthe PBTF.The ride through rural Virginia began and ended at

the Richmond Times-Dispatch facility in Mechanicsville.During

the post-ride program, Dr.Yiping He and Dr.Chien-Tsu n Kuan

of the PBTF Institute at Duke University spoke about how

research is saving lives.

The Cleveland Ride for Kids raised 11 percent more this

year than last for a total of $78,861. The ride wandered

HRCANews

It’s never been easier to get up-to-the-minute news, information, im

andvideosof Hondastreetand off-roadmotorcyclemodels,plusthe

latest in Honda racing news. In addition to the powersports.honda

Web site, more and more Honda customers and enthusiasts are tuni

toHonda’ssocial networkingpages onFacebook,MySpace, Twitter,You

and Flickr to stay informed. Sharing information with friends, family

like-mindedpeoplecouldn’tbesimpler.

Clickonthe iconsbelowtocheck outHondaPowersportspages:

Clickonthe iconsbelowforthe latestin HondaFurynewsand photo

TheVFR1200FandCBR250R havetheirownFacebookpages,just clickotheappropriateicon:

FollowHondaOnline

Don’t get left behind. Visit a Honda social networking page and bec

a Honda follower today!

VFR1200F CBR250R

NEW!

through Cleveland Metroparks to Woodridge Middle School

in Peninsula.

Despite wildfires near Albuquerque, motorcyclists partici-

patedin thearea’ssixth Ridefor Kids.Theeventraised$61,700

for the PBTF. The cool morning air gave way to warm, hazy

weather asthe rideleftfromtheMesadel SolFields atJournal

Pavilion. Participants traveled over the Land of Enchantment’s

beautiful desert roads before returning for the Celebration

of Life.

Brain tumor survivors attended each of the rides, and theyand their parents expressed their appreciation for the support

they receive from the PBTF. After the rides, drawing prizes,

including Hondamotorcycles, Dunloptires andTourmastergift

certificates, were awarded.

For moreinformationabouttheRFKprogramandto findout

how you can participate in one of the rides, please visit the

organization’s Web site pbtfus.org/rideforkids .

At the2011 SupercrossAwardsbanquet

held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las

Vegas, NV, American Honda Racing’s

TREY CANARD was awarded the

esteemed Supercross Rookie of the

YearAward.Canardprovedhimselfone ofthe hottest rider

Supercross class this year by finishing on the podium six t

his rookie season, including winning three Supercross eve

Canard’s first Supercross career win came in Houston

a good start in the main, slotting into second spot on the o

lap. At the midway point, Canard moved into the lead, wh

held for the remaining 10 laps.

From there, Canard’s season continued to gain momand he took victories at both the Jacksonville and Dallas e

At both races, Canard posted impressive wire-to-wire vi

With three rounds to go in the series, Canard was fifth

championship, only 20 points out of the lead, when he suff

crash during practice that broke his leg and took him ou

remaining Supercross season. Despite missing the final r

nobody could surpass Canard for Rookie of the Year.

CanardCrownedSupercrossRookieof theYear

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TheUltimateApex Predator:

2011HondaRC212V Lookat the2011 HondaRC212Vand behold

an exquisitely engineered masterpiece

perched on the very highest rung of motor-

cycle racing’s evolutionary ladder. In this,

the final year of 800cc MotoGP race bikes

that will give way to 1000cc machines in2012, the RC212V has simply devoured

every challenger on the grid.





Of the five GP races completed as of this writing, the

RC212V has won four—that would equate to a bat-

ting average of .800 if we were talking baseball.

Moreover, the three members of the Repsol Honda

Team have compiled a total of eight podium finishes

plusthree fourth-placefinishes,despiteCasey Stoner

getting knocked out of the Spanish GP by another

rider andDaniPedrosamissingtwo ofthe five rounds

with a broken collarbone inflicted courtesy of another

rider at the French GP.The 2011 RC212V has not reached this level of

mechanical advancement by accident—quite the

opposite, in fact. Beginning with the earliest tests for

the 2011 season, HRC (Honda Racing Corporation)

delivered new machines incorporating changes and

improvementson all aspects of the already-advanced

2010 version. A new twin-spar aluminum chassis

boasts improvements that endowed the machine

with a new level of tuned rigidity, a delicate balance

designed to reach the maximum compatibility

between world-class turning manners and stability at

ultra-high speeds.

Theframe isincrediblylightyetit providesthe ideal

stiffness and strength characteristics required to con-

tain and deliver in excess of (HRC will not reveal how

much excess) 210 bhp at the rear tire. And arriving at

thecorrectchassisconfigurationis no simple task:test

sessions included a bewildering array of geometry

settings, different swingarms and next-generation

Öhlins shock and fork that all needed to be blended

together intoproperbalance.Keep inmindthereis no

owner’s manual, no computer program, no magic for-

mula to pave the way to success—just tons of hard

work andon-track evaluationof newparts bythemost

elite riders in the world. Obviously, suspension com-

ponents and settings play a vital role in overall per-

formance, and that’s why each Repsol Honda rider

has a dedicated Öhlins technician assigned exclu-

sively to him.

In the powerplant department, the RC21

featured a liquid-cooled, four-stroke V4 config

800ccDOHC (double overheadcam) engines

introduction in 2007. For 2011, the 2010 vers

updated and improved with more power distrib

all areas; in testing, rider comments were esp

positiveregardingthe extrapowerat lowerrevs

same time, durability of the engine has been

tained and improved to match the regulations

restrict each rider to using only six engines in t

all of the 18-race World Championship serie

effect of these rules is to extend engine life to a

imately 2000 km (1243 miles) and Hond

achieved this target without sacrificing performAnother key aspect in the RC212V’s engi

formance is the updated electronics packa

helpsridersmake full useof thepower ontap.

is no given; the riders and crews invest massiv

ingefforts to derivethe correctelectronics sett

engine mapping andtractioncontrol,plus clutc

and more.

Other touches of factory exotica include th

weight carbon-fiber bodywork that plays an im

roleinmakingtheRC212V asaerodynamicas

ble, and the carbon fiber front brakes supp

Brembo. Carbon brakes work best when the

and reach up to 400 degrees C (752 degree

wetconditions, theRC212VtransitionstoYuta

brake disks front and rear.

The final components in the MotoGP mix

tires supplied tothe seriesby Bridgestone.Eac

is permitted to use a maximum of 18 slick tires

each grand prix weekend and eight wet tires,

every session is deemed wet.Each grand prix

end,Bridgestone’sslick tiresare availablein tw

pounds and the wet tires in just a single com

selected by Bridgestone in advance.The softe

Bridgestone slick tires is marked with a wh

painted around the sidewall. The tire siz

125/60R16.5up front,with a 190/65R16.5tire i

Put it all together, and the sum of these part

up to the apex predator in the art and science

racing: the Honda RC212V.





CaseyStoner:BackWithHonda





HondaRedRider: Sinceyourdebutonthe RC212Vat Valencia,youseem

tohaveadaptedperfectlyto themachine.Whatmakesyouclickwith

theRC212V?

CaseyStoner: Thepowerdeliveryis whatIimmediatelynoticedwhenIfirst

jumpedonthe Honda.It’ssomethingI’ve continuedto beimpressedwith and

thedifferentvariableswecando withtheenginetosuitmystyle.

HRR: Whatdoesitmeanforyoubeingpartof theRepsolHondaTeam?

asey Stoner didn’t wait long to celebrate his return to

Honda in 2011: Aboard the Repsol Honda RC212V,

Stoner posted two MotoGP wins and three pole positions out

of the first four races.

Stoner began his MotoGP career with Honda on Team

LCR in 2006, and now the diminutive Australian is out to

repeat his 2007 title-winning success back on a Honda. Born

in Stockport, Queensland, Australia, Stoner began riding

motorcycles when he was four and by age six had won his

first Australian title. At age 12, at the Australian Long Track

Championship in New South Wales, he raced five different

classes—each of which had seven rounds—for a total of 35

races in a single weekend. He won 32 of those 35 races, and

took all five titles.By the time he was 14, he had won 42 dirt

track titles and more than 70 state titles in Australia. Like somany great American road racing champions, Stoner’s dirt

track background would serve him well when he made the

jump to road racing.

Afterdominatingyouth motorcycling in Australia,the young

phenom and his family relocated to the UK in 2000, where

thelegalagefor road racingis 14comparedto Australia’s 16.

He won the British 125cc Championship that same year. In

2003, Stoner was old enough to enter the 125 Grand Prix

World Championship, where he competed for two seasons,

learning the tracks and acclimating to international travel. In

2005, he jumped into the 250 Grand Prix class, and battled

with now Repsol teammate Dani Pedrosa for the 250 title.

Pedrosa won the championship, but Stoner kept him honest

for the entire season, grabbing 10 podiums and winning five

races en route to finishing runner-up in the championship.

Moreimportantly, thePedrosa/Stonerseason-long battlewon

them both seats in the premier MotoGP class for 2006.

Athis 2006 debut,Stoner qualified onpolein only hissec-

ond-everMotoGP raceand finished onthe podiumin histhird

race. He finished his rookie season an impressive eighth in

the championship. The following year, Stoner’s many years

as a dedicated kid racer gelled into one of the most dominat-ing MotoGP seasons in history: he won 10 races and his first

World Championship. Over the next three seasons, Stoner

came closeto reclaiming thetitle, racking upa combinedtotal

of 23 Grand Prix wins by the end of the 2010 season.

HondaRed Rider hadthechancetoget Stoner’s thoughts

on joining Repsol Honda for the 2011 MotoGP season and

about riding Honda’s RC212V.

C

CS: Formeit’salife-longdreamtobeon thisteam.SincewatchingMick

Doohan,it’sbeenmy ambitiontoraceforRepsolHonda,sothisis adream

cometrue.

HRR: Youstartedyourmotorsportcareerindirttracklikea lotof

Americanroadracingchampions.Whatdidyoulearnthenthatis still

usefultoday?

CS: Ilearned alot aboutthrottlecontrolandbody control. Withdirt track,

youneedtofindthebestlineandthemostgrip,whichsometimescanbe a

littlestrange.

HRR: Whatisyourstrongestpointasa rider?

CS: IthinkI’mwellbalanced.I cangetgoodtractionandcornerspee

Ineedto.I canalsobrakereallylate—soI’mquiteabalancedrider.

HRR: YouhaveswitchedfromanItalianto aJapanesebikethissea

Canyouexplainwhatchangesfortherider?

CS: Foronething,thevibrationis alotlessin theHonda.Also,I feelIc

adjustandadapttheHondaa loteasierwhereaswiththeItalianbike

reallyfind theperfectsetup.





Honda’s 2012 model year contin-

ues to gain momentum as more

and more motorcycles and ATVs

beef up the already extensive list

of machinery for the new season.

This latest update brings a quar-

tet of off-road motorcycles, two

sport ATVs and one amazingly

popular and enduring street bike.

These new-model releases

include the immensely capable

and popular CRF450X and

CRF250X for demanding off-road

enthusiasts; the family-friendly

CRF230F and CRF150F trail

bikes; the much-acclaimed

TRX450R andTRX250X sport

ATVs;and the Rebel ® , one of the

best beginner bikes to ever grace

the roadways of America.

RebelFor years, the Rebel has remained a favorite among ent

street riders—and for good reason. Stylish good looks g

Rebel an enduring appeal, it’s comfortable, light and e

maneuver,and itsdurabilityhas grownto legendary prop

Whether you’re running errands around town or heading

town for a riding adventure, the tough Rebel serves as

riding partner. Availability: September

New for 2012:

- Matte Silver and Candy Red colors.

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: CMX250C

ENGINETYPE: 234ccair-cooled paralleltwin-cylinderBOREANDSTROKE:53mmx53mm

COMPRESSIONRATIO: 9.2:1

VALVETRAIN:SOHC;two valvespercylinder

INDUCTION: Single26mmdiaphragm-typeCV carburetor

IGNITION:CD

TRANSMISSION:Five-speed

FINALDRIVE: O-ring–sealedchain

SUSPENSIONFront:33mmfork; 4.6inches travelRear:Dualshocks withfive-positionspringpreloadadjustability;2.9inches travel

BRAKESFront: Singledisc withtwin-pistoncaliperRear:Drum

WHEELBASE: 57.1 inches

RAKE(CASTER ANGLE):30°40’

TRAIL: 113mm(4.4 inches)

SEATHEIGHT: 26.6inches

FUELC APACITY: 2.6gallons,including 0.7-gallonreserve

ESTIMATEDFUELECONOMY: 84MPG

COLORS: MatteSilver,CandyRed

CURBWEIGHT*: 331pounds

* Includesall standardequipment,requiredfluids andfull tankof fuel—readyt

Honda’sfuel-economyestimatesarebasedon EPAexhaustemissionmeasurem

proceduresandare intendedfor comparisonpurposesonly.Youractualmileagedependingonhow youride;how youmaintainyourvehicle;weather;roadcondit

pressure;installationofaccessories;cargo,riderand passengerweight;andothe

More2012HondasFill theRanks

MatteSilver

CandyRed





TRX450RThe TRX450R stands out as one mighty impressive machine,

havingwonracesin virtually everyformof ATVracingaswellas

racking up a string of exciting wins in the grueling Baja 1000.At

the same time, these remarkable performance credentials also

keep the TRX450R at the top of the popularity charts for recre-

ational riders too.Availability:September

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: TRX450R

ENGINETYPE: 450ccliquid-cooledsingle-cylinderfour-stroke

BOREANDSTROKE:96mmx62mm

COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.0:1

VALVETRAIN:Unicam;four-valve;36mm intake,Ti;30mm exhaust,steel

INDUCTION: Keihin40mmflat slidecarburetorwith throttleposition

sensor(TPS)

IGNITION:CDwith electronicadvance

STARTER:Electric


FINALDRIVE:O-ring–sealedchain

SUSPENSIONFront: Independentdouble-wishbonewithShowa shocks,featuringadjustablespringpreload,reboundand compressiondamping;8.4inches travelRear: Pro-Linkwith singleShowashock featuringadjustablespringpreload,reboundandcompressiondamping;9.3 inchestravel

BRAKESFront:Dualhydraulic 174mmdiscs withtwin-pistoncalipersRear:Singlehydraulic190mmdisc withsingle-pistoncaliper

WHEELBASE: 50.2inches

SEAT HEIGHT:32.8inches

FUEL CAPACITY: 2.7gallons,including0.8-gallonreserveCOLOR: WhitewithOrangeframe


* Includesall standardequipment,requiredfluids andfull tankof fuel—readytoride.

Consultowner’smanual foroptionalHRC RacingKit parts.

RECOMMENDEDFORRIDERS16 YEARSOFAGEANDOLDER.

CRF150FNottoobig,andnottoosmall—the CRF150Fis just therightsize

to suitbeginningridersand experiencedadultsequallywell. And

thanks to its moderate chassis dimensions, easy-to-use four-

stroke power,electricstarterand morerider-friendlyfeatures, the

CRF150F is just the ticket for entering, exploring and thoroughly

enjoying the world of off-road fun.Availability: November

New for 2012:

- Bold new graphics.

- New White rear fender.

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: CRF150F

ENGINETYPE: 149ccair-cooled single-cylinderfour-stroke

BOREANDSTROKE:57.3mmx 57.8mm


VALVETRAIN:SOHC;two-valve

INDUCTION: 24mmpiston-valvecarburetor

IGNITION:CDI


FINALDRIVE: #520O-ring–sealedchain;13T/48T

SUSPENSIONFront:35mmleading-axleShowa fork;9.1 inchestravelRear:Pro-LinkShowa singleshock;8.9 inchestravel

BRAKESFront:Single240mmdiscRear:Drum


RAKE(CASTER ANGLE):26.7°



FUELC APACITY: 1.9gallons,including0.4-gallonreserve

COLOR: Red



CRF230FWithin the realm of recreation riding, the CRF230F stan

motorcycling magazines the world over have compliment

midsized off-road machine for its many playbike-oriented

utes. With the ease of electric starting, it’s the perfect ma

all-day fun and off-road adventure. Availability: Novembe

New for 2012:

- Bold new graphics.

- New White rear fender.

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: CRF230F

ENGINETYPE: 223ccair-cooledsingle-cylinderfour-stroke


COMPRESSIONRATIO:9.0:1

VALVETRAIN: SOHC;two-valve


IGNITION:CD

TRANSMISSION:Six-speed

FINALDRIVE: #520O-ring–sealedchain;13T/50T

SUSPENSIONFront:37mmleading-axleShowafork; 9.5 inchestravelRear:Pro-LinkShowasingle shockwith springpreloadadjustability;9.0 inchestravel

BRAKESFront:Single240mmdiscRear:Drum


RAKE(CASTER ANGLE):27.3°



FUEL CAPACITY: 1.9gallons,including0.4-gallonreserve

COLOR: Red


* Includesall standardequipment,requiredfluids andfull tankof fuel—readyt

TRX250X Aggressive,race-inspired stylinggives theTRX250Xa distinctly

sporting look. In addition, new Maxxis Razr Vantage tires add to

theaggressiveimagewhile addingimproved sportperformance.

Andthanks to a torquey powerplantand Honda’s innovativeand

easy-to-useSportClutch™plus othergreat features,this fun-to-

ridemidsizedmachineremainsa favoriteamongbeginningadult

riders as well as longtime riders.Availability:TBD

New for 2012:

- New Maxxis RazrVantage tires.

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: TRX250X

ENGINETYPE: 229ccair-cooledOHV longitudinallymountedsingle-cylinderfour-stroke



IGNITION:CDwith electronicadvance

STARTER:Electric

CLUTCH: Honda SportClutch

TRANSMISSION:Five-speedwith Reverse

SUSPENSIONFront: Independentdouble-wishbone; 5.9inches travelRear:Swingarmwith singleshock;5.7 inchestravel

BRAKESFront:Dualhydraulic 174mmdiscsRear:Sealedmechanicaldrum

TIRESFront:MaxxisRazrVantage22 x7-10knobby

Rear:MaxxisRazrVantage22 x10-9 knobbyWHEELBASE: 44.3inches

SEAT HEIGHT:31.4inches

FUEL CAPACITY: 2.5 gallons,including 0.7-gallonreserve

COLOR: Black,Red



RECOMMENDEDFORRIDERS16 YEARSOFAGEANDOLDER.



• Click here or visit your local Honda dealership to get the full scoop on these new 2012



SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: CRF450X

ENGINETYPE: 449ccliquid-cooledsingle-cylinderfour-stroke

BOREANDSTROKE:96mmx62mm


VALVE TRAIN:Unicam,four-valve; 35mmintakevalve;30mm exhaustvalve

INDUCTION: Keihin40mm flat-slidecarburetorwith ThrottlePositionSensor

(TPS)

IGNITION:CDwith electronicadvance andlightingcoil

STARTING: Electricand kick

TRANSMISSION:Wide-ratiofive-speed

FINALDRIVE:#520T-ring–sealed chain;13T/51TSUSPENSIONFront: 47mminverted Showacartridgeforkwith 16-positionreboundand16-positioncompressiondampingadjustability;12.4 inchestravelRear:Pro-LinkShowasingle shockwith adjustablespring preload,17-positionrebounddampingadjustability,and compressiondampingadjustmentseparatedinto low-speed(13positions)andhigh-speed (3.5turns); 12.4inchestravel

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: CRF250X

ENGINETYPE: 249ccliquid-cooled single-cylinderfour-stroke

BOREANDSTROKE:78mmx 52.2mm


VALVETRAIN:Unicam,four-valve; 31mmintakevalve;26mm exhaustvalve

INDUCTION: Keihin37mmflat-slidecarburetorwith ThrottlePositionSensor(TPS)

IGNITION:CDwith electronicadvance andlightingcoil

STARTING: Electricand kick

TRANSMISSION:Wide-ratiofive-speed

FINALDRIVE:#520T-ring–sealedchain; 13T/49TSUSPENSIONFront: 47mminvertedShowacartridgefork with16-positionreboundand16-positioncompressiondampingadjustability; 12.4inchestravelRear: Pro-LinkShowasingle shockwith springpreload,17-positionrebounddampingadjustability,and compressiondampingadjustmentseparatedinto low-speed(13positions)and high-speed(3.5 turns);12.4inchestravel

BRAKESFront: Single240mmdisc withtwin-pistoncaliperRear:Single240mmdisc


RAKE(CASTERANGLE): 27.35°


SEATHEIGHT:37.9inches

FUELC APACITY: 1.9gallons


* Includesallstandardequipment,requiredfluidsandfull tankoffuel—readyto ride.

CRF450X The CRF450X has won the world-renowned and ultra-rugged Baja 1000 and Baja 500 races multiple times—enough to rig

earn its reputation as the King of Baja. But even if you’re planning a weekend of relaxed trail riding rather than aiming for a

gious off-road racing victory, the CRF450X offers equally impressive credentials for a weekend of fun rides.Availability: Oc

CRF250X It’sthe machinethat delivers a just-right balance of lightweight, exemplaryhandling andtractablefour-strokepower:the CRF250X.

With numerous Baja victories under its belt, this agile and capable off-road machine sets the standard for 250-class performance

whether you’re into racing or just leisurely off-road explorations. Availability: October

BRAKESFront: Single240mmdisc withtwin-pistoncaliperRear:Single240mmdisc


RAKE(CASTERANGLE): 27.54°

TRAIL: 118mm(4.7inches)

SEATHEIGHT:37.7 inches

FUELC APACITY: 1.9gallons


* Includesallstandardequipment,requiredfluidsandfull tankoffuel—readyto ride.

http://powersports.honda.com/





2012GoldWingMakin’Miles:

PressRide

Roll a Honda Gold Wing in front of someone who

knows absolutely nothing about motorcycles, and

even he or she will readily recognize this machine is

destined torackup lots ofmileson open-roadadven-

tures. So when it came time to formally introduce the

2012 Gold Wing to the motorcycling media, what bet-

terwayto cementthiscommitmentto ridingthanwith

a five-day trip that racked up big mileage—in more

ways than one!

Honda Red Rider August/Septemeber 2011hrca.honda.com


hrca.



Dubbed“Planes,Trains andMotorcycles,”the 2012

Gold Wing press gathering did indeed encompass all

three forms of transport. Obviously, the motorcycle

portion involved the new Gold Wing, and it also fea-

tured one of the premier motorcycling destinations in

the World: the Blue Ridge Parkway. Representatives

from Cycle World , Motorcyclist , Rider , Ultimate

Motorcycling , Road Runner , Motorcycle USA,

Motorcycle.com, the Gold Wing Road Rider’s

Association and the Motorcycle Sport Touring

Association—plus your humble scribes from Honda

Red Rider magazine—all used airline connections to

fly into Orlando, FL, and out of Knoxville, TN, for this

trip. Hence, the “Planes” idea. But for many, the

“Trains” portion of the event came as a surprise: an

unusual overnight train trip with motorcycles stashedaway aboard the Amtrak Auto Train from Orlando to

Lorton, VA, that proved both pleasant and efficient.

A three-day ride route was programmed into the

improved navigation system of the Gold Wings, and it

encompassed stops in Roanoke, VA, Asheville, NC

and Knoxville, TN, with plenty of scenic Blue Ridge

Parkway along the way. Mother Nature was mostly

cooperative, but several torrential downpours gave all

the riders plenty of opportunity to sample the Gold

Wing’s improved fairing as the modified lower section

did a wonderful job of diverting water away from the

rider and passenger legs. In fact, the best way to stay

drywasto keep movingas theWingfairingdoessuch

a great job of channeling the water over and around

rider and passenger. Most of the journalists brought

passengers who also commented on the additional

comfort of the redesigned seat.

After the fleet of Gold Wings was unloaded from

the train inVi rginia the motorcycling portion of the trip

beganright fromthe Lortontrain station souththrough

Charlottesville to thenorthernmosttip of the469-mile-

long Blue Ridge Parkway. One of the most magicalmotorcycling roads in the world, the Blue Ridge

Parkway was conceived in 1933 and built purely as a

scenic byway—although motorcyclists could easily

imagine this winding trail of asphalt was laid solely for

their riding pleasure. The Parkway links a series of

upper-elevation recreational parks, recreational sites

and national forests, and as the road meanders

through the Appalachian, Shenandoah and

Smoky Mountains from Virginia to Tennessee

andfallsthroughthefoldsofthe Earth,climbing

vationfrom619feetto more than a mile into th

6053 feet at its highest point.

Along the way, the Parkway offers an inc

array of natural and man-made wonders from

structures to hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic

restaurants, lodging and more.Hundreds of o

nities beckon to riders for photo ops and eye

stops;obviously, wecan mention onlya fewhig

in the space allotted here.

Oneof themostmagicalmot

cycling roadsin theworld, thRidgeParkwaywas conceive1933 andbuiltpurely asa scbyway—althoughmotorcyclcould easily imagine thiswintrail of asphalt waslaidsoleltheirriding pleasure.

Many travelers swear that the Mabry Mill a

post 176 is the most picturesque stop on the

Blue Ridge Parkway.Built nearly a century ago

and Lizzy Mabry, the old water-powered gristm

used togrindcornforfarmersin thesurroundin

and eventually it became a gathering place

locals. In addition to the mill, there’s also a w

still, sawmill, blacksmith shop and two-story

house that serves as an outstanding exam

mountainarchitectureand workmanship.Parkr

and volunteers are on site to give cultural

demonstrations, and on Sunday afternoons o

music tints the air with nostalgia.A strong case can also be made for the B

Estateas thebest stopalong theBlue RidgeP

Our press ride made a stop at the Biltmore, wh





Builtnearly acentury ago,picturesqueMabry Millis anold water-poweredgristmillonceused togrind cornfor farmersinthe surroundingarea.Themillis stillinworking conditiontoday,and there’salso anold whiskeystill,sawmill,blacksmithshopand morefor visitorstoenjoy.





Workbegan onthe BiltmoreEstatein thelate1880s,andthe fullintentionwasto createa giganticFrenchRenaissance–stylechateauthatwould bethe largestresidenceinAmerica, erectedonthe mostbeautifullocationinthe world.





stayed at thebeautifulBiltmoreInn onthe estateprop-

erty. Justridingthroughthe propertyis a treat—likerid-

ingthrough an enormousgarden.There’s a reasonfor

this: When industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt’s grand-

sonGeorgevisited Asheville, NC,in thelate 1880s, he

decidedthe idealspotfor buildingthe largestresidence

inAmericashould bethemostbeautiful locationin the

world. He purchased 125,000 acres, and hired famed

landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also

designedNewYork’s Central Park, to create theestate

gardens. Olmsted brought in more than 200,000 non-

indigenous species of trees and plants to create a

landscape unlike anything in the world.

of the Wheels Through Time Museum a

world’s premier collection of rare Americ

tage motorcycles. This remarkable m

houses more than 300 of America’s rar

most historic classic motorcycles, with o

marques on display. Many of the holdin

organized into period motorcycle-

exhibits, ranging from board track race

climbing and American dirt track rac

choppers and bobbers and one-of

motorcycles. Devoted to discovering

taining and preserving American mot

history, the museum houses tens of tho

of motorcycle pictures, historic memo

and other motorcycle artifacts, and it ha

featured in many motorcycle publicincluding Honda Red Rider . A stop

Wheels Through Time Museum truly fe

you’re stepping into a time machine, tra

back into another era of two-wheeled a

ture in America.

The final day of the ride also include

ple routes from Asheville to Knoxville, w

routes programmed into the Gold Wing

navigation system so journalists could w

off on their own without getting lost.Mos

group opted to head back through Deal’

a fabled piece of pavement that pac

curves into a mere 11 miles. The Tai

Dragon or just The Dragon, as it’s calle

stretch of US 129 nestled deep in the

Smoky Mountains on the North Ca

Tennessee stateline.A gorgeous andch

ingpiece ofroad,TheDragonserved as

last-day excursion for many attending th

Honda GoldWing press ride.

After a final night in Knoxville highlig

dinner on a Tennessee riverboat, jour

were back on planes and heading hom

nearly 1000 Gold Wing miles and thou

more plane and train miles under their b

Just fivemilesbeyondthesouthernterminusof theParkwayyou’ll findthelittlevillageofMaggieValley,NC, homeoftheWheelsThroughTimeMuseumandtheworld’spremiercollectionof rareAmericanvintagemotorcycles.

For six years, a thousand architects, artisans and

craftsmenlaboredto createthe French Renaissance–

stylechateau.Noexpensewas spared, andthe house

was designed to be an innovation of the times with

electriclighting,centralheating, indoorplumbing,250

rooms and 10 telephones. The estate features four

acres of floor space in which you’ll find 65 fireplaces,

43 bathrooms, three kitchens, an indoor swimming

pool, bowling alley and gym. In its present configura-

tion,the groundsnow encompass“only”8000 acres—

much of the rest was donated to the federal

governmentto helpestablishone ofthe country’s firstnational forests east of the Mississippi.

In addition, two more locations on the southern

end of the Blue Ridge Parkway might arguably hold

the greatest interest for avid motorcyclists. Just five

miles beyond the southern terminus of the Parkway

you’ll find the little vill age of Maggie Valley, NC, home Ifyou’reinthevicinity,makesuretostopoffin MaggieValleyandvisittheWheelsThroughTimeMuseum.


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hrca.honda.com



Shooter Daveand His XR650LInSearchofAmerica—andHondaDealersPart two of a three-part story

On his round-America trip on a 2002 Honda XR650L,Dave Harrison

planned to visit the 48 contiguous states, but he also made it to Canada.

Here are some more excerpts from his blog.

ENTRY 48So here I was 30 minutes away from the ferry [to Newfou

withnoopengasstationsaround.I tippedthebikeoveran

muchgasoffthe non-petcocksideof thetankas Icould,hit

andprayed.Luckily,I rememberedthatIhadtogo upa big

backdownagaintoget toSydney,wheretheferriesdepart.

up the hill at a steady pace, then turned the engine off fo

down.It was quitepeaceful beingtheonly oneon theroa

motorsound,justcoastingalong.I didendupmakingit to

aboutan hourbeforewehadtoboard.

Theyhadroomsavailable,but Ioptedto notgetone and

money.I sleptona couchinthemain floorarea.Alot ofpeop

ferrydid.After disembarking,I headedfor thenearestgas

AftergettingtoLabrador,I thoughtI wouldtryto getto P

Simpson. I took off north and some fog started to ro

approachedthedirtroad.As Iturnedjustsouth ofMary’sHa

wouldultimatelyendmy northeasttravel,I hita patchof loo

anddownIwent.

The bike traveled (what I later found out to be) about 2

feet. I landed about 15 feet ahead of the bike. Of course, I i

ately got up and turned off the gas. Then, I started to clea

mess.Stupidly,Ineverthoughttogeta pictureofthewrec

my panniers came off and the contents flew out all over t

Finally,a fellownamedKeithshowedupwith histruckanda

ple loaded my bike in the truck. We eventually took it to a

heownsand startedto workonit. Keithtookmetohis moth

to stay the night. His mother was very nice; in fact, eve

Labradoris verynice.Aftertheadrenalineworeoff,Iwas v

soI hitthesack.

I could tell something wasn’t right with my shoulder. Th

from the X-rays said that I reseparated my collarbone. I di

asmuchasI didthelasttime. Myribshurtmorethanmys

andmyhip.Myshouldersuredoesn’tlooklikeitusedto.Is

nextfewdaysat Keith’splaceworkingon mybikeand getti

thingreadyto takeoff.

Honda Red Rider August/Septemeber 2011hrca.honda.com


hrca.

ThisistheBayofFundyinCanada,whichhasthehighesttidesintheworld.



ENTRY 58I made it to Waterloo, IA. I had a wicked headwind, and as

such,nevermadeit outof fourthgear.Ittook mea littleover

five hours, but I finally made it 130 miles at which time I

threw in the towel for the day. I did get a picture with the

Honda dealer.

ENTRY 59Ijusthit25,000mileson thistrip!

ENTRY 64Isaw theheadwatersof theMississippiRiver. Itwas pretty

cool as far as lakes go. I continued on my way up to the

Northwest. I didn’t make it all the way there, but I did see

this Honda dealer along the way and decided to stop in.

Randy was really awesome. He called the local paper, and

theycameoutandinterviewedme.Theyaregoingtomaila

copyhomewhenitcomesout.

ENTRY 88I grabbed a hotel room so I could get some good rest for

my meeting with Honda in Torrance, CA, the next morn-

ing. I expected that as with most Honda dealerships

along the way, I’d be meeting with maybe one or two

people. But as I’m looking at the bikes, I hear someone

greetme.I turnaroundandthereare threepeoplethere.

They said that there are some others coming down as

well. In total nine people came down to meet me.

Everybody was there, all the way up to one of the vice

presidents. I was shocked. We chatted for a bit, and

finally made our way out to the bike. They all were rid-

ers and were very interested in seeing Thumper.

I’M HOME!

MyDadhadmadeaFinishLineribbonoutofducttapeandset it up in front of the garage and I rode through it. My

Momevenhadchampagnethatshetriedto sprayon me.I

told her that when I return from my round-the-world trip

thatshe couldsprayit overmeagainif shewanted.

• Click here to read a full account of Shooter Dave’s trip, as well as comments from other riders, on the Adventure Rider W

Stay tuned for part three of Dave’s story in the next issue of Honda Red Rider .

“Mydadmadea FinishLineribbonoutof ducttapeandsetitupinfrontof thegarage

VisitingwithHondaassociatesat corporateHondaheadquartersinTorrance,CA.Stoppingby theHondadealerin Waterloo,IA.



andIrodethroughit.”

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=565350






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SoYouWanttoRidea

A LittlePreparationCanGo a LongWay.

Dual-Sport Event?





ual-sport events can vary wildly in difficulty and ter-

rain, but a few things about these unique rides never

change.You will have fun, meet new friends and experience

a new riding area without worrying about getting lost.More

so than any off-road event, a dual-sport ride doesn’t require

much in the way of support or preparation. Even a relatively

new rider can be self-sufficient. You can even attend alone.

Riders tend to settle into packs of enthusiasts with similar

skills and roughly the same pace. Find other riders at your

speed and buddy up.

D

Foryourfirstride,youdon’t needmuch besides your legal bike andprotectiveequipment.

Before you sign up, though, do a little research. Any

on/off-road riding event for street-licensed motorcycles is

called a “dual-sport ride.” In the western US that can mean

lotsof roadsyoucouldtraverse witha Winnebagoif youwere

careful. In the eastern part of the US that could mean an

endurowithouttime checks.Eventhough a rideron a street-

legal 50cc bike finished the long and fast Barstow to Vegas

dual-sportrun,andsomeoneon anearly1000ccGoldWing

with knobbies rode at an AMA National Dual-Sport in

Pennsylvania, those aren’t exactly the best choices.

Still, for your first ride, you don’t need much besides your

legal bike and protective equipment. Many riders do ride

showroom stock bikes and do well, but a few small mods to

your bike will make the experience of a dual-sport ride (or

regular off-road riding on a dual-sport bike) much more

enjoyable and safe.

At a minimum you will want a route sheet holder.That is

a small box with knobs on it that attaches to the handlebar.

Theentirerouteofthe ride isprintedon alongstripof paper.

Attachoneendof thesheetto axlesin theroutesheetholderwith tape, then roll the sheet in and fasten it to the second

axle. The route sheet has a printed description of each sig-

nificant landmark on the course next to a mileage notation.

For example:5.2 DR bear right, not HR on PR.That means

that you bear right on a dirt road at 5.2 miles from the last

mileage reset.You are also warned not to take a hard right

onto pavement. You can usually hook up with riders who

Beforeyoureventyou mightwanttoconsiderpurchasinga routesheetholder,suchas theone shownhereby EnduroEngineering(www.enduroeng.com ;

SRP:$29.95).

the bike, keeps the GPS visible and yet still holds the

a somewhat-protected location.

Nothingwill makeyourdual-sportbike’soff-road h

improve like a pair of specialized tires better suited

surfaces. Dunlop D606 tires are one favorite comb

You want an aggressive, blocky-tread-pattern tire th

closeto anactual knobbyaspossible.Takecareto s

street-legal tire models. Legal tires have a number

side that start with DOT. Aggressive tires will aid trac

acceleration, turning and braking in the dirt. They w

resist flats better. The trade-off is reduced traction o

ment. You’ll want to reduce your lean angles and p

greater stopping distances on pavement. The tires

noisier on the road as well. If you expect rough terrachange to heavy-duty tubes when you swap out th

Rim locks are a good idea if you decide you like the d

of dual-sport,but theymay require drilling therims.If

just giving the sport a try, carry the tools needed to

a flat rather than worry about rim locks.

Finally, street-legal motorcycles typically have v

final-drive gearing to keep engine rpm down on the fre

For a dual-sport ride lower final-drive gearing will ma

responsebetter, thegaps betweenthe gearratioswill

noticeable, and you will be easier on the clutch when

tionsaretight andtechnical.Therearemany gearingo

but the cheapest and easiest solution is to use a c

shaftsprocketone-toothsmallerthan thestockone.T

sprocket is cheaper than the rear, it is easier to chang

a singletoothinthe frontis like a three-to four-toothc

in the rear. Changing the rear sprocket three teeth

require a new, longer chain. One tooth less on the

enoughof a changeto allowyouto feel a difference,

won’t completely kill your highway speed. A bonus

most bikes have enough chain adjustment to hand

tooth. Naturally, swapping back to normal gearing fo

riding is quick and easy, too.As with any two-wheeled sport, there are man

modifications you could make, and plenty of equipme

accessories that would be nice to have, but these c

willallow youtoget your bootswet (literally atsomer

theworld ofdual-sporting without breaking thebank o

ing changes to your machine that are difficult to re

Happy trails!

have a roll chart, but the ride is much more interesting if you do

yourown navigation.To usea rollchart yourmotorcycle musthave

a functioningtripmeterthat is resettableto zero.Tokeep odometer

errors from being a problem, a dual-sport route sheet will call for

resets to zero every 10 or 15 miles.

These days most dual-sport rides have the routes available fordownloadonto a GPS.TheGPS findsits locationby locatingsatel-

lites,and it is extremely accurate.When you buy a GPS,you often

aregivenaccess tomapsthatyoucandownloador ifyouarelook-

ing for more detailed off-road maps, there are various outlets for

topographical maps.The GPS will point out the correct direction,

but it is important to use the GPS in concert with the route sheet.

You want a mount for your GPS that doesn’t affect your control of




hrca


hrca.honda.com

ow’s this sound for a really bright ide

next time you’re heading out for a ri

summer on your ATV, dirt bike, dual-sport o

machine, why don’t you drain the cooling s

before you start out. Might as well take out

drain plug while you’re at it.Now, buckle on yo

met, push the start button, and get ready to

memorable day!

You know how this is going to end, don’t yo

end is indeed the operant word here, as in the

yourengine.At leastit’s going to be a shortwa

tothe truck.Onlya fool wouldridea liquid-coo

or ATV with no coolant, but that’s exactly wha

riders are doing. Except that it’s not the fluid engine’sradiatorthey’re neglecting;it’sthe fluid

own personal radiators.

WhyYouShouldPay asMuchAttentiontoYourBody’sRadiatorasYourBike’s

Deh ydration:

H

Everyyear riders andother aget in trouble dueto dehydra

We’re talking about dehydration, and its

quences on your body. Every year riders and

athletesget introubledueto dehydration,butth

sequences when out riding can be a lot more

than just a heat cramp or a headache.

Humans are wonderful animals, and one

evolutionary advantages is our ability to rejec

Early man used that advantage in something

“persistencehunting,”wherea small groupof h

wouldchasedowna deer orantelopeon a hot

course, a deer can run faster than just abo

human, but the persistence hunters learned

they just jogged along and kept the pressu

never allowing the animal to stop for any len

time in the shade and cool down, the anima

eventually overheat. And when it did, it was

over: the antelope just stood there while the

walked right up to it and administered the c

grâce . Australian Bushmen still do it today. It

because humansareso good atmanagingbo

through sweat—at least when we have enou

to sweat out.





EquivalentHeat Index

140 135 130 125 120 115 110 105 100 95 90

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

34

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Oneof thethings tocomeout ofthe United States’

recent military experiences in the Middle East is

a better understanding of how the human body

responds in hot climates. Approximately 75 percent

of the human body is fluid, and a loss of just two

quartsof thatfluidcandecreaseyourefficiency byup

to 25 percent. A loss of 12 quarts, about 15 percent

of body weight, usually is fatal.

At high temperatures during the day, even at rest,

you may lose as much as half a quart of fluid per

hour just through sweating, and physical activityincreases that loss. Hard work—and riding can be

plenty hard—can up your requirements to between

two and three gallons per day. By most standards,

that’s a lot to drink.And now you begin to understand

why some motocross racers get IV fluid treatments

after a particularly hard race.

So what happens if you get dehydrated, and what

climb to 106 degrees or higher. Overweight riders or riders

who haven’t acclimatized are particularly vulnerable.

Heatstrokeis whathappensto thoseantelopethe Bushmen

are running down, except that this time it happens to you.

Heatstroke is a true emergency with fatal results if the vic-

tim is not cooled down rapidly.

Thebestwayto avoideither oftheseproblems isto drink

enough, early enough. Perspiration is the body’s number-

onedefenseagainst overheating, butthere mustbe fluidsto

perspire, and those fluids need to be replaced.

People debate about whatto drink and whatnot to drink.

Here’s the truth: with the exception of alcohol, drinking any-

thing will help. Of course, some drinks are better than oth-

ers, but there’s nothing wrong with just plain water. Sodasand coffee contain diuretics that cause fluid loss due to uri-

nation, but they’re still a net gain and are better than not

drinking anything at all.Spor ts drinks like Gatorade replace

some salts lost due to perspiration; if they’re too strong or

taste funny to you, just dilute them with water. Salt tablets

are usually unnecessary and many people find that they

induce nausea, but salty snacks perform the same salt-

replacement function and are often more palatable.

Inevitably someone will bring up an incident of a high-

schoolathleteor a youngsoldier whodiedfromdrinkingtoo

much. This condition is called hyponatremia or water intox-

ication, and occurs when the subject drinks too much water

without replenishing the necessary salts to maintain a nor-

mal body chemistry. Substituting a sports drink for pure

water is the solution of real value.

Hyponatremia is comparatively rare, though. The Army

hospitalizes more than 10 times as many soldiers and

trainees for illnesses brought on by dehydration than those

brought on by drinking too much water. One casualty drank

two gallons of water before exercise and another two and a

half gallons within 90 minutes.That’s five gallons of water

in a couple of hours—probably more than most of us drinkin a week.

Monitoring your urine output is an excellent way of mon-

itoring your hydration. Not going to the bathroom? Not a

good sign. Dark urine? Drink more water.

You’dneverthink aboutriding without waterin yourbike’s

cooling system. Think of your own body in the same way,

and you’ll be in good shape.

can you do about it? First, just like going to altitude, it helps to acclima-

tize to hot weather, although that may take as long as two weeks. Still,

every bit helps. The great motocross star Bob Hannah used to train by

riding in the Mojave Desert in summer while wearing a ski jacket!

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke/sunstroke are the two major dan-

gers. Heat exhaustion is caused by excessive water and salt loss

through perspiration. This is most likely what an off-road rider will

encounter, but it can also happen to street riders who spend long

stints in the saddle in very hot conditions. Symptoms include loss of

appetite, headache, dizziness, confusion and weakness. The body’s

temperature remains near normal, but the skin is cold and wet withsweat.While heat exhaustion is seldom a huge problem, when oper-

ating a motor vehicle it can lead to disaster. You’ve probably seen

MX racers “fade” on the closing laps of a hot race. Off road, riders

who are confused get lost, and the decline in physical ability leads to

off-road accidents.

Heatstroke,or sunstroke,occurs whenthe bodycan’t rejectheat fast

enough. Here the skin is hot and dry, and the body temperature may

Athigh temperaturesduring theday,evenatrest,youmaylose asmuch ashalfa quartoffluidperhourjust throughsweating.

1 25 1 20 1 17 1 11 1 07 1 03 9 9 9 5 9 1 8 7 8 3 7 8

1 28 1 22 11 6 11 1 10 7 10 2 9 7 9 3 8 8 8 4 7 9

131 123 116 111 105 100 95 90 85 80

1 31 1 23 1 15 1 08 1 02 9 7 9 1 8 6 8 1

1 41 1 30 1 20 1 12 1 05 9 9 9 3 8 7 8 2

139 127 117 109 101 94 88 83

148 135 123 113 104 96 90 84

1 43 1 30 1 1 8 10 7 9 8 9 1 8 5

151 137 123 110 101 93 86

143 129 115 104 95 87

150 135 120 107 96 88

1 42 1 26 1 10 9 8 8 9

149 132 114 100 90

138 119 102 91

144 124 106 93

130 109 95

136 113 97

1 17 9 9

122 102

1 03

1 08

AirTemperature (°F)

R e l a t i v e H u m i d i t y ( % )

Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity

Sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion posswith prolonged exposure and/or physical activity

Sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion likelyprolonged exposure and/or physical activity

Heat stroke highly likely with continued exposur

Source:http://www.hunter-ed.com/mt/course/ch7_hea





ne of the cool things about Honda’s

Shadow ® is the bike’s ability to change

character to reflect that of the owner.Bol t on a few

Genuine Honda Accessories, and you can craft

yourown uniquelook.With a continuouslyexpand-

ing line of accessories from Honda, customizing

the Shadow line of Honda cruisers has never

been easier.

SHADOWPHANTOM

1 -BOULEVARDSCREEN

Low-profile,hard-coatedpolycarbonatesmokedscreen is

scratch-resistant. Blacked-out, powder-coated mounting

bracket complements the Shadow Phantom’s minimalis-

ticstyling. $259.95

2 -BACKREST

Provides additional comfort and support for the passen-

gerwhile enhancingstylewith a powder-coatedflatblack

finish.(Backrest/RearCarrierMountingBracketsrequired.)

Tall$159.95;Low $149.95

3 -CUSTOM RIDERSEAT

Custom-designed stitch pattern with embossed leather

seat enhances the look of the Shadow Phantom.

Constructed with premium hand-cut leather and vinyl

bandsforflexibility.High-quality,injection-moldedfactory

seatpan. $399.95

SHADOWAERO®

4 -CHROMEWINDSCREEN

Chip-resistant, hard-coated polycarbonate for excellent

clarity and durability. Designed to fit with or without

ChromeLightbar.Measures21.25”W x 17.75”H. $449.95

5 -CHROMEBACKREST

Providespassengeradditionalcomfortand supportwhile

enhancing style. (Chrome Backrest Mounting B rackets

required.)Tall$134.95;Low $114.95

6 -CHROMEREAR CARRIER

High-quality Chrome Rear Carrier provides extra storage.

Buffed and polished for a smooth, brilliant finish.

Maximumallowablecargoweight:10pounds.(RearCarrier

MountingBracketsrequired.)$153.95

7 -CHROMELIGHTBAR

Halogenlights withchrome finish forenhanced visibility.

$299.95

O 8 -LEATHER SADDLEBAGS

Heavy-dutyblackleatherconstructionwithintegratedframeand

plastic base for added strength. Chrome-plated buckles conce

releaseclips for easyaccess. Approximate18-literstorage cap

saddlebag. Maximum allowable cargo weight: 10 pounds p

(SaddlebagMountingBracketsrequired.) Measures12”H x18”

(Fringed 2004-07 models only.) Plain $529.95; Studded $

Fringed$539.95

9 -CYCLECOVER

Sturdywaterproofmaterial.Featuresa moisture-ventingsystem

innerliner. Fitswith allHonda GenuineAccessoriesinstalled.$1

SHADOWRS

9 -CYCLECOVER

Sturdywaterproofmaterial.Featuresa moisture-ventingsysteminnerliner. Fitswith allHonda GenuineAccessoriesinstalled.$1

10-CHROME REARCARRIER

High-qualityChrome RearCarrierprovidescargo storage.Buffed

ishedfor asmooth, brilliantfinish. Maximumallowablecargow

pounds.(RearCarrier MountingBracketsrequired.)$153.95

11-SYNTHETICSADDLEBAGS

Traditional throw-over style saddlebags made of premium sy

leather material. Slant-style bags feature twin buckles, a plas

insertandhard backingto helpretaintheirshapewhen empty.M

allowablecargoweight:6.6 poundsper bag.(ChromeSaddlebag

required.)$209.95

12-LEATHERTOURINGBAG

Quick-releasebucklesand convenientcarrying handle.Has16-

agecapacity.Touringbagandcontentsshouldnot exceedweig

ity of rear carrier. (Chrome Rear Carrier and Backrest required

$272.95;Studded$280.95; Fringed(not shown)$280.95

SHADOWSPIRIT750C2

13-CUSTOMWINDSCREEN

Chip-resistanthard-coatedpolycarbonatefor excellentclaritya

bility.Designedto fitwith or withoutChromeLightbar.$449.95

14 -CHROMELIGHTBAR

Fork-mountedHalogenlightswithpush-buttonswitchandchrom

$299.95

15 -CHROME BACKREST

Provides passenger additional comfort and support while en

style.(ChromeBackrestMountingBracketsrequired.)Tall$134

(notshown) $114.95

1

MakeYour ShadowaReflectionof Yourself

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7

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16- DIGITAL AUDIO SYSTEM

Thiswater-resistant Digital Amp and Speaker System letsyou take your music on the road by simply connecting

your portable MP3/audio player. MP3/audio player not

included. Amplifier controls volume up, down and mute.

(DigitalAudio AttachmentKit required.) $399.95

17- LEATHER TANK BELT

High-quality, soft-backed leather protects the premium

paint finishof theShadow Spirit 750andhas a generously

sized pocket to keep belongings within reach. Plain

$61.95; Studded (notshown) $64.95

18- CHROMEREAR CARRIER

High-quality Chrome Rear Carrier provides extra storage.

Buffed and polished for a smooth, brilliant finish.

Maximum allowable cargo weight: 6.6 lbs. (Rear Carrier

MountingBrackets required.) $153.95

19- SYNTHETIC SADDLEBAGS

Traditionalthrow-over stylesaddlebags madeof premium

synthetic-leather material. Slant-style bags feature twin

buckles, a plastic base insert and hard backing to help

retain their shape whenempty. Maximumallowable cargo

weight: 10 pounds per bag. (Chrome Saddlebag Supports

required.) $209.95

9 - CYCLE COVER(shownonpreviouspage)

Sturdy waterproof material. Features a moisture-venting

system and soft inner liner. Fits with all Honda Genuine

Accessoriesinstalled. $119.95

To view the full collection of Honda Genuine AccessoriescreatedfortheShadowlineup,gototheAccessorieslistingsat powersports.honda.com.

WARRANTY: Becausewe’reso confident in thequality of each of ourHondaGenuine

Accessories, we’re pleased to offerone of thebest warrantiesin theindustry.One-

yearwarrantybegins onthe dayaccessoriesare purchasedby thecustomer.

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Continuedfrom page51

Documents

Honda Riders Magazine July 2011