Honda CB1000R

The tradition among the Big Four to use “tamed” versions of their sport-bike engines in everyday-friendly standard bikes has produced both gems and lemons.

When I looked up its specs before testing the Honda CB1000R I was worried that it might be the latter. As it turned out, my concerns were totally unfounded.

The naked CB1000R’s physical appearance is based on that of the third-generation Honda Hornet, with minimal bodywork and a headlight cluster that wouldn’t look amiss on a Transformer. Another reviewer likened its appearance to a fighter plane on two wheels, which is probably as apt a description as you could wish for. Read more…

Honda’s supermoto style CRF250M

Supermoto style and attitude, combined with tough, accessible performance credentials make the new CRF250M ideal for the young rider looking for something truly different.

Based on the popular dual-purpose CRF250L, with revised suspension, uprated front brake and 17-inch wheels with wider road tyres, the CRF250M adds another A2 licence-friendly machine to Honda’s line-up. Its free revving single-cylinder engine provides crisp, instant response thanks to revised gearing and punchy power and torque delivery, whilst also offering impressive fuel economy.

The CRF250 should be available in dealerships around mid-year.

There is a Doctor in the house!

Rossi and Marques battling it out for second place. Photo: motogp.com

Although Jorge Lorenzo won the opening race of the 2013 MotoGP season at Losail in copybook form, the battle behind him almost relegated the victor to a mere footnote.

While Dani Pedrosa had a scorching start into second place behind the defending champion,  the same could not be said for Pedrosa’s teammate Marc Márquez, who endured a slow getaway and dropped to eighth.

But Márquez had no intention of disappointing his well-wishers. By the halfway point on Lap 11, he had made up positions hand over fist and was very much involved in a duel for second place with teammate Pedrosa, as Crutchlow in fourth place looked to take advantage.

Further back in the field, Rossi, who had run wide on the second lap and plummeted back to seventh place, started his charge.

HERLINGS AND CAIROLI CLINCH DUTCH GP

KTM and Pirelli continued their dominance during the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship as Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings maintained their authoritative positions across the MX1 and MX2 categories.

Despite low temperatures across both days of the meeting, the dreaded sand and site of the Dutch GP did not slow the pace of Jeffrey Herlings who literally flew around the bumps and waves of the terrain as the firm favourite for victory extended an unbeaten run at Valkenswaard begun in 2010.

Drifting superstars return to Rand Show

A drifting feast await stunt fans at the Rand Show.

Daredevil drifting superstars, Jim McFarlane and Mikey Skelton, are back at the Rand Show 2013, but this year, they’re bringing visitors something new.

At 11:00 and 15:00, every day from Thursday 28 March to Monday 1 April (excluding Sunday, 31 March), the two will present “Atomic Junkies”, South Africa’s take on “Top Gear” … but with a turbo-charged difference. Not only will McFarlane and Skelton be talking cars, but there will also be plenty of squealing wheels and smoking rubber.