Honda Vision 110 scooter

Honda has announced that its new Vision 110 scooter, which replaces the Lead 110, will arrive in UK dealers this August.



Priced at £1,800 on the road, it comes with a four-stroke fuel injected engine that manages to achieve a very impressive 140 mpg (2.0 l/100km).

Being a twist-and-go scooter the Vision 110 should be easy to ride, even for novices. For enhanced manoeuvrability it only weighs 102 kg (224 lbs), while the seat height is a confidence-inspiring 760 mm (29.9 inches).



Standard features include underseat storage, compartments in the leg shields and Honda’s linked Combined Braking System. An alarm, top box and high windscreen are all on the options list.

Vision 110 buyers will be able to choose from Pearl Procyon Black, Candy Aluja Blue, Boss Grey Metallic, Candy Lucid Red or Pearl White paint finishes.

Turbo cars lead BTCC

The 2011 British Touring Car Championship is now already midway through its season.



So far, it has been rather dominated by the contentious issue of performance parity between the turbocharged and normally-aspirated cars, although another boost reduction introduced for the most recent round at Croft seems to have helped a lot.



That said, the championship table remains dominated by cars running NGTC engines, with sixth-place Jason Plato in his Chevrolet Cruze seemingly the only non-turbo entrant with any realistic prospect of taking the title.

Chevrolet Cruze Super 2000

The series now takes its long summer break, with the next event taking place at Snetterton on 7th August.

2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship: Standings After Five Rounds
Pos.	Driver	Team	Car	Points
1	Matt Neal	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic	140
2	Mat Jackson	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus	131
3	Gordon Shedden	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic	120
4	Andrew Jordan	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	111
5	James Nash	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra	104
6	Jason Plato	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze	100
7	Robert Collard	WSR	BMW 320si	66
8	Tom Chilton	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	64
9	Alex MacDowall	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze	47
10	Paul O’Neill	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze	32
11	Tom Boardman	Special Tuning Racing	Seat Leon	31
12	Nick Foster	WSR	BMW 320si	27
13	Tony Gilham	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra	12
14	Jeff Smith	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra	12
15	Tom Onslow-Cole	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	10
16	Andy Neate	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus	9
17	David Newsham	Geoff Steel Racing	BMW 320si	9
18	Lea Wood	Central Group Racing	Honda Integra	4
19	Liam Griffin	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus	2
20	Rob Austin	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4	0
21	Frank Wrathall	Dynojet	Toyota Avensis	0
22	David Pinkney	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4	0
23	John George	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze	0
24	Daniel Welch	Welch Automotive	Proton Gen-2	0
25	Tony Hughes	Speedworks Motorsport	Toyota Avensis	0
26	Chris James	Team ES Racing.com	Chevrolet Lacetti	0
27	Shaun Hollamby	AmD Milltek Racing.com	Volkswagen Golf	0

Related posts:

Avensis NGTC racers debut

2011 BTCC entries

Snetterton corner names

Honda unveils NSF250R

Honda Racing Corporation has revealed its NSF250R at the Circuit de Catalunya. The brand new racer has been built to compete in Moto3, the class for four-stroke, 250 cc machines that replaces the current two-stroke 125 cc category from next season.

The NSF250R’s engine is a single cylinder unit, which is tilted back 15 degrees in the bike to help concentrate mass and improve stability. Producing 47.6 bhp (35.5 kW / 48.2 PS) at 13,000 rpm, it features double overhead camshafts plus titanium intake and exhaust valves. Drive is via a six-speed, cassette type gearbox.



Both the aluminium frame and suspension geometry are based on those of the RS125R, although efforts have been made to improve torsional rigidity. This has been necessary to combat the extra bulk of the four-stroke motor, with modifications including the fitment of a revised swing arm. Kerb weight, ready to ride, is 84 kg (185 lbs).



Customer teams will be able to buy the NSF250R at a confirmed price of €23,600. That’s around £21,000 or US$34,500 at today’s exchange rates.



Related posts:

Honda WSB team launch

Honda CBR250R first look

Toyota is top car brand

Toyota has beaten BMW to become the number one car brand in the BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2011, as compiled by MillwardBrown.



That was achieved despite the extensive and high profile recalls for many of the company’s vehicles over the past year. However, the introduction of extended warranties, as well as independent experts finding that driver mistakes were responsible in the majority of incidents, clearly helped to minimise any damage. Toyota also topped the rankings for offering the best value, a measure of desirability versus price.

Toyota: Most valuable car brand 2011

Runner-up BMW was cited as being the most recommended automotive brand, while third-place Mercedes-Benz is the most trusted.



Eighth-place Ford was the only one of the ‘big three’ American manufacturers to make the top ten, which was due in part to it rejecting government bail-out money, unlike GM and Chrysler. Indeed, Ford made its highest profits for ten years, while launching attractive models that people actually want to buy and supporting them by innovative marketing approaches.



Heading the overall Top 100 listing was Apple, followed by Google and IBM.

BrandZ™ Top 10 Most Valuable Global Car Brands 2011
Ranking: Cars	Brand	Brand Value (US$ M)	Change	Ranking: Overall Top 100
1	Toyota	24,198	11%	27
2	BMW	22,425	3%	30
3	Mercedes-Benz	15,344	12%	50
4	Honda	14,182	-1%	56
5	Porsche	12,413	3%	66
6	Nissan	10,072	17%	88
7	Volkswagen	7,408	6%	N/A
8	Ford	7,394	5%	N/A
9	Audi	3,808	5%	N/A
10	Lexus	3,648	N/A	N/A

2011 BTCC entries

2011 will see the biggest grid ever for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship since it switched to a two-litre formula. Despite the presence of only two full factory teams - Silverline Chevrolet and Honda Racing Team - ten manufacturers will be represented this season, including newcomers Audi, Proton and Toyota.



The boosted entry list is mainly down to the introduction of the Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations, which have been brought in to slash car development and running costs. Most of those savings will be achieved through the use of standardised parts including brakes, suspension and gearboxes. Using durable two-litre turbocharged engines in the NGTCs should help make the BTCC more affordable, too.



This year starts a period of transition, with the intention being that existing Super 2000-spec cars should have equal performance to the NGTC entries for the next two seasons, after which the latter will become dominant.

Team Aon Ford Focus: S2000 chassis with NGTC engine.

Good news for spectators is that children will get free admission at every round, while pit lane autograph sessions will continue to be a popular feature of race day.



For television viewers, the live package shown on ITV4 and ITV4 HD is going to be six to seven hours long, backed up by a one-hour highlights programme shown later on ITV1 and ITV4. Excellent terrestrial coverage that other championships would do well to emulate (WRC, that means you…).



The opening race of the series is at Brands Hatch on the 3rd of April.

2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship: Entry List
Full S2000 Specification Cars
No.	Driver	Team	Car
1*	Jason Plato (GBR)	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze
20*	Alex MacDowall (GBR)	Silverline Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze
8	Robert Collard (GBR)	WSR	BMW 320si
18	Nick Foster (GBR)	WSR	BMW 320si
17	Dave Newsham (GBR)	Geoff Steel Racing	BMW 320si
28	John George (GBR)	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze
29	Paul O’Neill (GBR)	GoMobileUK.com with tech-Speed	Chevrolet Cruze
78	Chris James (GBR)	Team ES Racing.com	Chevrolet Lacetti
43^	Lea Wood (GBR)	Central Group Racing	Honda Integra
S2000 Specification Cars Using NGTC Engines
No.	Driver	Team	Car
2*	Matt Neal (GBR)	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic
52*	Gordon Shedden (GBR)	Honda Racing Team	Honda Civic
5**	Tom Chilton (GBR)	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus
44**	Andy Neate (GBR)	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus
TBA**	TBA	Team Aon	‘Global’ Ford Focus
7	Mat Jackson (GBR)	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus
66	Liam Griffin (GBR)	Airwaves Racing	Ford Focus
14	James Nash (GBR)	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra
34	Tony Gilham (GBR)	888 Racing with Collins Contractors	Vauxhall Vectra
22	Tom Boardman (GBR)	Special Tuning Racing	Seat Leon
55	Jeff Smith (GBR)	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra
77	Andrew Jordan (GBR)	Pirtek Racing	Vauxhall Vectra
99	Tom Onslow Cole (GBR)	AmD Milltek Racing.com	Volkswagen Golf
Full NGTC Specification Cars
No.	Driver	Team	Car
11	Frank Wrathall (GBR)	Dynojet	Toyota Avensis
12	David Pinkney (GBR)	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4
13	TBA	Rob Austin Racing	Audi A4
42	Daniel Welch (GBR)	Welch Automotive	Proton Gen-2
50	Tony Hughes (GBR)	Speedworks Motorsport	Toyota Avensis
* Eligible for Manufacturer and Constructor championships. All other cars eligible for Independent championships.
** Eligible for Constructor championship.
^ BTC specification.

New Honda BRIO unveiled

Honda Thailand has revealed the production version of its new BRIO, which looks virtually identical to the prototype that debuted last November.

Power comes from a Euro 4 compliant 1.2 litre i-VTEC petrol engine producing 88 bhp (66 kW / 90 PS). As originally promised by Honda, the BRIO will achieve 56.4 mpg (5.0 l/100km) - not bad, but still a fairly mediocre figure for this size of car.



In Thailand, the BRIO is going to be available in either ‘S’ or ‘V’ trim levels, and both will feature a comprehensive list of standard safety equipment including anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and twin front airbags.

With a choice of five colours on offer - Fresh Lime Metallic, Taffeta White, Cerulean Blue Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl - prices will range from 399,900 baht to 508,500 baht, equivalent to a surprisingly high £8,130 - £10,340 / €9,300 - €11,830. Nevertheless, Honda is hoping to sell 40,000 units each year.



The chances of the BRIO making it to Europe are almost non existent, but an Indian market version is due to follow later this year. It’s expected to come with less specification than the Thai model, in order to keep costs down.



Related post:

Honda BRIO Prototype

Honda CR-Z Mugen

Mugen Euro is working on a tuned version of the Honda CR-Z hybrid. Both the 1.5 litre petrol engine and the Integrated Motor Assist system will be fettled to produce more power and torque, and there’s also speculation that fuel economy and CO2 emissions could be improved, too.



So it looks like a win-win situation. Except - for the time being at least - the CR-Z Mugen is only being built as a one-off prototype, set to make its debut at July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

As well as modifications to the powertrain, chassis improvements will comprise uprated suspension and brakes. To help save weight a carbon fibre bonnet and bespoke alloy wheels are going to be fitted, while replacement bumpers and a spoiler should help the aerodynamics.



Although it’s not scheduled for series production, arguably the enhancements hinted at by the CR-Z Mugen are needed to make the regular CR-Z a more convincing all-round package.



The standard car’s 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 9.9 seconds, top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h), combined cycle fuel consumption of 56.5 mpg (5.0 l/100km) and CO2 emissions of 117 g/km are respectable enough.



However, they’re not outstanding either, especially considering that a conventional non-hybrid such as the BMW 118d Coupé is quicker (0-62 mph in 9.0 seconds, top speed of 130 mph / 209 km/h), uses less fuel (62.8 mpg / 4.5 l/100km) and pumps out virtually the same level of carbon dioxide (118 g/km).



Related post:

Electric BMW 1 Series

2012 Honda Gold Wing

A new Gold Wing had been expected, but anyone who was waiting for an all-new bike to challenge the just-released BMW K 1600 GT / GTL is going to be disappointed.



The 2012 Gold Wing, at dealers from May this year, is virtually identical to the model it replaces. Major changes are limited to a partly redesigned fairing with better protection from the elements, slightly larger panniers and revised suspension settings.

Other modifications include an MP3 player interface, clear-coated wheels, a reshaped taillight, urethane seat coverings, updated instruments and an improved satellite navigation system.



Despite Honda’s decision to shift Gold Wing production from Ohio to Japan, the United States will undoubtedly remain an important market. So it’s no surprise that the first public display of the revised version will be at the International Motorcycle Show in Greenville, South Carolina (25 - 27 February 2011), followed by an appearance at the Daytona Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida (5 - 12 March 2011).

Pricing for the US has been confirmed at $23,199 to $28,499. Given current exchange rates, UK buyers should therefore have to pay no more than £17,700, right? No, sadly not - the 2011 Gold Wing is currently listed at £23,125, so something similar to that is a more realistic prospect.



The Gold Wing might have an extremely dedicated following, but it seems that the 2012 model is a missed opportunity. Next to the fresh six-cylinder competition from BMW, Honda’s offering is beginning to look overly bulky and old-fashioned.



Related post:

BMW K 1600 GT and GTL

BTCC-inspired Civic Ti

A major appeal of touring car racing is that the machinery used is similar - at least in looks - to the models that the public can buy from their local showroom.



Honda has decided to capitalise on this association by launching the limited edition Civic Ti. Unashamedly inspired by its own British Touring Car Championship contender, the Ti is based on the five-door 1.4 i-VTEC SE and 1.8 i-VTEC SE. Production will be restricted to just 500 examples.

A marketeer’s dream, the Ti builds on relationships already forged by the Honda Racing Team. For starters, the 17” wheels are supplied by Team Dynamics, and their dark finish undoubtedly looks good against the Premium White Pearl paintwork - the only colour choice available for the Ti.



There’s also a navigation system from Pioneer which, conveniently, is the company that has just been announced as title sponsor for Honda’s 2011 BTCC campaign. Featuring a 3D graphical touch screen, the Pioneer hardware includes mapping for 44 countries, incorporates a hands-free phone system and supports playback for CDs, DVDs and USB devices.



The package is completed by a fairly subtle ‘GP’ body kit.



According to Honda, all of that extra specification adds up to £3,700, but the good news is that the cost hasn’t been reflected in the Ti’s pricing.



In fact, the on the road prices for the Ti variants are over £300 less than their equivalent SE models. That makes the £15,995 1.4 i-VTEC Ti and £16,995 1.8 i-VTEC Ti rather a bargain. Both will go on sale in March.



Meanwhile, Honda Racing has made its intentions for the imminent BTCC season very clear, stating that the target is to win the Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles.

Team Dynamics will again be running the cars, although a big difference for 2011 is that they are going to be powered by NGTC-spec turbocharged engines. Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden continue as Honda’s works drivers.

Honda WSB team launch

Honda has unveiled its works team for the 2011 World Superbike championship.

The announcement of Castrol as title sponsor means the return to a very familiar colour scheme for the pair of CBR1000RR Fireblade bikes, which will be ridden by Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus.



As in recent years, Honda has entrusted Dutch concern Ten Kate Racing with running the factory WSB team. First thing on the Castrol Honda agenda is a two day testing session at the Motorland Aragón circuit in Spain later this week.



The 2011 WSB season comprises thirteen rounds with Phillip Island, Australia hosting the opening race on 27 February.

Tiguan has best residuals

Glass’s, publisher of the eponymous used car values guide, has revealed which three-year old models have best held their values in the UK market.



The study looked at ‘57’ plate cars (i.e. first registered between 1 September 2007 and 29 February 2008), which had covered 37,000 miles (59,545 kilometres). The results were ranked by residual value as a percentage of original list price, although low volume models and exotica were excluded.



Given the tough economic climate, it might be expected that used buyers would be flocking towards cheaper, more economical vehicles, so driving up their residual value percentages. Surprisingly, though, seven of the top ten are 4x4s or SUVs, with top spot taken by the Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion.

Glass’s Top Ten Residuals 2010
Position	Model	Residual %	Average Yearly Depreciation
1	Volkswagen Tiguan (168 bhp) SE 4Motion	68.0%	£2,394
2	MINI 1.6 Cooper Hatch	65.9%	£1,462
3	Honda CR-V 2.2 CTDi (138 bhp) SE	64.3%	£2,356
4=	Land Rover Freelander 2 GS Td4 auto	63.8%	£2,965
4=	Audi Q7 3.0TDI (237 bhp) Quattro S Line tiptronic	63.8%	£4,962
6	Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7TD (190 bhp)	63.7%	£3,720
7	Audi TT Coupé 2.0T FSI (197 bhp)	63.6%	£3,123
8	Nissan Qashqai 1.6 (113 bhp) 2WD Visia	63.3%	£1,628
9	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7TD (187 bhp) S auto	62.5%	£4,425
10	Audi A5 2.7TDI (187 bhp) Sport Coupé S tronic	62.2%	£4,123

Honda BRIO Prototype

19 March 2011 Update:

For confirmed Honda BRIO pricing and specifications for Thailand, please click here.

Honda has unveiled the BRIO Prototype at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo.

Although it’s being described as a prototype, the BRIO is scheduled for launch in Thailand in March 2011, while India will get a unique version of the car towards the end of next year.



The BRIO is designed primarily for urban use, hence the diminutive dimensions: it’s 3,610 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,475 mm high. Despite the small size, Honda is keen to emphasise that there’s still plenty of room inside thanks to clever packaging.

In order to sell well in its target markets, the BRIO is going to have to be affordable to buy and cheap to run. According to Honda, the Thai model will achieve 56.4 mpg (5.0 l/100km) and it’ll cost around 400,000 Baht (approximately £8,500 / €10,165 / US$13,240).



Cost competitiveness will be even more critical if the BRIO is to succeed in India. Honda has recognised this, stating that ‘local customer needs for a small car will be reflected and local content will be increased to create a model that achieves a good balance between vehicle performance and price’. There’s no word yet on what that price might be, but the rumour is something like Rs. 4.50 lakh (approximately £6,300 / €7,500 / US$9,800).

As well as India and Thailand, the BRIO is also due to be sold in other Asian countries. The chances of it being exported to Europe appear slim at the moment, but the Honda could make an interesting competitor to existing budget models such as the Chevrolet Spark, Suzuki Alto / Nissan Pixo, Kia Picanto and Volkswagen Fox.

2011 Honda Crossrunner

Someone at Honda must be a fan of the dual sport Yamaha TDM900, because its new Crossrunner is similarly aimed at those who want the benefits of an adventure bike but are never going to go off-road.

It’s a concept that has proved successful in mainland Europe, but not so much so in other markets. UK riders might be surprised to learn that Yamaha still offers the TDM900 here, while it simply doesn’t bother in North America. An odd situation, especially given the very healthy sales figures of ‘proper’ adventure bikes such as the BMW R 1200 GS.



Whether the looks of the Crossrunner will help increase the popularity of this class of bike is debateable. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the Crossrunner’s styling seems to pull off the trick of appearing bulky yet overly fussy at the same time. Photogenic it is not.

But the Crossrunner won’t be short on power. Its engine is a V4 unit, previously seen in the VFR800 sports tourer. Producing 100 bhp (75 kW / 101 PS) and 72 Nm of torque, it features the VTEC valve timing system, which wasn’t always too popular with VFR riders. However, in this application, Honda engineers have tweaked it to ensure that power delivery is smooth and linear.



A claimed side effect of the engine retune is improved fuel consumption. It’s reckoned that the Crossrunner will have a range of 216 miles (348 km) from its 4.7 gallon (21.5 litre) fuel tank, which is equivalent to around 45 mpg (6.2 l/100km).

The Crossrunner has an aluminium twin-spar frame. Connected to it are 43 mm cartridge forks with adjustable dampers at the front, while at the rear there’s a Honda Pro-link rising-rate linkage system with a gas filled damper and coil-over spring, both of which are adjustable.



Braking performance should be one of the bike’s strong points. There are twin 296 mm floating discs with three-piston calipers at the front, while the rear wheel gets a 256 mm single disc with a twin-piston caliper. An anti-lock system comes as standard.

Prices for the Honda Crossrunner have yet to be announced, but European buyers will have a choice of three colour schemes: Graphite Black / Matt Moonstone Silver Metallic, Pearl Fadeless White / Matt Bullet Silver Metallic or Candy Blazing Red / Matt Moonstone Silver Metallic.



There will be plenty of optional extras available, too. These include a higher windscreen, fairing deflectors, heated grips, centre stand (pretty much an essential on a chain-driven bike like the Crossrunner?), 12V DC socket, alarm, 29-litre capacity panniers and 31-litre capacity top box.

2011 Honda Crossrunner Technical Specification
ENGINE
Type	Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16-valve DOHC 90° V-4
Displacement	782 cc
Bore × Stroke	72 × 48 mm
Compression Ratio	11.6:1
Max. Power Output	100 bhp / 74.9 kW / 101PS at 10,000 min-1 (95/1/EC)
Max. Torque	72.8 Nm at 9,500 min-1 (95/1/EC)
Idling Speed	1,200 min-1
Oil Capacity	3.8 litres
FUEL SYSTEM
Carburetion	PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Throttle Bore	36 mm
Air Cleaner	Oil-permeated, cartridge-type paper filter
Fuel Tank Capacity	21.5 litres
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Ignition System	Computer-controlled digital transistorised with electronic advance
Ignition Timing	8° BTDC (idle) ~ 50° BTDC (1,200 min-1)
Sparkplug Type	IMR9D-9H (NGK); VNH27Z (DENSO)
Starter	Electric
Battery Capacity	12 V / 11 AH (YTZ-12S)
ACG Output	386 W
Headlights	12 V; 55 W × 1 (low) / 55 W × 1 (high)
DRIVETRAIN
Clutch	Wet, multi-plate with coil springs
Clutch Operation	Hydraulic
Transmission Type	Constant mesh 6-speed
Primary Reduction	1.934 (64/33)
Gear Ratios	1: 2.846 (37/13) / 2: 2.062 (33/16) / 3: 1.578 (30/19) / 4: 1.291 (31/24) / 5: 1.111 (30/27) / 6: 0.965 (28/29)
Final Reduction	2.687 (43/16)
Final Drive	O-ring sealed chain
FRAME
Type	Diamond; aluminium twin-spar; pivotless
CHASSIS
Dimensions (L×W×H)	2,130 × 799 × 1,243 mm
Wheelbase	1,464 mm
Caster Angle	25° 45'
Trail	96 mm
Turning Radius	2.8 m
Seat Height	816 mm
Ground Clearance	140 mm
Kerb Weight	240.4 kg (F: 115.2 kg; R: 125.2 kg)
SUSPENSION
Type Front	43 mm cartridge-type telescopic fork with stepless preload adjustment, 108 mm axle travel
Type Rear	Pro-Link with gas-charged HMAS damper, 7-step preload and stepless rebound damping adjustment, 119 mm axle travel
WHEELS
Type Front	6-spoke cast aluminium
Type Rear	5-spoke cast aluminium
Rim Size Front	17M/C × MT3.50
Rim Size Rear	17M/C × MT5.50
Tyre Size Front	120/70 R17
Tyre Size Rear	180/55 R17
BRAKES
Type Front	296 mm dual floating hydraulic disc with 3-piston calipers, C-ABS and sintered metal pads
Type Rear	256 mm hydraulic disc with 2-piston caliper, C-ABS and sintered metal pads

2011 CBR600F tech spec

Following the unveiling of the new 2011 CBR600F earlier this week, Honda has now released full technical specs for the bike.

Surprisingly, the engine seems to be exactly the same as the one found in the CB600F Hornet, the model on which the CBR is based. Perhaps Honda felt that 100 bhp (75 kW / 101 PS) was sufficient for the target audience, and any increase in power might be embarrassing for the 118 bhp (88 kW / 119 PS) CBR600RR?

2011 Honda CBR600F Technical Specification
ENGINE
Type	Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16-valve DOHC inline-4
Displacement	599 cc
Bore × Stroke	67 × 42.5 mm
Compression Ratio	12 : 1
Max. Power	100 bhp / 75kW / 101 PS at 12,000 min-1 (95/1/EC)
Max. Torque	64 Nm at 10,500 min-1 (95/1/EC)
FUEL SYSTEM
Carburetion	PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Throttle Bore	36 mm
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Ignition System	Computer-controlled digital transistorised with electronic advance
Starter	Electric
Battery Capacity	12 V / 8.6 AH
Headlights	12 V; 60 / 55 W low and high
DRIVETRAIN
Clutch	Wet, multiplate with coil springs
Clutch Operation	Mechanical; cable-actuated
Transmission Type	6-speed
Final Drive	#525 ‘O’ ring sealed chain
FRAME
Type	Mono-backbone; rectangular-section gravity die-cast aluminium
CHASSIS
Dimensions (L×W×H)	2,150 x 740 x 1,150 mm
Wheelbase	1,437 mm
Caster Angle	25°
Trail	99 mm
Seat Height	800 mm
Ground Clearance	135 mm
SUSPENSION
Front	41 mm tension and preload adjustable inverted HMAS cartridge-type telescopic fork, 120 mm stroke
Rear	Monoshock damper with adjustable tension and preload, 128 mm stroke
WHEELS
Rim Size Front	17M/C x MT3.50
Rim Size Rear	17M/C x 5.50
Tyre Size Front	120/70 ZR17M/C
Tyre Size Rear	180/55 ZR17M/C

Honda hasn’t stated what the fuel tank capacity is, but expect it to be the same as the 19 litres (4.1 imperial gallons / 5.0 US gallons) of the CB600F Hornet. There’s no mention of weight either, but the CBR’s fairing should add a bit to the 200.4 kg kerb weight of the Hornet.



Related post:

Honda CBR600F returns

Honda CBR600F returns

After an absence of four years, the CBR600F middleweight is returning to the Honda line-up.

Judging by the images, it appears to essentially be a faired version of the updated-for-2011 Hornet, although it’s thought the CBR600F may boast slightly more power than the 100 bhp (75 kW / 101PS) that the un-faired bike currently has.

2011 CBR600F and...

...2011 CB600F Hornet

The new all-rounder is aimed at riders who want more practicality and versatility than the more hardcore CBR600RR offers, but without losing sports bike performance. That said, it doesn’t look like pillion passengers are particularly well catered for.

Pricing for the 2011 Honda CBR600F, which goes on sale sometime in the first half of next year, is yet to be finalised.



Launch colours will be Pearl Cool White / Hyper Red, Pearl Cool White / Moody Blue Metallic and Pearl Nightstar Black / Matt Cynos Grey Metallic.

Honda CBR250R first look

With the Ninja 250R, Kawasaki has had the quarter-litre sports bike class pretty much to itself of late.



But now that’s set to change. Honda has just announced the CBR250R, which is designed to plug the gap in its supersports range between the CBR125R and the CBR600RR.

Due to make its debut at next month’s EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, power for the CBR250R will come from a 249.4 cc PGM-FI fuel injected engine driving through a six-speed transmission. There’s no word on output yet, but it’ll need to be close to the 32 bhp (24 kW / 33 PS) of the Ninja 250R to be competitive.



However, unlike the Kawasaki which features a parallel twin, the Honda is a single cylinder bike. Although it gets a counterbalancing shaft to help combat any inherent roughness, it might well be that some buyers just prefer a multi-cylinder set up.

The styling of the CBR250R, particularly around the fairing, is reminiscent of the Honda VFR1200F. That’s either a good or bad thing, depending on whether or not you like the unusual looks of the VFR.



Beneath the bodywork lies a steel frame, connected to which are non-adjustable 37 mm forks at the front and Honda’s Pro-link rear suspension with five-position preload adjustment at the rear. Braking is taken care of by single discs, and ABS will be an option.



The Honda CBR250R will be available in North America for the first time, where buyers will get a choice of black or red / silver colour schemes. It’ll also appear in Europe, painted white / blue / red or black, although it’s to be confirmed whether that includes the UK.

Pricing has yet to be revealed, but one thing’s for sure - it won’t need to cost much more than the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, which currently retails for £4,099 (plus government charges) in the UK, and $3,999 (MSRP) in the US.