Kevin Benavides won the final stage 14 of the 2023 Dakar Rally to top the overall bike title results by 43 seconds over Toby Price.
The 2023 Dakar Rally’s final stage 14 was won by Kevin Benavides, who outpaced Toby Price by 43 seconds to win the overall bike title.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider won the final two stages on his 450 Rally Factory to move up from third to first and win his second Dakar Rally championship. The Argentine, placed second in the first stage, dropped to fourth overall in stage two but managed to maintain his podium position during the following 12 stages with impressive consistency.
On a Honda, Benavides finished the 136-kilometre-long special ahead of Price in second place by 55 seconds. Benavides had also won the 2021 Dakar Rally. The American, Skyler Howes of Husqvarna Factory Racing, was placed third overall with a fifth in the last stage, five minutes and four seconds behind Benavides.
After nearly 44 hours and 30 minutes and 5,000 kilometres of racing against the clock, the winning margin was less than a minute. Price had a 12-second lead going into the last stage and almost missed his third Dakar Rally bike title, but he gave credit to teammate, Benavides.
In his fourth start in the famous off-road rally raid competition, Howes earned his maiden podium finish. After six stages, this St George (Utah) native was in the lead overall. In stage competitions, he finished on the podium five times on his Husqvarna 450 Rally Factory.
Howes, who has recently won several significant races and has also established himself as a well-known factory-backed star rider in rallies, maintained his stunning ascent with a third-place finish at Dakar. He was the first American cyclist to be placed in the Dakar cycling race since Ricky Brabec (the first American winner of the Dakar Rally in 2020, who also took second in 2021).
India’s Hero MotoSports, made a valiant effort in their Dakar campaign. All the Hero MotoSports riders finished among the top 15 in the Dakar 2023 final stage, thus signifying the company’s most productive Dakar campaign yet. The motor sport squad from Hero MotoCorp won two stages at the Dakar 2023 and finished in many top 10 positions. With Franco Caimi achieving consistent results throughout the rally to be placed 10th overall, Hero MotoSports also finished the rally among the top 10.
Franco Caimi was Hero MotoSports’ top performer for the most part of the rally. He won several top-10 stage positions and this ultimately helped him in achieving a top-10 finish in the overall standings. The Argentine had to ride through the rally’s final stages in pain due to a mishap in recent days, but he persevered and displayed the genuine spirit of Dakar. He finished in P13 in the Rally GP Class at the end of the last stage, making his début Dakar rally with Hero MotoSports a success.
Sebastian Bühler posted his first podium result in a stage in his third Dakar campaign with Hero MotoSports, coming in second in stage two. Like Branch, Bühler lost some time during stage four due to the same problem, which prevented him from finishing among the top 10. Eventually, he managed 14th overall in the Rally GP division due to a number of top-10 performances and his steady pace.
It’s been a couple of months since Honda outlined its electric motorcycle plans, which included a mix of mopeds, scooters and three large-sized “Fun EVs” destined for North America by 2024 and 2025. The initial announcement included a teaser image of two motorcycles and a scooter.
Today, Honda released another glimpse of a future electric motorcycle in, of all places, a rendering of its float for the 2023 Rose Parade.
As the presenting sponsor for the 13th time, Honda will once more be the lead float in the Rose Parade. This year’s float, called “Forever Determined,” is part of an ongoing brand marketing campaign promoting the company’s initiatives including its plans for electrification. Honda says it’s pursuing a goal for carbon neutrality by 2050, and having North American vehicle sales be 100% electric by 2040.
The float shows several Honda vehicles, including the all-electric Prologue SUV, the Acura ARX-06 hybrid race car, a Hondajet Elite II plane, and a prototype Honda eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft). Also nestled in there is what is simply described as “a Honda electric motorcycle”.
The rendering shows a naked motorcycle that looks looks very similar to the Honda CB500F, but with a large module that presumably houses the batteries and electric motor in place of the engine.
It’s difficult to draw too many conclusions from a portion of a sketch of a parade float, but it is worth noting that every other element of the float besides the motorcycle is a product that actually exists in a further stage of development. The HondaJet Elite II was revealed in October, the Prologue is expected to enter production in 2024, and the ARX-06 will be competing in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The eVTOL is still at the concept stage, but Honda has at least revealed some information about it.
The electric motorcycle remains a complete mystery, with Honda not even giving it a name in its press release (presented in full below). That gives us two possible theories. Either the electric motorcycle is so early in development that it’s just a mock-up with no relationship to an actual product, or “a Honda electric motorcycle” is all American Honda is willing to say about the project at this stage.
Given Honda’s stated goal of releasing a “fun EV” motorcycle by 2024, the latter seems more likely. With the parade taking place on Jan. 2, it’s possible Honda will provide more information on its first electric motorcycle before the end of the year.
Honda Determination to Advance Future of Mobility Set to Shine at 2023 Rose Parade
Honda brings ‘Forever Determined’ brand campaign to life as inspirational float for 134th Rose Parade®
From the road to the racetrack to the skies, Honda’s float will feature a range of mobility products, as Honda prepares for an electrified future
Honda float will serve as the stage for ‘Rose Parade Opening Spectacular’ for the first time, featuring musical performance by multi-platinum artists, Fitz and The Tantrums
All-new 2023 Honda CR-V hybrid and 2023 Pilot TrailSport SUVs are official vehicles
Honda will bring its latest brand marketing campaign to life aboard an inspirational float that will lead the 134th Rose Parade on January 2, 2023. Honda’s “Forever Determined” Rose Parade float showcases Honda’s commitment to making people’s lives better by constantly advancing mobility through innovative technology and sheer determination. Honda’s “Forever Determined” float marks the 13th time that Honda has led all floats as Presenting Sponsor of the Rose Parade.
Honda will kick off the 2023 Rose Parade with its float serving as the stage for the “Opening Spectacular” for the first time. Honda is proud to announce that the Rose Parade “Opening Spectacular” will feature a musical performance by multi-platinum artists, Fitz and The Tantrums, performing their latest high-energy, infectious new single, “Let Yourself Free.” Honda and Fitz and The Tantrums will be joined by youth singers and the Rose Parade Youth Dance Group, a collection of talented youth dancers, who will help to redefine the term “dance floor-ready bounce” during their “Opening Spectacular” performance.
The “Forever Determined” Rose Parade float highlights new initiatives that Honda is taking on – from the road to the racetrack to the skies – as Honda prepares for an all-electric future. Honda is pursuing the global goal of carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050, including a vision for 100% electrified vehicle sales in North America by 2040.
“Our determination to advance the future of mobility is embodied in the Honda products on our parade float and in the 2023 Rose Parade theme of ‘Turning the Corner,’” said Jessika Laudermilk, Assistant Vice President of Marketing for American Honda. “Honda continues to embark on new initiatives utilizing our core technologies that will help people make their own lives better, today and tomorrow, and we’re proud to showcase that in this year’s Rose Parade.”
“Forever Determined” 2023 Rose Parade Float Brings Honda Mobility Products to Life
The groundbreaking Honda products featured on the “Forever Determined” float showcase innovative technology, driven by the ideas and sheer determination of Honda engineers. Represented on the base of the float is the Prologue, Honda’s first all-electric SUV, arriving in 2024, as well as the electrified Acura ARX-06 race machine that will soon compete in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and a Honda electric motorcycle. Flying high above are the HondaJet Elite II, the fastest, farthest and highest-flying aircraft in its class, and a product of the future, the Honda eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) which will fly on a new layer of the sky that is much closer to the ground than the existing layer used by airplanes and is a key part of Honda’s future “mobility ecosystem.” Honda’s 2023 Rose Parade float is powered by a specially configured 3.5L V6 engine from Honda.
Official Honda Rose Parade Vehicles
The Pace Car of the 2023 Rose Parade is the all-new hybrid-electric 2023 Honda CR-V hybrid, the most powerful and fuel efficient CR-V ever. Perfect for daily life or weekend escapes, CR-V is America’s outright best-selling SUV of the past 25 years and the all-new 2023 CR-V hybrid backs up its rugged new looks with a more fun-to-drive personality, excellent fuel economy ratings and increased capability. This all-new hybrid-electric 2023 Honda CR-V represents the latest step in Honda’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and progress toward the ultimate goal of achieving a carbon-free society. The all-new CR-V hybrid will be built at both Honda’s Indiana Auto Plant in Greensburg, Indiana and East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio, continuing the 40-year legacy of Honda’s commitment to build products close to the customer*.
The all-new 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport serves as the Sound Car for the 2023 Rose Parade. The most off-road capable SUV in Honda history, the all-new 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport is the ultimate rugged family SUV with tough new styling, more passenger and cargo space and a class-leading combination of off-road capability and sporty on-road dynamics. Special rugged features on this all-new Pilot TrailSport include a raised off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, steel skid plates and expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities. Designed in California and developed in Ohio, the all-new Honda Pilot is built exclusively at Honda’s Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Since 2006, Honda has produced more than 2 million Pilots in the U.S*.
Honda’s Long-standing Partnership with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
Honda and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® have worked side-by-side for more than 60 years to contribute to a strong sense of community in Southern California and bring entertainment and tradition to people around the world. Honda became the Rose Parade’s first-ever presenting sponsor in 2011. As presenting sponsor for 13 years, the Honda float leads the Rose Parade and showcases the annual event theme.
Honda first collaborated with the Tournament of Roses to provide two-wheeled vehicles for the 1962 Parade. Honda has been a float participant since 1977 and has provided the official Tournament of Roses vehicle since 1994. Honda continues to supply two-wheeled and side-by-side (multi-utility) vehicles for Parade operations.
*Honda vehicles are built using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Honda Begins Sales of “Honda Power Pack Exchanger e:” Battery Swapping Station – Gachaco, a battery sharing business venture, begins operation of the first unit of Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: in Japan –
TOKYO, Japan, October 25, 2022 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that it has begun sales of the Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: battery swapping station in Japan, with the first unit delivered to Gachaco Inc., a battery sharing service joint venture. Gachaco today began operation of the first mass-production model of the Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: in Japan.
Honda is striving to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050. Electrification of mobility products, which is indispensable to achieve this goal, has three challenges that need to be addressed: short range, long charging time and high battery cost. By addressing such challenges with swappable batteries and their sharing service, Honda is striving to contribute to the acceleration of electrification and expansion of the use of renewable energy.
Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: is a battery swapping station that simultaneously charges multiple units of Honda Mobile Power Pack e: (MPP e:) and enables smooth battery swapping for users of electric motorcycles and other mobile products equipped with MPP e:. The users will have access to fully-charged MPP e: whenever needed at battery swapping stations in the city, which enables efficient use of electrified mobility products without waiting for the batteries to get charged.
Developed as a battery infrastructure which can achieve widespread use inside and outside of Japan, Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: features an exterior design that blends in well with the cityscape and adopts the Honda Power Pack Cloud system that centrally manages all information necessary for a battery sharing service operation in the cloud. Moreover, Honda pursued the convenience and user-friendliness for both battery sharing service businesses and the users of electrified mobility products.
In India, through its local subsidiary, Honda Power Pack Energy India Pvt. Ltd. (HEID), Honda has already started a battery sharing service for electric tricycle taxis (“rickshaws”), using Honda Power Pack Exchanger e:.
By offering the products and operating system for customers who are interested in battery sharing, Honda will continue supporting electrification of their mobility products and contributing to the realization of a low-carbon society.
Both the higher and lower slots are designed to have an angle that makes it easy to insert or remove the battery.
The Exchanger automatically begins charging when the battery is put in the slot.
To swap batteries, the user taps the panel on the upper part of the Exchanger with their IC card (integrated circuit card or smart card) for user authentication, ensuring a high level of security.
Based on the user’s mobility product information (such as the number of batteries, and other conditions such as a series or parallel connection of batteries) associated with the preregistered user ID, the Exchanger determines and lets the user know which fully-charged batteries are appropriate for the user via LED display, which enables smooth swapping.
Ease of use, ease of maintenance and ease of management:
All information necessary for the operation of the battery sharing service, such as the charge status of each of battery at the station, information on battery availability and the operational status of the station, is consolidated and managed centrally by the Honda Power Pack Cloud system.
The users can complete the entire process, from user registration to finding stations, swapping the batteries and making payments, through the same system. In addition, using a smartphone, the users can search real-time information about batteries available for renting, which contributes to smooth battery swapping.
The battery sharing businesses can manage and operate their service efficiently by managing the status of their stations and batteries centrally in the cloud.
The Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: features a structure that makes it possible to perform routine maintenance and cleaning tasks with easy access from the front.
The Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: is equipped with a battery cooling function to suppress the heat-induced degradation of batteries.
Multiple units can be connected and installed as one station:
To increase the number of batteries the station can manage and operate simultaneously, multiple units of Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: (“extension unit”) can be connected per one main unit (“control unit”) of the Honda Power Pack Exchanger e:, offering flexibility to accommodate the needs of the users and operators of the battery swapping station.
Enabling battery swapping even during a power outage:
In case the power supply to the Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: is interrupted due to a power outage or any other reason, the Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: will continue renting batteries to users while drawing power from the pre-charged MPP e: in one of the slots.
Design that blends in with the cityscape:
Anticipating installation in various locations throughout the city, Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: was designed with the main concept of “blending into public spaces,” realizing an unimposing cabinet design that looks like one unit even when multiple units are connected.
Picture this: You’re hanging around the Rock Store at the top of Mulholland Highway with your rental Camry the day before you fly home. The leather-clad crowd around praises the virtues of the GSXR600 chassis and the electronics package on the R1 for what seems like hours before a voice from the ether comes down and declares that, in fact, all of that sucks. Instead the holy follow the real truth of Slow Bike Fast.
This truly enlightened rider who belongs to that voice is astride a miniscule machine that looks like a sportbike that stayed in the dryer just a bit too long and has an exhaust note like a mix of an old enduro machine and the Singer your mom used to repair your jeans way back when. Is this person insane or a prophet? There’s only one way to say for sure. I took the Honda CBR300R out for a week of playing in the canyons alongside some high-horsepower (and highly capable) machines to see if it truly held up.
This 250cc-400cc market segment is now a packed class, with the KTM RC390, Yamaha R3, Kawasaki Ninja 400, and Suzuki GSX250R all competing for both attention from new riders and track rats alike. That is two very different subsets of buyers but it all boils down to similar wants and desires: Reliability, approachability, and fun factor.
Honda comes right out and calls the 300 a commuter machine in some of its press materials. It is an evolution of the CBR250R which lived from 2011 to 2015, after which the engine was upsized to the current 286cc. The non-ABS equipped model comes in at $4,899 plus $600 in destination and freight charges. Add in the well-tuned ABS, as seen on our test bike, and the price rises to just $5,099. Either trim can be had in grand prix red or matte gray metallic.
The engine is not the main reason I would recommend this bike though. It’s the chassis that gives the baby CBR the most fun character. A scant 30” seat height is the first thing that stood out when I threw my leg over the bike for the first time. My 32” inseam means that I am rarely bothered by seat heights, but the CBR’s lower seat combined with the narrowness of the chassis to feel playful to me. Riding through twists and turns was an absolute delight.
Straight line speed was not astonishing, but the Honda still moved quickly enough to be safe and fun. Unfortunately, those canyon roads were a place the CBR’s suspension really showed its pricepoint and intended use case. The fork is sprung on the soft side and the rear begs for more rebound damping.
The dash consists of a simple analog sweep tachometer and LCD display for speed, distance, and other necessary measurements. Simple and functional. A cable-pull clutch and hydraulic front brake round out the rider touchpoints.
The ready-to-ride weight comes in at just 354 pounds and it very much feels like it. The single front brake measures just 296mm diameter, with 220mm rear disc and the combination has no problem slowing the CBR. The ABS threshold is fairly high, as we had to work to get it to intervene but it cycled quickly and consistently once engaged.
(Editor’s note: I think the 320cc Yamaha R3, which I’ve ridden quite a bit, feels even lighter on its feet — Jack Baruth)
The CBR is a delight to ride just about everywhere. The only place it fell short was highway riding. Honda claims a top speed just shy of 100mph, but 70mph felt busy on the little machine and the tach needle fluttered in the top third of its range. Will it do it? Yes. If that is your main use though, the larger CBR500R is likely a better fit.
Once off the superslab we had no trouble racking up miles on the comfortable seat. The bike just was not tiring to ride like most small-displacement bikes tend to be.
The low seat height and light weight combine with smooth controls to make a very beginner-friendly package.
It’s also one that veteran riders will find playful to ride–this is the core of “Slow Bike Fast.”
The little CBR is not the perfect motorcycle, but it is a great second (or third) bike; delightful to ride, and once you have one you will likely find yourself reaching for its keys more than you would think.
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BMW R18 meets Indian Challenger and Harley Heritage Classic
The slightly ridiculous 1800cc, two-cylinder, leather-saddlebag, CHiPs-windshielded cruiser I’m trying to force through six stopped lanes of Los Angeles traffic can’t be taken as anything but an admission on the part of the Bayerische Motoren Werke that Harley-Davidson knows
Values have skyrocketed of late in the motorcycle world but there were still deals to be had.
The spending frenzy at Scottsdale’s January auto auctions may have garnered the headlines, but just a short road trip away in Las Vegas, Mecum’s motorcycle auction put on a similarly spectacular show for the two-wheeled crowd.
We reported last year that millennials prefer classic & vintage Harleys over Indians.
Knuckleheads are benefitting from broader, multi-generational appeal, and demand is increasing because younger buyers continue to move into the market while older ones aren’t leaving.
The Garage Fridge saves the day by Kyle Smith from Hagerty.com
The garage fridge is not a tool. It does not actively assist in the completion of a project. If anything, the cooler in the corner often conspires to defeat productivity. For me, recently, it did just the opposite.
Taking the one motorcycle out to compete in cross country, motocross, flat track, road racing, trials, and finally on ice requires a lot of time in the garage.
So much that I was getting burnt out. Luckily this final conversion only required three items: studded tires, over fenders, and a tether kill-switch.
Whether riding a motorcycle or challenging norms, Gevin Fax is no stranger to blazing trails.
She says, “I think this is the best, most wonderful country in the world, but we are not flawless. I want women to not sell themselves short. We are stronger than we give ourselves credit for. We are more possible than we could ever imagine.”
“Everybody kept telling me my life was going to change after I bought the Harley. Let me tell you something: Everything changed.”
An as-new example of Honda’s RC213V-S has just broken a new world record, becoming the most expensive Japanese motorcycle ever sold at auction.
Hosted by specialist automotive marketplace Collecting Cars, the ‘MotoGP bike for the road’ sold for a remarkable total sales price of £182,500.
The rare superbike has never been ridden and remains in its original flight case, with just one mile on the odometer. Having never left its shipping crate, the bike is totally pristine with absolutely no damage or wear.
Created with a focus on light weight and agility, the RC213V-S is a road-legal MotoGP bike, built around a hand-fabricated aluminium frame with carbon-fibre body panels and titanium fasteners, resulting in a dry weight of just 170kg.
Powered by a 999cc four-stroke V4 engine, this 2016 model also features the full HRC Race Kit, which comprises a recalibrated ECU, a titanium exhaust system, a front ram duct, a race-pattern quickshifter, a data logger and a remote control cable for the front brake lever. These upgrades reduce the bike’s total weight by 10kg and increase power output from 157hp to 215hp.
Also fitted are some of the highest quality components available, including Ohlins TTX front forks, powerful Brembo brakes and forged magnesium Marchesini Racing wheels.
Edward Lovett, founder of Collecting Cars, said:
“Honda’s RC213V-S is a thrilling, exquisitely crafted machine, and this example attracted global attention and extremely competitive bidding on Collecting Cars. We are proud to have achieved yet another world-record sales price – this time for an incredible road-legal MotoGP that will be a jewel in the new owner’s collection.”
Compared to traditional car auctions, Collecting Cars offers significantly better value for sellers and buyers alike. For sellers, the detailed photographic presentation and professional descriptions mean their car is showcased in the best possible way, and is marketed to a huge captive audience of passionate enthusiasts. Furthermore, there is no listing fee, and they receive 100% of the hammer price.
For buyers, the premium on auction lots is levied at just 5% + VAT – substantially lower than traditional auction houses, which typically charge 12% or more – and is capped at £6,000. On hammer prices above £100,000 this means that the buyer’s premium is even less than 6%.
About Collecting Cars:
Collecting Cars is an online auction platform that curates consignments from around the world and markets them to a global audience.
The streamlined and transparent process makes buying and selling cars, motorbikes, and automobilia via its online auctions one of the most effective and hassle-free ways of transacting.
To date, the Collecting Cars platform has sold more than 5,300 lots, and total sales value generated for sellers exceeds £191 million. The multi-national auction company has headquarters in London, and offices in Munich, Sydney, and Los Angeles.
More than 90% of sales since launch have happened without a physical viewing, underscoring the significant trust that Collecting Cars has earned among its customers.
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