1982 Honda Golding Gl1100 on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Honda announced a hardcore version of the Africa Twin

At the Motodays show in Rome, Honda announced a hardcore version of the Africa Twin, featuring Dakar styling, technical innovations and a price tag that surpasses the exterior of the motorcycle in severity. The Italian division of Honda has comprehensively modified the CRF1000L, giving it the dashing style of an experimental vehicle along the way. There is a pretty good attempt to endow the motorcycle with the features of a Dakar monster.

Traction control? Yawn...

My long-term Fireblade went back to Honda last week and, seeing as it’s sunny and mild outside now, I’m already missing it. It is one of the best 1000cc sports bikes out there, I don’t care what anyone else says, the way it makes its power is just perfect for fast road use. With the Power Commander 5 fitted and the fuelling sorted my 2011 Blade performed as well if not better than the 2012 version.

GSX-R600 and CBR250R the glass is half full

Suzuki’s GSX-R600 might not look that much different to the outgoing model but I suspect this bike could be very much a dark horse in 2011. I say this because two years ago I was definitely not building my hopes up en route to the K9 GSXR 1000 launch. The leaked pictures suggested the biggest change from the 2007 version would be some fresh graphics but I was so wrong.  As it turned out, I was greeted in Almeria with a brand new bike, built from the tarmac up and it proved to be more than a match in every department for the much hyped 2009 Yamaha R1.