16/07/2010 - Honda Launches Special Edition TT Fireblades
Honda (UK) is delighted to launch two stunning Special Edition CBR1000RR Fireblades – one 'Hutchy' and one 'McGuinness' – to commemorate the achievements of these two legendary TT road racers.
Both bikes feature awesome special-edition paintwork celebrating Honda's amazingly successful Isle of Man TT campaigns with two record-breaking riders: Ian Hutchinson and John McGuinness.
Ian Hutchinson tore-up the record books at this year's TT races with an unprecedented five out of five solo wins in the Superbike, Superstock, Senior and two Supersport races. To mark his success on his Padgetts Honda race bikes, the 'Hutchy' CBR1000RR celebrates that amazing feat with a brilliant pearlescent white paint scheme that features a map of the 37.73-mile Isle of Man TT course, outlined around the top of the bike. A red line faithfully follows the twists and turns of the historic mountain course, complete with corner names. Both side fairings of the Fireblade are emblazoned with a commemorative decal illustrating all five of Hutchinson's victories at this year's TT races and, his overall TT Championship victory. There is also Ian's unique 'Hutchy' graphic on the tank, along with his signature.
The John McGuinness special-edition makes an ingenious play on the fastest man around the TT course's name. John has traditionally used a representation of a pint of the black stuff on the back of his leathers, and the 'McGuinness' CBR1000RR takes this a stage further by turning the Fireblade into a two-wheeled pint of it! A beautiful and intricate paint-scheme replicates the look of a pint, complete with dew-drops of condensation on the fairings and the creamy white head that only the perfectly poured pint has. John's bike is also adorned on the fairings with a gold map of the TT course and his lap record of 131.578mph and, each bike is also autographed by John, enhancing its exclusivity even further.
Both riders are made up that their Island exploits are being celebrated in such a way. Hutchy said: "It's exciting and really nice of Honda to make these Special Edition bikes. Better still, I've been given the first one which is such a lovely gesture. It's an awesome bike to ride the Fireblade – how we did in the Superstock race shows how good it is. I won't be riding mine though: it will be going straight in the living room! On the paintwork, the skill and attention to detail is just stunning. When you go up close, you can see just how pearlescent the white paint is, it's an amazing piece of work."
McGuinness remarked: "I'm so proud to have a Special Edition bike like this. I'm honoured that Honda has recognised my achievements at the TT in this way and it cheers me up after a 2010 Isle of Man campaign that was hit by bad luck. I feel part of the Fireblade programme now with my wins on the current 'Blade and previous versions, so it's very special to know people can buy this bike. With the one that Honda has given me, like Hutchy, I'm not going to use it, it will join my collection. I've got an older style 'Blade, a V-twin SP-1 and a number of other Hondas. I'm always going to keep hold of it. The paintwork is amazing and every owner's bike will be unique, as each of the bubbles on the bodywork is done by hand and different every time. It's a work of art."
Both bikes are available now to order, from Honda motorcycle dealerships across the country, in both standard and ABS-equipped versions. The 'Hutchy' or 'McGuinness' Special Edition 'Blades are just £1,000 above current Fireblade on-the-road prices, meaning these truly memorable editions are priced at £11,725 OTR, or £12,375 OTR with the added comfort of Honda's amazing electronically-controlled
09/07/2010 - 'A work of Art' At Selfridges
Honda's legendary Fireblade has now topped the scales as 'a work of art' and can be seen like never before in a unique 'suspended' window display in the world famous Selfridges department store on Oxford Street in London.
The artist inspired window display features a sleek, black and white Honda Fireblade suspended from one side of a set of scales, with a fully disassembled Fireblade balancing these out with its hundreds of parts hanging individually on wires of varying lengths.
The display occupies the prestigious double aspect Wonder Room feature windows, on the corner of Oxford Street and Orchard Street, and is the focal point of a wider five window artistic display by up and coming young artist, Kyle Bean. The display theme is 'The Conservation of Mass', with the displays cleverly and innovatively highlighting how matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
This truly eye-catching and inspiring display certainly turned heads and attracted crowds outside the windows as the team undertook a daytime 'live installation', as the Selfridges windows are viewed by over 125,000 different people each day.
The artist won a competitive pitch process for the window display at Selfridges, which has recently been voted the world's best department store and attracts over 20 million visitors each year. Kyle's vision for the largest of his five window display was for an object that was minimalistic but had bold presence, would create intrigue by being in an environment out of its context, as well as being something that in its own form was stylish and compact, yet made up of an intricate connection of many parts – and a motorcycle was his obvious choice.
Kyle commented, "A motorbike ticked all the boxes for what I wanted to achieve for the largest of the five window displays. The Fireblade is such an iconic machine worldwide, with Honda also being renowned for their innovation, so this machine and working with Honda was the only way I really wanted to go. Seeing the whole installation now in the windows is a dream come true and it's inspiring to see what was in my head as an original idea, now actually be a reality and inspiring others who see it."
And inspired by this creative form, one person will have the chance to see and experience the awesome Honda Fireblade machine in another exciting form - on track in the British Superbike Championship with the HM Plant Honda team, AND, from a bird's eye view as a pillion to one of Honda's race aces, around Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire at this season's final round of the championship on Sunday 10 October. The competition winner will receive VIP passes for two to include hospitality, a behind-the-scenes team garage tour, the opportunity to meet the Honda riders and, of course, the ride of a lifetime as a pillion on the Honda Fireblade around the track. To enter, visit the 'Competitions' section within www.honda-racing.co.uk, guess correctly how many parts the CBR1000RR ABS Fireblade comprises and submit the online entry form.
The Fireblade display can be seen in the Selfridges windows until the end of August, although a video of the intricate but fun build-up of the artistic display can also be viewed on the HondaUKMotorcycles channel on YouTube.
For further information about the award-winning Fireblade or Honda's great range of scooters and motorcycles, genuine parts, accessories, latest offers and forthcoming events, visit www.honda.co.uk or your local Honda Motorcycle dealer who can be found using the 'Dealer Search' facility within www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles, or call 0845 200 8000.
08/06/2010 - Honda's New PCX Style Setter
Honda (UK) is pleased to introduce the PCX to its versatile scooter range this month, with this all-new 125cc 'twist and go' machine offering the great combination of style, comfort, practicality and economy, alongside innovative new technology.
Styling and practicality are hugely important on a street-wise scooter and the PCX doesn't disappoint on either score. Style-wise, the PCX belies its small displacement, giving a substantial feel allied to a flowing and curvaceous shape. Under the dark, tinted screen is a dual-headlight, behind which sits a high-tech instrument panel with speedometer, fuel gauge and an indicator for the engine's innovative Idle Stop Switch.
Underneath the generous rider and pillion seat is a lockable storage space which is large enough for a full-face helmet and more. In addition you have a convenient glove box and the ability to fit an optional 26-litre top box on the rear carrier. And, whether one-up or two-up, the responsive chassis, 14-inch wheels and Combined Brake System offer ease-of-use and enhanced safety features.
At the heart of the PCX is a 125cc liquid-cooled four-stroke, single-cylinder engine which features an innovative 'built-in' radiator, to keep the engine compact, cool and light. Despite this, the engine punches above its weight, giving impressive acceleration off the line and incredibly smooth power delivery.
Honda's PGM-FI fuel-injection system promises excellent tank range and low emissions, with the PCX delivering up to 130mpg. Helping the frugal fuel-injection return such impressive MPG figures are the Idle Stop Switch and Brushless ACG Starter. The brushless ACG was debuted on the trendy Honda Zoomer and works as both a starter motor at ignition and a generator while on the move, making the engine lighter. Meanwhile, when the Idle Stop Switch is enabled, the engine stops running after three seconds of idling, but it re-starts when the throttle is twisted open again – this helps improve fuel efficiency by up to another 5%.
With all these attributes, the PCX can easily move from being a reliable daily commuter, to stylish evening transport or a machine capable of taking rider, pillion and luggage out of town.
The price of the new PCX125 is very competitive at just £2,270 on the road, and comes with a range of stylish yet practical accessories for each of the three colour options available - Pearl Himalaya White, Asteroid Black Metallic and Seal Silver Metallic.
Scooters offer real freedom: freedom from traffic congestion, freedom from constraints of public transport and freedom from a large carbon footprint. Rising fuel prices and benefits to the environment are also further benefits of scooters, and the PCX125 looks set to be a leader in its class.
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