Honda Motor Co., Ltd. recently announced estimated 2006 worldwide vehicle sales figures and a range of plans for expansion of its motorcycle, car and other businesses in 2007.

Interestingly, Honda stated that it aimed to expand its motorcycle production in developing economies, but made no mention of its plans for new motorcycle models, dealership allocations, or sales incentives for bike buyers in Europe or North America.

Here are some extracts from the press release;

Global 2006 Sales;

Motorcycles: 12.7 million units (up 3% from 2005) Automobiles: 3.55 million units (up 5% from 2005) Power Products: 6.4 million units (up 15% from 2005)

Highlights from the Honda CEO’s keynote speech to the Japanese media recently included the following info;

Motorcycle Business in Japan

- 2006 sales forecast: 350,000 units (down 5% from 2005). In 2007, Honda will continue leading the industry in both environmental and safety performance by making progress in installing fuel injection system to scooters sold in Japan and by introducing the Gold Wing equipped with an air bag.

Strengthening Motorcycle Production

In order to further advance our technologies and know-how in the production of motorcycles of all sizes and to strengthen our system to evolve such technologies and know-how to other Honda plants around the world, Honda will concentrate all domestic motorcycle production to Kumamoto Factory with a target schedule by the end of 2009.

Asia markets

To accommodate growing demand for motorcycles in the region, Honda expanded motorcycle production capacity in India, the Philippines and Pakistan in 2006, and further capacity expansion is planned in countries such as India and Vietnam in 2007.

South America

Honda will expand annual production capacity of its motorcycle plant in Brazil from the current 1 million units to 1.35 million units in early 2007, and further to 1.5 million units by the end of 2007.

Solar Cell

A new solar cell subsidiary, Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., was established earlier this month. This company will begin full-scale sales of soar cells when mass production begins at the new plant in Kumamoto in fall 2007. Through production and sales of environmentally-friendly and sustainable energy, Honda will further contribute to the effort to prevent global warming.

Moto GP 2007: For the top motorcycle road race series of MotoGP, Honda will aim to win the crown for the second consecutive year with a new machine, the RC212V.

Renovation of Suzuka Circuit:

Honda will renovate Suzuka Circuit with the goal to achieve the further evolution of mobility and motor sports. The pits and paddocks on the race course will be overhauled. As one of the top-class racing circuits in the world, Suzuka Circuit will continue to host various international races and foster young racers. Through such activities, Suzuka Circuit will continue providing dreams and excitement to many motor sports fans.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

Yamaha UK are pleased to announce the early first delivery of 2007 YZF-R6 machines to their dealer network. The new liveried machines are now available in limited numbers, priced £7,499, in all Authorised Yamaha Dealerships.

The new YZF-R6 will again be showcased in the ever popular Virgin R6 Cup and for 2007 in the white-hot competition of the British Supersport Championship! The Virgin Supersport team will consist of R6 Cup winners Billy McConnell (2005) and Tom Grant (2006).

Voted Bike of the Year in many publications in the UK and around the world the R6 looks set to lead the 600cc class again in 2007. Delivering 133hp (at the crankshaft), the engine is controlled by the revolutionary YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle) system. YCC-T, effectively a fly-by-wire intelligent injection/throttle control enhances the power delivery of the machine and reduces fuel lag. The R6 also features a slipper clutch system for controlled entry into high speed corners.

All this power is controlled by the race bred chassis which gives unrivalled feedback while fully adjustable suspension can be fine tuned for both high and low speed situations.

Other innovations include the mid-ship exhaust system which both centralises mass and gives a radical new sound and look.

The 2007 YZF-R6 is available in Competition White, Yamaha Blue and Midnight Black and all machines are supplied with a colour matched racing seat cowl. All Yamaha motorcycles are supplied with a two year warranty and 1 year RAC cover.

The range of Genuine Yamaha Accessories for the YZF-R6 is even more impressive for 2007, including; hard parts, clothing and new Yamaha Racing specific leathers.

R6 parts include screens, carbon components, protectors, Ohlins dampers and Competition fork tubes. Clothing for 2007 include Yamaha Racing one and two piece leathers (manufactured exclusively by Dainese), Vintage and Urban Collections, Racing Apparel plus clothing for ladies and children. Genuine Yamaha clothing and parts can only be sourced through Authorised Yamaha Dealers.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

Despite last-ditch efforts to head-off the adoption of stringent new EC driving licence regulations, the BMF is warning that without a miraculous change of fortune, motorcycling is about to face its biggest threat ever.

This follows a recent transport committee meeting at the EU Parliament in Brussels where, despite several amendments being submitted to moderate the motorcycling proposals of the 3rd EC Driving Licence Directive, only some procedural amendments submitted by the Rapporteur ( The what? - Baffled Ed )Matthieu Grosch were accepted. After voting on the amendments, the final vote for the substantive Directive was to accept it by 31 votes to 2 against and 2 abstentions.

It will now be considered by a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 12th December when an amendment to reject the whole directive will be put by UK Conservative MEP Phillip Bradbourn, ‘but the outcome is not hopeful’ said the BMF’s Senior Government Relations Executive, Trevor Magner.

Known as the TRAN Committee, the only members of the Committee to speak for motorcyclists were Philip Bradbourn and Dutch MEP, Mrs Wortmann-Kool. Their amendments related to direct access; limiting the age that member states could choose for moped licences; eliminating one of the extra tests on progressive access and removing minimum engine capacities for minimum test vehicles. Mr Bradbourn also tabled a proposal to declare medical condition as an alternative to mandatory medical checks. The meeting was witnessed by FEMA General Secretary, Aline Delhaye, Trevor Magner BMF, Trevor Baird MAG UK and Wim Taal MAG Netherlands.

Rapporteur Matthieu Grosch now wants to progress the Directive so that it will be implemented by member states by 2012.

In spite of the BMF having written to every MEP, there was a display of ignorance about motorcycling that beggars belief, said the BMF’s Trevor Magner. “No note has been taken of an improving safety record or of the European MAIDS study that proved that the majority of bike accidents are caused by other drivers. In what has been a difficult and complex fight he added, I fear the implications for the future of motorcycling are dire. Through its costs and complexity, this directive will be a big disincentive to anyone considering taking up motorcycling.

The BMF will be supporting FEMA in asking national motorcycling organisations to again lobby MEPs to call for rejection at the plenary session, but there is little prospect of the Council of Ministers rejecting the Directive since despite the BMF’s massive postcard campaign to UK Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman, the UK Government is unlikely to object.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

The bikes may be in dealerships already, but Yamaha wanted to make a splash with the re-introduction of the WR450F and its all-new engine and aluminum frame, so they flew the bikes and a herd of journalists down south the jungles of Costa Rica to give the bikes a workout.
First things first, the bike is practically all-new emphasizing and incorporating the changes made to the 2006 YZ line and its new engine and frame, while tuning it to meet the demands of the off-road rider. Changes from the motocrosser are subtle but make a huge difference in how the bike performs off the track. And Yamaha took even further steps in tuning the machine, claiming to have designed it to work better for the tighter and technical trails, not so much for the faster and open terrain out west where the settings used to perform best.

Our ride entailed everything from fast dirt roads to snotty and slippery clay jungle trails. Dodging monkeys and downed journalists alike, we can say the bike is an improvement from the previous steel-framed version. Much like the WR250F, it has a lighter initial feel and is a lot more maneuverable. You still feel that you are on a 450, but it is a lot more along the likes of the CRF and even more so the KTM in light feel. It is thin, feeling just the MX bike! The suspension was supposed to be a lot more plush and lighter in valving to blow through the stroke more in the rocks and roots. The 250F is set up like this for sure but the 450 is a little bit stiffer. It may be set up for slightly faster and heavier riders, and a 450 is always a bit more difficult to get set up for the gnarly conditions. Our bike may just need a little more time to break in as well. We’ll know in a few more days of riding down here.

The engine is good ‘ol WR - strong with its characteristic smooth and deliberate power. It has a very snappy and responsive bottom end that will light up the tire pretty easily, especially on clay, but will also torque down really good too. Sometimes it feels like it could use a little more flywheel and it has a slight stalling problem, but the fuel down here is making the low-end jetting a bit finicky. Our bikes are running in fully uncorked, competition settings, unlike the corked up way that they are sold at the Yamaha dealer, but they are still extremely quiet. Only the smallest stuffer is removed from the muffler.

It’s tough to file a ride report while sitting pool-side, with killer waves to my back and awesome trails in front of me, but I lost a bet with my fellow journalists (how fast I could get this ride report done) and you dirtrider.com readers are the recipients of the reward. If you are thinking about a WR, we highly recommend one, especially if you liked any of the older versions. This one is way improved. And transplants from other brands will surely find some Yamaha traits to appreciate.

(this article was taken from dirtrider.com)

The word from the MRTA, who are unhappy about the substantial increase in bike test fees on the horizon.

MOTORCYCLE THEORY TEST FEE INCREASE:

UNWELCOME ‘STEALTH TAX’, SAYS MRTA

‘A Driving Standards Agency (DSA) proposal to increase the cost of the motorcycle theory test from £21.50 to £28.50 represents a £10 million “stealth tax” on riders,’ said Nigel Osborne, chairman of the RMI Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA), part of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).

‘This new fee would deliver a massive 32.5 per cent increase in revenue: consequently the DSA would do itself no favours with the motorcycling community.

We’ve no complaint with a proposed extension to both motorcycle and car theory test questions - from 35 to 50, and including subjects such as first-aid and eco-driving - but the industry strongly objects to an already profitable agency benefiting further from a raid on riders’ pockets. We will be vigorously opposing this proposed change in our consultation response.’

Osborne added: ‘It is not helpful for the industry if motorcyclists feel they are being unfairly victimised by a hugely disproportionate increase. After all, the Government is supposed to be encouraging people to use more environmentally-friendly forms of transport - raising the costs for then doing so is hardly a step forward!’

The theory test fee proposal has been put forward in a consultation document by the DSA, which is conducting a wholesale review of the driving and riding tests and associated fees.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)