Honda's CRF150 program in Europe

The Rock
Profile picture for user The Rock
Posts
8763
Joined
3/21/2007
Location
HAIKU, HI US
The Rock
Edited Date/Time 7/2/2015 4:23pm
Just watched Talent of Tomorrow and was reminded of what a smooth move that was by Honda to get JMB involved in this program. Still am in a bit of shock that American Honda let McGrath get away a 2nd time but I digress.

Given the resurgence off all things 2 strokes in Europe (least that is my perception) it is interesting Honda has a top notch "factory rental" racing program. Think this is the 3rd year of the program and I wonder if any two stroke manufacturers will follow Honda's suit and offer this type of "factory rental" program. Husqvarna would be a perfect candidate.
|
SmokinJoe439 7/1/2015 12:34pm
7/1/2015 12:34pm
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track days over here in the states in my area most kids still prefer the smokers. I've seen more 125's at the track on a regular basis than the crf150r.
420Racing
Profile picture for user 420Racing
Posts
146
Joined
4/9/2014
Location
Fairview, WV US
420Racing 7/1/2015 12:52pm
7/1/2015 12:52pm
That video had the best music in a moto vid I've heard in a while. Thanks. JMB needs a shave. Looks like he lives in a van down by the river.
TeamGreen
Profile picture for user TeamGreen
Posts
28971
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA US
TeamGreen 7/1/2015 1:14pm
7/1/2015 1:14pm Edited Date/Time 7/1/2015 3:27pm
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track...
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track days over here in the states in my area most kids still prefer the smokers. I've seen more 125's at the track on a regular basis than the crf150r.
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125.

Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini" program is based on the 150.

The CONTINUAL NEED for you haters to make EVERYTHING a Four Stroke versus Two Stroke argument is jus' getin' old.p
kzizok
Profile picture for user kzizok
Posts
8393
Joined
10/19/2010
Location
AS US
Fantasy
2034th
kzizok 7/1/2015 1:28pm
7/1/2015 1:28pm
Yamaha was smart on not pulling the trigger on releasing their 150f. There appears to be cut off point in the power to weight to cc size , where the four stroke has too much to overcome when compared to its two stoke counterpart. It appears to be in the 85/150 class.

I think people gave the 150 a shot but their negatives ended up outweighing any advantage they may have had.

The Shop

See All »
OW38B
Profile picture for user OW38B
Posts
3176
Joined
8/17/2006
Location
Coto de Caza, CA US
Fantasy
181st
OW38B 7/1/2015 2:03pm
7/1/2015 2:03pm Edited Date/Time 7/1/2015 2:05pm
Honda still makes the CRF150? Thought they cut their losses on that thing years ago........
731chopper
Profile picture for user 731chopper
Posts
4080
Joined
1/2/2015
Location
DFW, TX US
Fantasy
442nd
731chopper 7/1/2015 2:52pm
7/1/2015 2:52pm
TeamGreen wrote:
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125. Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini"...
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125.

Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini" program is based on the 150.

The CONTINUAL NEED for you haters to make EVERYTHING a Four Stroke versus Two Stroke argument is jus' getin' old.p
I think you mean CRF150R. The 150F is a trail bike.
seth505
Profile picture for user seth505
Posts
9369
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
SD, CA US
Fantasy
1092nd
seth505 7/1/2015 2:58pm
7/1/2015 2:58pm
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track...
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track days over here in the states in my area most kids still prefer the smokers. I've seen more 125's at the track on a regular basis than the crf150r.
TeamGreen wrote:
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125. Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini"...
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125.

Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini" program is based on the 150.

The CONTINUAL NEED for you haters to make EVERYTHING a Four Stroke versus Two Stroke argument is jus' getin' old.p
"haters" aside, it really seems like they have a program like this so their bike is forced to be out there.

Other superminis (kawi, ktm, Yamaha) have no problem selling them as potent race bikes so they really wouldn't need a program like this IMO.
#991
Profile picture for user #991
Posts
1685
Joined
8/7/2013
Location
Melbourne AU
#991 7/1/2015 3:04pm
7/1/2015 3:04pm Edited Date/Time 7/1/2015 4:13pm
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track...
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track days over here in the states in my area most kids still prefer the smokers. I've seen more 125's at the track on a regular basis than the crf150r.
TeamGreen wrote:
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125. Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini"...
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125.

Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini" program is based on the 150.

The CONTINUAL NEED for you haters to make EVERYTHING a Four Stroke versus Two Stroke argument is jus' getin' old.p
I don't think he was suggesting the 150R is a competitor of the 125's. Pretty sure he was just saying the 125's are more common to see at the track in this 4T day and age. Ie, 125's aren't that common these days but more common than the 150R.

I could be wrong but that's highly unlikely.

I was expecting the 150R's to take off and the other factories to follow suit. Then I went to watch a local Jnr race meet. The 150's are a fun bike but just aren't up to the job

TeamGreen
Profile picture for user TeamGreen
Posts
28971
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA US
TeamGreen 7/1/2015 3:25pm
7/1/2015 3:25pm
TeamGreen wrote:
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125. Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini"...
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125.

Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini" program is based on the 150.

The CONTINUAL NEED for you haters to make EVERYTHING a Four Stroke versus Two Stroke argument is jus' getin' old.p
731chopper wrote:
I think you mean CRF150R. The 150F is a trail bike.
Typo...

You got me.

Fixed
731chopper
Profile picture for user 731chopper
Posts
4080
Joined
1/2/2015
Location
DFW, TX US
Fantasy
442nd
731chopper 7/1/2015 3:55pm
7/1/2015 3:55pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Typo...

You got me.

Fixed
I'm not trying to be a douche. I just didn't want somebody to read that and think you were talking about a 150f when I knew you were talking about a 150r.

My dad has a couple of 150r as play bikes and I think they're cool little thumpers. I was surprised when they didn't take over like the big bikes did. They have an inherent bog though so maybe that is what turned some kids away? I think Honda fixed it with a new head and/or a different carb a couple of years ago. My dads are 07 or 08s I think.
SmokinJoe439 7/1/2015 6:53pm
7/1/2015 6:53pm
I'm not hating on the 150r I was shocked it didn't take off actually. I was waiting for a blue one asap the next year and it never happened or even a green one with their long rep of winning mini's.

But instead the other brands invested in their old two stroke designs and no 150r of their own in site.

I still think that a 175 4 stroke class similar to the 150r 30 hp max 200 lb in a 125 type chassis would be sweet to replace the 125 class. When 250fs started hitting 40 plus hp the went beyond 125 type power right to 250 power.
kiwifan
Profile picture for user kiwifan
Posts
9485
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
CA US
kiwifan 7/1/2015 10:32pm
7/1/2015 10:32pm
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track...
Honda's only doing it to generate interest in a bike that has failed to sale well. I don't see very many of these on regular track days over here in the states in my area most kids still prefer the smokers. I've seen more 125's at the track on a regular basis than the crf150r.
TeamGreen wrote:
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125. Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini"...
The CRF150R is a Mini/Super-Mini...NOT a 125 nor a competitior to a 125.

Honda's program in Europe is about YOUNG TALENT; and, guess what? Honda's youth/"mini" program is based on the 150.

The CONTINUAL NEED for you haters to make EVERYTHING a Four Stroke versus Two Stroke argument is jus' getin' old.p
well said....
Motor_Centre 7/1/2015 11:02pm
7/1/2015 11:02pm
What I saw was when they first came out they where faster than the 85cc the class they where supposed to compete in. Early adopters road them and won. Then they where shut down for that very reason they out performed all the 85cc so where not allowed in that class - So it was a rule and class issue - If all the other manufacturers where able to deliver the same 150 4t the class would have succeeded.
JackLHyde
Profile picture for user JackLHyde
Posts
800
Joined
9/10/2006
Location
Nice Oak DE
JackLHyde 7/2/2015 3:31am
7/2/2015 3:31am
That's not a program it's just a side show. It's pityful in comparison to the actual youth racing, like the ADAC series or the European Championships. Btw, remember the name Mikkel Haarup, he's hauling!
darren7878 7/2/2015 1:37pm
7/2/2015 1:37pm
The bikes stopped selling even in Europe

They introduced the program 3 years ago and found hardly anyone would pay to race their bikes or series

Lowered the price but still no riders then had to remove the entry costs altogether to generate interest!!!!!!

But honda certainly seem to have upped their budgets and hrc support in the world champs

Jakes Dad
Profile picture for user Jakes Dad
Posts
1865
Joined
6/22/2009
Location
Brooksville, FL US
Jakes Dad 7/2/2015 4:23pm
7/2/2015 4:23pm
They've run their course it seems in national level amateur motocross. Probably why they're putting their advertising dollar overseas.

Post a reply to: Honda's CRF150 program in Europe