Comments on: Honda Will Sponsor 2013 European Junior Cup; Provide New Sport Bike Rumored To Be 500cc Parallel Twin (Bike Reports) (News) (Rumors)

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:30:49 +0000

Dave……you asked what makes the CBR500 inferior to the Duke 690. Wellllll….how about starting with the specs of both bikes I listed in my original post ….read this…..and then explain your confusion on which bike is superior and best bike for the intent of the EJC race class!

A very minor point Dave…….. the European Junior Cup Series……. is a race series…….race being the key word……….not a series where where a beginners cheap and inferior commuter bike will serve the purpose of EJC being race learning experience for young riders/competitors.

If the cheap racing is the primary object for EJC……. give it a go on bicycles or Lambrettas ……..that would even less expensive, but again, certainly not serve the purpose of the EJC race class.

The fact is KTM had 25 plus competitors for every race on bikes that served the exact purpose of the EJC class……..and these riders/parents paid to race the KTMs in 2012……now Honda comes in with a cheap commuter bike totally inferior in every way ……this is progress………this is the way for young riders to learn to road race NOT

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By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:02:38 +0000

It’s easy to explain. The Honda is way more affordable for the Junior’s parents and consumers. WHat makes this bike inferior? No Brembos/Ohlins.carbon fiber?

The Duke 690 is a sweet bike but there are good reasons you don’t see more of them on the road.

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By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:44:05 +0000

Here we go once again……..Honda can do now wrong yet again nomatter how wrong and inferior the bike offering is yet be constantly too late with too little to the market with bikes and specs that are years late…….a few exceptions over the last 2 decades noted!

2013 CBR500 2013 European Junior Cup (EJC) Specs.
- 470cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin
- Six-speed manual
- 46.9bhp
- 401lbs (dry)

2012 KTM 690 Super Duke European Junior Cup (EJC) Specs.
- 690cc liquid-cooled, single
- Six-speed manual
- 78.0bhp
- 308lbs (dry)

So here we are again having to ensure those posting total support for a another totally inferior bike from Honda for the EJC race series and street version sales…….can somone please explain this ….. other than there are those that are still compelled to simple say “yes” about the losers Honda does does for any sport based motorcycle market segment…with great success I might add!!!

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By: ollie

ollie — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 17:59:57 +0000

Everyone is complaining about the spec of the rumored bike not to be as good as previously engineered marvels suck as the SV650. dont blame you, as you’re most probably older riders who can ride any bike that youd like. but if you look at it practically, you will see the reasons behind the power and weight figures. in the uk, the new learner rider regulations are changing once again in 2013. the bike has to fall under 49bhp and have a stupid power to rate ratio. kawasaki have already made use of this with their 300cc ninja, boasting a maximum of 105mpg, and is already a hit in the uk and aus, possible the same in the uk. i think honda will be on to a winner from an entery level point of view, but for all the power hungry riders of yesteryear, you won’t see the point in the bike.

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By: blackcayman

blackcayman — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:48:12 +0000

check the web / new world-wide site on that bike. So start stacking your bills, you’ll be riding one.

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By: todd

todd — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:49:21 +0000

Well Dave, the Seca can be bought for $1500 or less, has a center stand and shaft drive and the tires cost half as much and last much longer than the tires on my friend’s SV. So far, he hasn’t been able to shake me either. We’re always neck to neck but I’m WAY ahead because I got the Seca for free and he paid too much…

Now if it was a matter of trying to look like you own a newer bike then, he wins every time.

-todd

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By: v

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:49:30 +0000

The lower power limits for learner licences are 11 and 25 kW, about 15 and 40 hp. There is now limit that I know of at 50 hp. Btw the CB500 pictured made (claimed) 57 hp…

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By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 22:18:17 +0000

Again, the output is limited to the UK standard for license limitation. It makes the same torque as the EX500. It can certainly make more hp if Honda chooses to deliver it that way, which they’d be silly not to.

I get that a Seca 650 similar peak hp and weight to an SV650 but which one would you rather ride? It’s not all on the spec sheet.

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By: todd

todd — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:00:57 +0000

1982 Yamaha Seca XJ650, 71 HP, 450lb. Bikes in the commuter class haven’t progressed much in the last few decades. Do they need to?

-todd

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By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:43:51 +0000

Dave says:
“They can certainly engineer a bike as good as an…NT650″

Easy to be as good as 56 HP / 107 MPH — 15 years later.

GPz / EX / Ninja 500 — 60 HP / 120 MPH (25 years ago).

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