Honda CRF230L 2008

Honda released CRF230L, a compact and lightweight adventure-freak dual-sport machine that willingly serves as an economical commuter. This bike can do motorhome runabout or weekend outback-exploration.

On cemented roads or dirt roads, the all-new CRF230L is ready to handle all kinds of transportation needs. With its compact size, lower seat height, 223cc single cylinder engine and a six speed transmission, it's as lively as it is thrifty. Whether it's on campus, on the RV or on the commute, the CRF230L will provide reliable transportation for years to come.

The new CRF230L is the perfect motorcycle for riders who don't want the end of the road to mean the end of their fun. With its lightweight CRF chassis, responsive 223 cc four-stroke engine and comfortable size, the CRF230L is a blast to ride on the trail. And with a full complement of on-road gear, it's also a great street bike for both novice and experienced riders alike. The CRF230L is easy to handle, fun to ride, and loaded with premium features such as a powerful front disc brake and electric start. Honda has a long history of building great dual-purpose bikes. The CRF230L continues that proud tradition.

Keep the old school design as an economical commuter motorcycle. It’s simple but useful and durable. It’s also ride-able for new biker.

Features & Benefits

Engine/Drivetrain

- 223cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke engine.

Offers plenty of smooth power and lots of torque spread over a wide rpm-range.

- Carburetor 30mm CV.

- Electric start.

- Lightweight aluminum crankcase.

- Maintenance-free CD ignition.

- Smooth heavy-duty clutch.

- Smooth-shifting, versatile six-speed transmission.

- Heavy-duty O-ring-sealed chain for durability and reduced maintenance.

Chassis/Suspension

- Box-section aluminum swing arm.

- Lightweight semi-double-cradle high-tensile steel frame.

- Front fork Showa 37mm, 9.0 inches of suspension travel.

- Fork boots keep dirt and moisture away from fork seals.

- Rear shock Showa offers 6.3 inches of travel.

- Snail-type chain adjusters for easy maintenance.

- Front disc brake 240mm, and 220mm rear disc brake.

- Strong, lightweight rims with straight-pull spokes.

Additional Features

- CRF®-R-inspired bodywork and graphics.

- Motocross-style seat is low and comfortable, and allows maximum rider movement.

- Durable front and rear steel sprockets.

- High-quality handlebar with comfortable grips.

- Wide cleated, folding, self-cleaning footpegs and brake pedal for secure footing.

- Quiet, USDA-qualified spark arrester/muffler.

- Maintenance-free sealed battery.

- Ignition switch key for added security.

- Transferable one-year limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan.

- Purchase of a new, previously unregistered Honda USA-certified unit by an individual retail user in the United States qualifies the owner for a one-year complimentary membership in the Honda Rider's Club of America® (HRCA®). Visit www.hrca.honda.com for details.

Available Accessories

- Rear Rack
- Hand Guard Kit

Blade Run After X1

No doubt. Honda followed the market trend. But it is about too late. We found this model first time in Thailand. Yamaha X1 started it, and they got it. No problemo, a lot of Indonesian people do not know that in Thailand had this model for many years. They don't give a damn to the model history. Who was started with this model, who was become a pioneer before the new one. The most important is the recent model is nice, sporty and younger.
Basically, Honda's designers are able to make a bike which is easy recognized as a Honda to for people but looks flexible if we compare to Yamaha. Yamaha is good. But its design is boring. It's kind of rigid. The peak modification for Yamaha is too low. Finally we'll get the almost same result. Many kinds of modification for X1 but later we can see that those are the maximum modification are able to reach.

Check this out.

Icare

This concept looks like Batpod. The designer, Enzyme Design stated that this is mutation from Porsche car into two wheels. Enzyme Design which is based at France claimed their design will be icon of the future.

Icare using Honda 6 cylinders 1.800 cc. The engine capacity is amazing, but the designer stated big machine is ok with the safety body design.

The question is whether it produces or not. There’s no statement about it.

Aprilia Magnet

Difference riding sensation is one of interest to designers. Just like Heikki Naulapaa in 2004. This student of Royal College of Art proposed motorcycle design to Aprilia which was named Magnet. He combined two-wheels riding sensation with Formula 1 riding style.

Due to the concept was a combination of ride motorcycle and car, Heikki made the rider ‘half inside’. Just like in the picture. This motorcycle ever made by Aprilia with 550 cc hybrid engine. The control was using magnet on the front wheels. So that named Magnet.

Although having style like F1, the sensation of two wheels still remained. When in turn it still like a motorcycle.

Bombardier Embrio

Between all monowheels ever made, Bombardier Embrio (BE) has difference do not have to put legs on the ground on low speed. Bombardier Recreational Product (BRP) from England claimed that this is the embryo of monowheel. Just like other monowheel, BE using gyroscopic technology so that able to move on single wheel. With this technology BE will stay balance in right and left or front and rear position.

For low speed or stop BE is given with little wheel in the front. It functioned as stabilizer when in speed less than 20 km/h or stop. The front wheel will hang when the speed is more than that.

BE using hydrogen gas which is one of ecological engine types. To drive it, there are button on the left handle bar to accelerate and right bar as the braking.

30 hp for Ninja 250

Standard power of Ninja 250 is 36 hp on 11.000 rpm. But the real power on the rear gear is reduced to 23,59 hp on 10.600 rpm, refers to Tomy Huang from Bintang Racing Team (BRT)’s test with dynotest. For a while, BRT produces four upgrading components for Ninja. They are CDI, jet kits, muffler, and ported valve and cylinder heads.

Kawasaki called their CDI for Ninja with TIS (Transistor Ignition System). The TIS especially produced by BRT is called i-DTIS (Intelligent Digital Ignition System). Tomy Huang used a hybrid transistor system for his TIS.

BRT’s i-DTIS is programmable until 30 steps (30 ignition spots on the specific rpm) and operated with remote control. Moreover, this TIS have system called dualband which means there are two curve options for riding in the straight lane or for rolling speed in the corner. The way to managed is only push the ON/OFF button on the left handle bar.

After the i-DTIS was installed and other parts were still standard, as a result the maximum power could be achieved was 24,81 hp. The difference is until 1,48 hp.

The next test is the installation of racing muffler and i-DTIS which have tested before. For example, BRT used R9 New Mugello. “The character is noisy on the low rpm but quite silent and smooth on the high rpm.” said Suar, the mechanic of BRT.

Following the test with Dynojet, the power raised quite high. In the last test the power is 24,81 hp and after the muffler installation lifted until 28.58 hp. The price of this Thailand’s muffler product is Rp. 2,2 million.

Dynojet Kits priced for about Rp. 1 million contained of main-jet, 2 needle-jets, and 8 bits. The needle jets are used for medium rpm gasoline set. And the bit is meant for enlarge the wind hole.

From the test using AFR (Air Fuel Ratio) the right main-jet is number 94 and 40 for the pilot-jet (from Keihin FCR) which we prepare before because it is not available in the Kits. The raising power after installing these devices is 0,59 hp or become 29,17 hp.

The process of porting for BRT has two secret weapons. First of all, Tomy Huang toke his study in Australia particularly for porting and BRT has the special tool named flowbench functioned for measure the gas on the cylinder.

The important porting in Ninja is on the valve stick. It should reduce or a half than the original size. The second one is the top end of the valve which shaped like an umbrella. For this part is made two corners 45 and 30 degrees with a tool called reface valve. The sitting valve is also rebuilt with sitting valve cutter. Thus, on the 11.700 rpm the power could be achieved is 30,43 hp.

Source: Motor Plus No. 508/IX