Bangladesh Honda Private Limited (BHL), Honda’s motorcycle business joint venture in Bangladesh, today began sales of Honda motorcycle products in Bangladesh. Prior to the start of sales, BHL began local production of the CD80 in this October. These motorcycle models are sold at authorized Honda motorcycle dealers.

BHL newly opened two authorized Honda motorcycle dealers, one in Tangail and the other in Jamalpur. A total of six models went on sale today, including the CD80 produced locally by BHL and the Dream Neo imported from Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd (HMSI). In addition to sales of motorcycles, BHL will offer a wide range of services including sales of service parts as well as the regular maintenance of motorcycles to accommodate the needs of local customers in Bangladesh. Honda will strive to increase the number of dealers in Bangladesh in the near future, and aims to expand joys by offering Honda motorcycle products through the newly established dealers.

In December 2012, in order to deliver good products with speed, affordability and low CO₂ emissions in Bangladesh, where the motorcycle market is expected to grow further, Honda established Bangladesh Honda Private Limited, a motorcycle production and sales joint venture with Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC).

Setting the following “fundamental belief,” BHL takes the basic approach of “start small, grow big,” and strives to become a company with high expectation from the society.

BHL’s fundamental belief:
“We, BHL associates are dedicated to increasing the satisfaction of Bangladeshi customers to the maximum level by manufacturing and supplying high value 2-wheelers and services far beyond the Bangladeshi customers’ expectation.”

In Bangladesh, with a population of approximately 150 million people, industry-wide motorcycle sales reached 200,000 units in 2012*, and the steady growth of the market is expected to continue. Collaborating with other Honda operations among Southwest Asian countries including Pakistan and India, Honda will strengthen its competitiveness and strive to become a leading motorcycle company in the market.

*Honda internal research

About Bangladesh Honda Private Limited (BHL)

About BHL production factory

Honda Aircraft Company announced two significant milestones in the development of the world’s most advanced light jet. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued the first Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) certificate for the HondaJet and has certified Honda Aircraft Company’s customer service facility as a Part 145 repair station.

FAA grants HondaJet Type Inspection Authorization

“Achieving FAA Type Inspection Authorization is a tremendous milestone for the HondaJet program and a significant step toward type certification,” said Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. “We have successfully demonstrated through ground and flight testing that the HondaJet will meet certification requirements. We are now ready to begin the final flight testing with FAA pilot participation.”

Type Inspection Authorization is a pivotal point in the development and certification of a new aircraft. It signifies that the HondaJet meets type design requirements and is ready for FAA pilots to perform onboard flight tests required for certification. Nose-to-tail FAA review during this final testing phase will pave the way for HondaJet type certification and the first deliveries to HondaJet customers.

“We have been working closely with the FAA to finalize our certification schedule for the HondaJet,” said Fujino. “Based on the recent FAA type certification of the HF120 turbofan engine and the TIA milestone achievement, we can expect HondaJet type certification in the first quarter of 2015 with deliveries following immediately after.”

Customer Service Facility Receives FAA Part 145 Certification

“FAA certification of the customer service facility is a significant accomplishment and a key component of our goal to provide unsurpassed customer service and support from day one,” said Fujino. “I am proud that we could achieve this additional milestone in 2013.”

The Honda Aircraft customer service facility is located at the company’s world headquarters at the Piedmont Triad International Airport (KGSO) in Greensboro, N.C. Facility aircraft repair and service capabilities under the FAA Part 145 certificate will initially include component-level repairs and expand in 2014 to include heavy aircraft maintenance and major repair services to complement the HondaJet dealer network.

The customer service facility opened in October 2013 as an expansion of the company’s world headquarters that also includes state-of-the art R&D, headquarters and production facilities. The facility serves as a corporate base for the company’s customer service organization. In addition to heavy aircraft maintenance and major repair and overhaul work, the customer service team will provide warranty administration; service programs sales and administration; provide 24/7 technical support and training; and develop technical publications from the facility.

“The HondaJet program’s momentum is quickly building as we continue to reach and achieve milestones in our dream to bring the world’s most advanced light jet to market,” said Fujino. “We are looking forward to an exciting and challenging 2014.”

In 2009, Castrol has made this robot named Flossie, as a precision rider than can grip clutch, shift gear and twist the throttle repeatedly. Flossie can also ‘learn’ the bike character like a new rider would when getting a new bike. Flossie is used by Castrol to test their lubricants in variety of conditions with the precise gear shift and throttle twists. Check out the video embed after the jump:  (more…)

Sometimes, the official studio pictures doesn’t justify the real look of the bike. Luckily, Syarikat Chong Motorcycles Sdn Bhd (SCM) has provide a good gallery of the 2014 Yamaha Ego S YMJET_FI which recently arrived at their shop. Priced at RM4,918 (basic), this could be the one automatic bike that many riders in Malaysia are looking for. Check out 7 more pictures after the jump:  (more…)

After I bought my first full-face helmet, I been searching for more full-face helmets to compare with it. I’ve found this high quality, made in Italy Nolan N63 full-face helmet that are said to be the affordable premium helmet. This particular N63 is being painted with special livery of Marco Melandri replica of the WSBK championship helmet.

It features new ventilation system, made up of an air intake located on the chin guard, a direct air intake on the front part and one on the upper part of the shell. This made more effective by the two rear extractors which facilitate the discharge of the hot and stale air.  At 1,400g total weight, this is one of the lightest low range helmet which beats the AGV K3 at 1,450g. (more…)