Suddenly, the theme of the series of articles that will begin this time is the entry in the Hidaka 2-Days Enduro on a Japanese trail bike Honda CRF250L.
First of all, let me introduce myself.
I, Daigo Miyazaki, have been involved in editing off-road motorcycle magazines such as BACKOFF and DIRT SPORTS for about 30 years. I am 53 years old now, which means that my life has been a straight line of off-roading since I was in my 20s.
I have been enjoying enduro since I was in my 20s, both as a hobby and for work, and started competing in earnest in JNCC (Japan's largest cross-country race) and JEC (MFJ All Japan Enduro Championship) about 15 years ago, and even held an International Class B license in JEC for a time. I have also been involved in the JNCC (Japan's largest cross-country race) and JEC (MFJ All Japan Enduro Championship) since around 15 years ago.
We dare to enjoy Hidaka at its origin, the Japan trail! With this in mind, we will take up the challenge!
Let me preface this by saying that I have participated in the Hidaka 2-Day Enduro three times in the past. This is truly a traditional race where many riders have such a desire to visit Hidaka someday. The first time I participated, I was so impressed by the spectacular scenery and exhilaration that it was hard for me to leave the paddock at dusk after the race when it was less popular and more desolate.
The last time I competed was in 2014. Ten years have passed since then, and at the age of 53, my own physical strength and dynamic vision are declining, but I still want to give it another shot. Not with a model based on a foreign racer, but with the CRF250L〈s〉, the only trail bike currently on the market in Japan! It was with these thoughts in mind that we began our plan to enter this race. Having raced with foreign-made racers in the Hidaka and overseas rallies, and having experienced their excellence, we wanted to go back to the basics with a domestic trail bike. I hope that this article will help convey the message that domestic trail bikes have plenty of potential, are safe and fun, and can be enjoyed in races as well! I hope that this article will convey this message, even if only a little.
I purchased a Honda CRF250L. It is a trail model that was fully remodeled in 2020 and has increased nimbleness and running performance.
has elongated front and rear suspension compared to the standard model, with a minimum ground clearance of 285 mm and a seat height of 880 mm. The "s" model is designed for off-road driving performance.
The headlight is a small LED version. Assist & slipper clutch and cancelable ABS were also adopted.
In addition, knuckle guards are standard equipment from 2023.
First of all, the body. I bought a motorcycle at the Honda DREAM store for the first time!
Well, it is Honda DREAM Ryugasaki where I came to purchase a motorcycle.
As I spent many years in off-road media, I have a very long relationship with Westwood MX, which is located on the same premises, and this place in Ryugasaki is also really familiar to me. So, if I were to buy, I would buy here! I had decided from the stage of imagining in my mind, If I were to buy it, it would be here!
The excitement I felt from the time we discussed the quotation to the delivery date reminded me of when I was in my twenties. Of course, I have ridden CRF250L(s) many times because of my profession, and I know the evolution from the early model (MD38E) to the current model (MD47), so there was nothing like the excitement of riding for the first time (laugh). Thanks to the kind and detailed explanations from Mr. Taki Ihara, the representative of Honda DREAM Ryugasaki, and Mr. Ryuta Okano, the manager, we were able to take delivery of the car smoothly.
Manager Okano explained about insurance and the Honda DREAM warranty.
This was my first time buying a motorcycle from Honda DREAM and I appreciate their kindness and politeness.
Maintenance note given upon delivery, Honda DREAM warranty card, owner's manual, etc.
The warranty is applicable from two years after the first year of registration to one year and is very clear with a list of warranty parts.
It was my first time buying a motorcycle from Honda DREAM, and they explained to me about warranty, insurance, regular maintenance, and the Honda GO app. Before I took delivery of the bike, they explained how to start the engine and how to operate each part of the bike. The moment the engine starts is a joy. I have ridden this bike many times in my work, but it feels different when you own it personally. I will be customizing the bike for the Hidaka race, but first I would like to enjoy touring on forest roads and riding around town with the standard bike.
I have ridden the CRF250L many times for news coverage, but it was a different experience to sit on it in the beautiful store.
A new motorcycle is still very nice!
On the day of delivery, manager Okano explained the basic equipment of the machine.
Documents and on-board tools can be stored in a box behind the left side cover. A helmet holder is also included behind it.
ABS, which is activated at speeds above 10 km/h, can be canceled by a long press of the switch on the right side. To allow slide control, it is canceled when driving off-road.
Honda DREAM Ryugasaki, which helped us with the purchase of our CRF250L, is in operation for sales and maintenance of new and used vehicles, oil and apparel, as well as rental bikes. Next door is Westwood MX, an off-road equipment specialty store, and an authorized KTM dealer, so it is a place where you can easily go to have fun.
Address: 2740 Sunamachi, Ryukesaki-shi, Ibaraki
Tel: 0297-86-8191
URL: https://dream-ryugasaki.jp
Westwood MX, a well-known and long-established off-road equipment store, is also located on the same premises. Wear, boots, helmets, guards, and other items can be purchased while listening to the advice of the store's specialized staff.
The Hidaka 2-Day Enduro (HTDE) is a race like this!
The International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE) began in England in 1913.
In 1984, the race was held in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, to spread the profound world of enduro racing in Japan, and in 1986, the event was moved to Hidaka-cho, where the International 2-Days Enduro Hidaka-cho was held. Since 1988, the race has been held under its current name, the Hidaka 2 Days Enduro. Kazuya Jimbo, the head of the HTDE executive committee, introduced the European on-time system in 1993, but since the rules were unfamiliar at the time, it is said that many riders were disqualified.
However, the event continued to be held with the belief that it should be held to world-class standards, and in 2002, the "SUGO 2-Days Enduro" was started at Sportsland SUGO, and the on-time system became widespread.
Today, the Hidaka 2 Days Enduro is a long course with one lap per day for two days, but there are many variations, including pleasant forest roads, rural areas, river crossings, garettos, and public roads.
As an on-time race, each car has a fixed amount of time, so there can be no detours. However, the race is a race with a high degree of flexibility, with riders complying with traffic laws on public roads, and pushing as hard as possible in closed tests.
Photo from the 2018 convention.
Photo by Toshimitsu Sato.
What is Enduro and Cross Country?
Let me briefly explain again the difference between Enduro and Cross Country. Cross-country racing, as typified by JNCC, is a competition in which riders start at the same time, ride the prescribed number of laps and time, and then decide their ranking. It is a kind of "endurance motocross," and most of "enduro" in Japan is this style of competition. On the other hand, there is the On-Time Enduro, which consists of multiple test sections (time attack course) and route sections (travel route) within a single lap of the course, each of which is run according to the time set by the organizer.
Hidaka is one of these "On-Time Enduro" events.The ranking is based on the total time after taking into account the combined time attack and penalties, but the most important feature of this race is that each competitor has a set amount of time for each lap or section of the race. When the time is written on the time check card carried by each competitor, if the competitor is even one minute late or early, he or she will be penalized as late or early arrival. Time is controlled by radio-controlled clocks, so organizers, riders, and teams (paddock, etc.) must check their radio-controlled clocks and their own set times as the race progresses.
Why do we have such a cumbersome rule? Some may ask, Why do you have such a cumbersome rule? I used to think so myself until I participated in this event. I thought it would be easier to just start and finish at the same time. However, the basic theme of this event is to run the course for a long time, using plenty of real off-road courses, without breaking the machine (if you break it, you have to take care of it yourself), and without running out of energy. In other words, it is about your ability to handle an off-road bike.
In other words, it is a test of all your abilities to handle an off-road bike, which is why the sense of accomplishment you feel when you finish the race is so special. If you are interested in this event, please try to participate in On Time Enduro practice sessions or area competitions held in each region.
Check the radio clock for the time you are to take the time check, and when the time arrives, have the time written on the card you are carrying while driving within one minute, and then proceed.
The route (travel route) must be smooth and complete in time for this time. The photo is from the SUGO 2-Days Enduro, the opening round of this year's JEC, and shows me, Miyazaki (YZ125X), waiting in line.
At this year's SUGO race, there were three tests within one lap, which were repeated for four to five laps over the two days (in the case of the NA class).
The total time of the test determines the ranking, so on the day before the race, the drivers previewed the course, recorded and memorized their lines, and focused on the challenge with high spirits and concentration.
