Yamaha, Honda win design awards

The annual Red Dot Design Awards, organized by Germany's Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen and voted on by a 40-member panel of experts, are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious design awards in the world.

Of the thousands of products entered across dozens of categories, the Ténéré 700 and CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP were awarded for their styling, despite being two very different motorcycles designed and built for different purposes.

Yamaha’s design concept for the new Ténéré was “Exciting Adventure Ténéré”, with distinctive styling features including the high-mounted face with its quartet of lights and three-piece windshield. While honouring past Ténéré models, the new version makes its own statement and is undoubtedly bold in its appearance.

Honda says the latest Fireblade was designed with an innovative new approach in which in-house R&D digital simulation experts, clay modellers and styling sketch designers worked with a continuous feedback loop to create the maximum effect in the shortest possible development time. Honda Racing Corporation also provided input on aerodynamic elements learned from the RC213V MotoGP race bike.

Both Honda and Yamaha are past Red Dot Design Award winners, with Yamaha in particular having a winning streak that goes back to 2012 and includes a premium ‘Best of the Best’ Red Dot award for the Niken three-wheeler last year, while their XSR900 retro-look roadster achieved the same accolade in 2017.