Honda CBR1000RR-R meets iconic Repsol livery for your everyday Marquez motor

We find ourselves in two minds about having our big-pot sportsbikes draped in liveries that ape their MotoGP cousins skirting the fine line between cool and, well, a bit naff.

The same goes for the familiar hues of Repsol which have become so synonymous with the Honda marque it has sponsored now for more than two decades to the extent you simply cannot begin to imagine what any RC-V machine could look like without that splash of orange, red and white.

It means though that the designs have endowed several generations of the equivalent top range Honda Fireblade in the inevitable MotoGP-Sportsbike crossover for those who want to wear the support for their favourite rider or team on their machinery - after all, you can’t see tattoo tribute under those levels.

For now, Honda hasn’t given the newest CBR1000RR-R Fireblade the Repsol livery treatment but if your love and admiration for Marc Marquez - or Pol Espargaro, Alex Marquez… or Jorge Lorenzo if you’re feeling mischievous - just cannot wait, then @Ikeman_0606 has imagined what it would look like for you.

It certainly cuts a dash but then anything in orange is bound to and this does look like a smart integration to doesn’t disguise the Honda’s sharply suited aesthetic, while the penchant for wings mean you may begin to look like your closer to riding a MotoGP machine than ever.

Are there other MotoGP livery replicas on sale?

Yes, and our favourite has to be the Suzuki GSX-R1000R, which was ‘revised’ this year in true Suzuki style by being presented as new by changing only the livery of it. While the blue and yellow of yesteryear will always be ‘the’ livery for Suzuki, we absolutely love the 60th anniversary tribute which harks back to the firm’s first grand prix racing machine with a splash of sliver looking both classy and distinctive.

It certainly proved a good omen for Suzuki as Joan Mir romped to its first MotoGP title in 20 years this season, so it’s the perfect tribute if your heart is set on the Gixxer. Just be prepared to get questions as to why your machine suggests you ride either a ‘Suz’ or a ‘Zuki’ (look at the side profile, you’ll get what we mean’).

Elsewhere, Yamaha has its ‘Rossi-inspired’ Monster livery, albeit only on the tiny R125, while the forthcoming RC390 replacement looks to have a colour design inspired by the firm’s successful MotoGP effort. As for Ducati, well, get it in red and you’re about 75% there. 

Meanwhile, Kawasaki’s new ZX-10R comes in a fresh looking livery that adds fluro-red orange to the ‘never change’ Ninja green. Expect the same design to have Jonathan Rea draped over it in WorldSBK next year.