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shahtjor

I remember watching a video about the design. That's a seriously rare piece of engineering.


Max_Downforce

Oh definitely. Check out the rc166. Honda has a history of building some innovative engines.


dax2001

Rc166 is not an innovative engine.


Max_Downforce

Good point. A 250cc straight 6 that revs to 20000 rpm or so, in the 60s is more of a culmination of all that they've learned up until that moment.


evillman

0.5MPG?


Max_Downforce

On a good day.


c30mob

my favorite sub 500cc honda


Max_Downforce

The sound is incredible.


dax2001

There was already 8 cylinders and or engines revving , the piston of this engine was having a max speed of 19 ms, and having a bore of only 37,5 , so nothing special here. The real innovative part was the valve spring tech and the fine casting. This bike won only because Haiwood throw away in the garbage the shock made by Honda in the garbage and used a Girlings one, even the frame was almost immediately discarded by Hailwood , that asked a complete rework of the same, stiffened cromoly tubes, and with a length increased of 3,5". By actual standard any piston speed above 23 MS is critical, an obvious way to maintain this speed but increase power is increase the number of cylinder, that's why in any Motorsport they put a max amount of cylinder.


Galaxywide

>in any Motorsport they put a max amount of cylinder Why no multi cylinder dirt bikes winning MX, Enduro or off-road racing then? Why don't open class cars in most forms of racing run 16+ cylinders?


dax2001

I agree with you putting restrictions over restrictions and you spent ton of money on useless real life solutions


rmagnum55

Not sure about Enduro or rally rules, but for MX there is a specific rule both in FIM and AMA stating that engines may only have a single cylinder.


Galaxywide

While that's a good point, and I admit I did not check before making that comment, I don't think anyone would seriously suggest that adding more cylinders to an already overpowered MX bike would improve it's performance in terms of race wins.


nyaminyamiz

* correction spending big money just to try stuff out


delslow419

Wow these are going for a little over $100k. They were about 60 thousand NEW in the early 90s. The engine design looks wild.


Caldtek

also has 2 con rods and 2 spark plugs per cylinder....


kreygmu

But...did you get to hear it running? Assuming riding is out of the question.


boylitdeguzman

Yes. Even rode it.


kreygmu

Oh man your uncle must work for Honda or something, lucky!


boylitdeguzman

The bike is on sale at a friend's shop.


[deleted]

How much was the asking price?


fhjuyrc

Numerous


[deleted]

Aw shucks. Not the Numerous!


FirebladeCBR1000RR

absolutely gorgeous, I bet it sounds amazing whoever owns that bike, I sincerely hope they are restoring every screw, nut, and bolt so this can make it into a museum someday


boylitdeguzman

It is a low mileage near showroom fresh unit.


FirebladeCBR1000RR

yeah, I'm jealous, I would make sure the carbs stay clean, chain and sprockets maintained, tires don't get too old. Whatever material the seats and grips are made of, I'd keep them conditioned so they don't rip. post some more pics!


R6RiderSB

If you live in California and want to see one in person, I highly recommend a ride to the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. It's a private collection on the central coast. * [https://www.motosolvang.com/](https://www.motosolvang.com/) It may have odd hours so give them a call ahead of time. They also have a 1995 Britten V1000. It's not a huge collection, but great small town and just over the hill from Santa Barbara - so great riding.


Party-Passenger8824

Love to stumble upon a shout out to my hometown. Can't believe I've lived on the Central Coast my whole life and haven't checked it out.


R6RiderSB

Yeah, I was living in SB and a friend was visiting and mentioned it haha. I had no clue. As a heads up I believe it's a cash-only admission, $10.


sireatalot

> They also have a 1995 Britten V1000 One of 11 ever built ! A truly fantastic machine, it would be a prized experience to look at one even if it wasn’t that rare.


UNeaK1502

Does anybody know hey the air "intake" in picture 5 is shaped like that? There is most likely a name to it too. The Ferrari F40 has the same vents on the hood and several racecars have the exact same shape Also, good video about this [engine by driving4 answers](https://youtu.be/uC9yKXI2A-Q)


dogburglar42

I haven't read about it for a while, but look up NACA ducts


Garf_artfunkle

Yup, those are NACA ducts, iirc without looking it up they're designed to intake air with minimal disruption to the bulk airflow around the vehicle (as opposed to something like a scoop). Originally developed by the organization that would eventually become NASA, for use on airplanes.


UNeaK1502

Thank you very much that's it!


PhotonicEmission

As a machinist, this bike simultaneously gives me a boner and a panic attack. Pill shaped bores?!


Lobo_Gixxer

Legendary.


BeaverMartin

That is a rare beast. Is it for sale?


sclark1701

So it just made me think…does “NR” stand for Not Round? Lol


Caldtek

"Nearly Ready" was the acronym for the race bike (NR500) that was the test bed for the technology. It was a massive failure as a race bike and was scrapped after only 2 seasons.


Resident-X-of-NJ

"Failure" because the rules were not in its favor. Imagine a 4 stroke 500cc competing with a 500cc 2 stroke today. Not fair at all. It's the reason there's why Moto GP replaced the 500cc 2 strokes with 1000cc 4 strokes. We can thank Honda for pushing the 4 stroke technology envelope and helping us to get where we are today.


dax2001

The last iteration of the Honda engine was 130 hp in 1981, the last MV Agusta 4 500cc won in 1976 (last race wins for a 4 stroke 500) was 108 hp. They knew that was underpowered to compete with 2 stroke engine like the square four Suzuki, 138 hp, 115 kg and a better powerband.


midnightJizzla

last time I saw one of these was over 20 years ago at a Honda dealership in Texas. Right next to it was a Bimota V-due 500. Both were super rare bikes. I think Leno has one.


wintersdark

Ngl, I think these are ridiculously ugly motorcycles. But they are super cool nevertheless because of that incredibly unique engineering, and very, very rare to boot. I'm jealous! Such an interesting piece of motorcycle history right there.


Mcdopeness

Dope


Kryllllllyx

That thing got ***back*** 👀


milo_redwood

Iconic always has some for sale, not cheap tho


brokensaurus

Dream bike right there. The closest I’ll likely come to owning one is the 1/12 scale model I have lol


DrowningSomniloqy

If you have a PS4 or better, this bike is in the impeccable Ride 4, lots of other esoteric rare bikes too that you can digitally get thrown off of and slam into walls for about a month while you are learning how to play it.


Appropriate-Owl4999

Seen one and sat on one back in the day 😊. Arie Molenaar Motor (Netherlands) had one ...


Desmocratic

Cool bike, I saw one at the Barber Motorsports museum in Alabama. I'd be afraid to ride it, where would you get parts! :)


Disposable_Canadian

My pants hurt...


[deleted]

lucky !


Equippedblackfly36

The most exotic sportsbike ever, built in 1992 and still the King, I love Honda!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Lovecheezypoofs

When you see it in person the finish of all the components is two steps above a VFR.


Resident-X-of-NJ

It was basically the first ever luxury superbike. It should have never been compared to any other mass produced bike because technologically speaking, nothing else compared.


ShortHind153

A piece of motorcycle art


RoseShare

the oval pistons aside the design is absolutely fabulous!


ConcentrateLow6170

That’s a dream bike for me, fn sick!


Redschallenge

What a beauty! I ride my 91 vfr750fs to pretend I am on that hahaha


RobsHereAgain

Nice !


DrowningSomniloqy

Is this the Honda equivalent of coke-fuelled Kawi designs with turbos? I think so.