Topic: Honda RC166 - 6 cyl GP250 video

[Yamahawk]

Even if you can't understand Japanese, this is a great video of a world class road racer, one that Honda used to dominate racing back in its day. Enjoy!
Charlie

[FuZZie]

Seen that think someone posted a link to it before, man it was one awesome little machine and I love the way they respect every part!

[HondaMan]

Thanks, Yamahawk!
Brings back GREAT memories. When I had my shop where my moniker was born, I had the giant (4x3 feet) poster of Mike dragging his toe as he left the cameraman, all 6 pipes facing the camera. In one clear picture of this that I once saw, there was a flame in one of the pipes at that moment: it didn't show up in the blow-up version I had on the wall, though.

It was the only thing I regret leaving behind that day!

[Yamahawk]

No problem Brother,
   It was a cool bike. I wish I could have heard it in person...
That poster sounds really cool, I like stuff like that. The bike was phenomenal for its day, and even today it is an amazing piece of engineering technology.
Charlie

[vfourfreak]

Take a read of this https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/honda-rc174-rc-reborn to get an idea of the complexity of those 6 cylinder motors. Groundbreaking stuff for the mid 60s.

Kev

[MikeSimon]

Funny how history works. The Honda RC164/166 was not the first inline six racer. That honor belongs to MV Agusta with a 500cc in 1958.
A liquid cooled DOHC with six carbs and a 6-6 exhaust, the view from the rear is almost identical to the Honda.
Considering the Japanese' talent for copying some of the European bike designs back then, you wonder what may have inspired Soichiro Irimajiri.

[Yamahawk]

Take a read of this https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/honda-rc174-rc-reborn to get an idea of the complexity of those 6 cylinder motors. Groundbreaking stuff for the mid 60s.

Kev

WOW... thanks, Kev for sharing. That's pretty awesome!

Funny how history works. The Honda RC164/166 was not the first inline six racer. That honor belongs to MV Agusta with a 500cc in 1958.
A liquid cooled DOHC with six carbs and a 6-6 exhaust, the view from the rear is almost identical to the Honda.
Considering the Japanese' talent for copying some of the European bike designs back then, you wonder what may have inspired Soichiro Irimajiri.

They really did have a talent for copying things, and right after WWII, they tried to visit as many trade shows and exhibits as they could, and copy designs for different vehicles... most notably, ships. They would visit shipbuilder's symposiums where their plans were on display for their latest freighter, and the Japanese attending, would photograph the designs, take them back to Japan, and build ships... until, they got wise to what the Japs were doing. They substituted bogus plans, and they went back and built three ships... which prompts capsized upon launch, as they were designed to be TOP-HEAVY lol. That quenched their desire to copy a little, and they started their quest to design and manufacture their own stuff, and the rest... is History.
Charlie