![]() Thought the RCV211V was Honda’s first ‘five’? Think again. The pair retained the title the following year. In 1966, Mike Hailwood didn’t just win the 250cc world title, he won all 10 races. ![]() A four-stroke DOHC, 24-valve six it revved to 20,000 screaming rpm and produced 65bhp which, through a 7-speed gearbox, propelled it to over 150mph. The RC166 or, perhaps as it’s better known, Honda’s 250-6, is arguably the most iconic racing motorcycle of all time, not just for its technology but for its racing success. Here’s our 10 of the most extreme and wonderful bikes of that golden era. That all came to an end in 1969 when the FIM, in a bid to reduce costs for non-works teams, brought in new rules restricting all classes to six gears, 350 and 500s to four cylinders and all others to two, which prompted a walk-out by the Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha teams – although MV soldiered on with their magnificent four-stroke triples and fours. The mid-late ‘60s with its carte blanche on technical specifications was arguably the last ‘golden age’ for motorcycle GP machinery, leading to such wonders as not just Honda’s legendary RC166 250-6 but also a Suzuki 50cc triple and Yamaha’s RD05A.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |