Honda V4 Story / Part2 =1990's NR to RVF/RC45 = [The catalog is a rearview mirror of the times - Part 12

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The NR500's Only Victory and the Potential Demonstrated by the NR750

When the NR500 with the elliptical piston started to challenge the WGP 500cc class in 1979, it was unable to show its targeted potential due to its special engine, which had no precedent. However, in 1981, the NR500 scored its only victory at the International Suzuka 200 km motorcycle race held at the Suzuka Circuit, won by Kengo Kiyama. The secret of success was the NR500's fuel economy advantage over its rival's two-stroke 750cc machine, which allowed it to run without refueling.

The NR500 in the WGP was scaled back in 1982, and the 2-stroke NS500 became the main machine. It was to end its role in the same year. However, the NR development team completed a 750cc machine and entered it in the 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. The riders were Malcolm Campbell, Ken Nemoto, and Gilbert Roy. Ken Nemoto had won the All-Japan Road Race 750cc championship and was the editor-in-chief of Riders Club magazine at the time. The NR750 impressed with its speed by qualifying in second place. Unfortunately, he had to retire from the final due to engine trouble that occurred around 3 hours and 31 minutes into the race. The V4 engine with its elliptical pistons was thought to have been put on hold at this stage, but the teams involved in the NR did not give up and continued to work on the technology for a production car.

Birth of the NR, a 5.2 million yen production car

In 1992, the NR, a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 8-valve, V-4, was born, breaking a long silence, reflecting the racing technology developed for the NR500 and NR750, but styled as a road sport with an elegant, futuristic form. At 5.2 million yen, it had a strong impact even on people who were not interested in motorcycles. This is a simplified catalog for Japan. *Please note that the catalog is privately owned and may have some stains.

Due to voluntary horsepower regulations, the domestic version was limited to 77 PS and did not offer the performance it should have. This is the catalog for the luxury version for Europe. As I recall, the Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama sold the luxury edition catalog for the domestic market for a fee. . The production NR was not conceived as an active participant in racing, but it demonstrated its high potential when GP rider Loris Cavirossi set the world speed record in the 750cc class in 1993. .

RVF/RC45, a production replica of the works machine RVF

The V4-powered works machine RVF750 debuted in 1985 and went on to dominate the Suzuka 8 Hours and the World Endurance Championship, winning numerous glories.

The RVF/RC45 is the production version of the RVF750's racing technology. It was released in Japan in January 1994 in a limited edition of 500 units. The manufacturer's suggested retail price was set at just 2 million yen. Here is the V4 Story document prepared for the press by the European subsidiary in 1994 to coincide with the birth of the RVF/RC45. It presents the V4 story in a nutshell, starting with the NR500. It shows how important the V4 engine was to Honda. The works machine, based on the RVF/RC45, won the Suzuka 8 Hours in its debut year, 1994. It reigned supreme in the endurance racing world, winning the Suzuka 8 Hours five times in the six years leading up to 1999. Due to changes in race regulations, 1999 was the last year for Honda's V4 engine works machines. From 2000 onward, the baton was passed to the VTR1000SPW with a V2 engine. In the next installment, we will focus on the RVF, a 400cc VFR that is the ultimate V4. *Continued in next issue! Honda's website has created a website that has compiled V4 stories in the past. Please take a look. Official Honda page: https://www.honda.co.jp/WGP/spcontents2012/v4-story/ Go to the gallery (29)