Joey Dunlop on a V4 Honda at the '83 TT
Fri, 28 Sep 2012Onboard video footage doesn't get a lot better than this: Joey Dunlop during practice at the TT in 1983 onboard a factory Honda RS850R. An 859cc ultra-short stroke V4 Honda that Joey mastered around The Island, later winning the TT Formula 1.
Although the 'production' race, the RS850R stretched that to the limit. Just as you know Honda would. Titanium valves, magnesium engine casings, a close-ratio 'box, 16" front and 18" rear. It was rumoured to produce 135bhp and could crack a genuine 170mph. I can only imagine what that would go like on today's rubber.
When I first watched this, I was hanging off my desk trying to get it to turn in at the bottom of Bray Hill.
Turn your speakers up, grab hold of your desk and watch the master at work.
By Ben Cope
See also: Honda NC700X Recall Expands to US, Magneti Marelli to Supply Electronics System to MotoGP Teams, Honda to Produce MotoGP-Derived V4 Superbike.