Honda Benley

[slofox]

Was thinking about odd engine configurations the other night and I got to wondering. I seem to remember one of the Honda designs was a twin that had the crank arranged so that one piston was at TDC when the other was at BDC. Was it the Honda Benley twin that had that "one up one down" piston arrangement? I can't seem to remember eggzackery...All I can remember is the oddball exhaust note that they produced.

Info and opinions and reminiscences all gratefully received.

[Motu]

I think all the early Honda twins had the 180 crank - it gave perfect primary balance,but doubled the secondary vibration and gave a rocking couple.The English were right after all....until the balance shaft became the in thing.

[GrayWolf]

Was thinking about odd engine configurations the other night and I got to wondering. I seem to remember one of the Honda designs was a twin that had the crank arranged so that one piston was at TDC when the other was at BDC. Was it the Honda Benley twin that had that "one up one down" piston arrangement? I can't seem to remember eggzackery...All I can remember is the oddball exhaust note that they produced.

Info and opinions and reminiscences all gratefully received.

Bloody hell, you are stretching my memory of the old Honda's. I remember the 1960's Benley 125/250's still being around when I was a learner. I always thought the 'benley' was the deluxe electric start model of the given CC rating. I do remember the old 175's fondly, as having the CD (4 speed, single carb kick start) and the CB (5 speed, twin carb and electric foot as well). I think Honda revisited the benley in the late 80's early 90's in the 250/450 twin range.

[cheshirecat]

Used to have a CB160 once -Distant memory gives it a 180 crank and it derived from the Benley.

[merv]

Yep there was nothing odd about the 180 deg crank - it was used in many twin cylinder engines.

[pritch]

If we're going to have a serious discussion about early Honda bikes perhaps we should know it was spelled "Benly"?

[slofox]

If we're going to have a serious discussion about early Honda bikes perhaps we should know it was spelled "Benly"?

Correct - my bad for not checking before posting...

[Motu]

Yep there was nothing odd about the 180 deg crank - it was used in many twin cylinder engines.

But not used in so many more engines - most used a 360 crank,so the 180 is odd.Nobody goes there anymore,a 270 is most common after the 360 now.

[pete376403]

Yep there was nothing odd about the 180 deg crank - it was used in many twin cylinder engines.

And one triple - the Laverda 1000 (later replaced with a 120 deg crank to civilise it a bit)

[GrayWolf]

Used to have a CB160 once -Distant memory gives it a 180 crank and it derived from the Benley.

I think the CB160 was a prettier bike than the CB175, in fact the older CD160/175 with the 'thinner' chrome sided tank looked prettier than the 1970's version. I re rode a 175 a few years back, hell did it feel tiny, some memories are best left as that. As was my revisit to a Kwaka H1a.

[Chooky]

The CB77 had a 180 crank.....Did sound a bit odd, but at 10,000 rpm it was sweet...

[cheshirecat]

As was my revisit to a Kwaka H1a.

You can't stop there. I used to have a poster of the H1 in black - looked magnificent but deadly (at the time). Turned down a ride mainly because the thing coughed and spluttered uo the road chucking out heaps of bluse smoke before all three fired up and the rider almost dropped it - it was raining at the time and of course there were those brakes or lack of.

[nudemetalz]

The CB125 / 160 / 175 / 200's all used the 360 degree crank, and I believe the C72/77 (250/305) Benly's did also.

The early CB72 and 77's used a 180.
Now the CB450 first came out with a 360 but then they quickly changed it to a 180.

[dangerous]

The CB125 / 160 / 175 / 200's all used the 360 degree crank, and I believe the C72/77 (250/305) Benly's did also.

The early CB72 and 77's used a 180.
Now the CB450 first came out with a 360 but then they quickly changed it to a 180.

Well... I have always been of the belief that it was the CB360 or did both pots rise at once and fire togeather?
The Yamy Vmax is a 180* Im sure? hence why it sounds more like a V2 than a V4