Now something like a new RC30 - that'd be a good story

[merv]

You reckon this will happen? http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120924rc32.htm

[DEATH_INC.]

You reckon this will happen http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120924rc32.htm

Yes. The big in-line fours have run their day I reckon, too farkin powerful and 'wild' to ride. The V4's and psuedo V4's (Like the yammie) are the go now. And Honda are due for a new wsbk bike.

[AllanB]

The need to stop being Gay and just get the F on with it. Aprilia did ................

[tigertim20]

I wouldnt be surprised, and it makes sense, all the time and money spent developing the V4 and V5 bikes, I had expected honda to take a leaf out of yamaha's book by now and promote the 'same engine type on YOUR ride as stoner and pedrosa ride' like yamaha has with the crossplane.

and most of the manufacturers are overdue for a serious change up in their flagship sports bikes anyway.

[Drew]

Hope it's a closer representation than the Ducati was. That thing shares nothing but wheel size with the GP bike!

Honda definitely had a strong V motor back in the day, pity they fluffed around with that stupid 400 piece and didn't just keep developing the 750/1000.

[darkwolf]

Oh I don't know if I could take that... another proper V4 - don't tell me it's gonna gear driven cams as well or I'm going to need a moment to conduct myself

[merv]

If its the real thing it would have pneumatic valves too.

[jellywrestler]

Hope it's a closer representation than the Ducati was. That thing shares nothing but wheel size with the GP bike!

Honda definitely had a strong V motor back in the day, pity they fluffed around with that stupid 400 piece and didn't just keep developing the 750/1000.

cause they fucked the reputation of the V Four early in the piece by using the public as a test bed, and failing. I was at the six hour when nearly every V Four died a horrible death two laps after a pit stop. Why cause the fan switched off with the ignition, from memory the one that didn't fuck out had the fan bypassed so if it was hot when you stopped at least some cooling occurred. The fact that the barrells were par tof the crankcases and not a simple rebuild didn't help. These were the chain drive models, the earlier shafties had already let us down with their chocolate cams and then the bad batch of VF500 where they forgot to chamfer the crank journals left F All people who had faith in a V Four.

[merv]

Jelly, of course our later V4s are fantastic, but really the V4 first got such a bad rep initially in my lifetime with the Ford Transit van and the Zephyr 4.

Yay for Bill Biber and Phil Payne.

[Drew]

cause they fucked the reputation of the V Four early in the piece by using the public as a test bed, and failing. I was at the six hour when nearly every V Four died a horrible death two laps after a pit stop. Why cause the fan switched off with the ignition, from memory the one that didn't fuck out had the fan bypassed so if it was hot when you stopped at least some cooling occurred. The fact that the barrells were par tof the crankcases and not a simple rebuild didn't help. These were the chain drive models, the earlier shafties had already let us down with their chocolate cams and then the bad batch of VF500 where they forgot to chamfer the crank journals left F All people who had faith in a V Four.

Bloody hell you're a knowledgeable ol' coont. I knew about the cams being soft, (I owned a VF750f), but was unaware of all the other failings. I had prolly registered the barrels being part of teh cases, but not given it any though.

I'd put that down to a space concern now that I am giving it a minute. Not having to make a big flat surface to bolt barrells to is quite a good way to keep it compact.

[nudemetalz]

Back in 1989, I owned an '86 VF500F. I have to say that was a beautiful machine. Lovely engine,..very torquey (for it's size) and smooth. Could have had a better rear shock,..but that would have been easily fixed. Why they didn't develop THAT motor into a 600 is beyond me. It was far better than the 400 and the 750 also.

From what Jellywrestler said about them,..my model had all of the failings fixed from the '85 500's.

[Crasherfromwayback]

V-Four engines are gorgeous. Expensive to build and maintain compared to an inline though.

[Paul in NZ]

Honda are in trouble if they need to look back at old stuff to inspire the new....

[Drew]

Honda are in trouble if they need to look back at old stuff to inspire the new....

If they failed to look back, at problems they had last time, they wouldn't be a successful manufacturer.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Hope it's a closer representation than the Ducati was. That thing shares nothing but wheel size with the GP bike!

Honda definitely had a strong V motor back in the day, pity they fluffed around with that stupid 400 piece and didn't just keep developing the 750/1000.

GP bikes are on 16.5's and the road bikes were 17's though aren't they? I could be wrong.

and Yes to the V4.

I saw the V4 Aprilia Tuono the other day. do want. But I will not buy an Aprilia