1964 Honda 3RC164 (RC165) six cylinder 250cc

By 1964 Honda had already been putting their theory of multiple cylinders to the test- with the 125/5 and 50/2 but little did anyone suspect the factory had something special up their sleeve. Secretly they had been developing a six cylinder 250. With a prototype finished in time for Monza it was ready to be unveiled to the world. Shipped in secrecy aboard a passenger plane to Italy the bike was kept covered in the pits and had 2 of the six meggas removed. When the time came for Jim Redman to start the bike the secret was out! No one had ever heard an engine like this. Tales of the race, the sound, Duff’s report of the pain of being behind the bike etc…

Redman was third at Monza, but then won the Japanese Grand Prix!

The Team Obsolete RC165 is the only surviving example of this model.

Further reading:

• Redman’s reunion

• Nearly there

• The race bike that re-wrote the rules

• Secrets of the six

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