In 1991 I purchased the combined spares from Rueben McMurter, Freddie Spencer and some endurance parts related to the VF750R. There was also a VF850R that was ridden by Wayne Gardner. These were leftover parts that had been picked over. Some interesting things I noted: The HRC parts were very hard to get. The gear ratios for the transmission were much different from the street bike. Jet forged Titanium rods, Pistons with only one compression ring-(very light weight forged and looking like works of ART.) HRC had a rear wheel with a Magnesium Hub and carbon-fiber spokes that looked just like the com-star wheel. All the transmission gears and shafts and the crank had been micro-polished. This was an old NASCAR trick, it was called Super Finish. When the engine was assembled it would turn over very easily by hand. Titanium valves were used along with special valve springs, titanium retainers, and lash caps to protect the valve tip. ( note the valve failures of the FZ750 were due to using 2 piece valves that were friction welded together) The Showa forks were very special. The chrome plating on the fork tubes was thicker than what you see on a street bike and it was highly polished. The dry clutch was a work of art. The inner and outer hubs were made of billet steel with lots of holes in it. Many of the parts had already been developed on the RS1000 and the FWS. All the side covers valve covers and oil sump were magnesium. The cylinder heads were really special. No way to get that kind of porting on the stock head. Copper Beryllium valve seats and larger valves. The biggest difference being the crankshaft was like the RC30 and the cams were gear driven. R&D on this bike paved the way for the RC30.
Hey, thanks Lenz Dot. That's an interesting insight into the the world of HRC parts, made from unobtainium. The full works VF750 pretty much only shared the 'clothing' and silhouette of the showroom bike then, I'd imagine! Gear driven cams? Wow. The 1984 VF1000R had GD cams, a couple of years before the VFR750 came along, I do recall that.
Find it interesting that you say no way to get that type of porting in a stock head. Were the ports straightened out (original head entrances cut off and moved)? All the other stuff is pretty standard factory stuff. Got to ask...was the shift drum Swiss cheesed kind of like the clutch basket?
I was 21 in 85, owned an 79 RD 400 Daytona Special and these guys were my hero's. Especially King Kenny. My buddies and I would hit the country road and uses sections as our own personal race track..dumb yes....fun...HELL yes
These are the bikes I remember....standard upright position...working the bike around the track. Great to see this footage, it brings back great memories!
Its amazing my childhood hero's. Man and machine. No fairings no traction control. Just amazing guys pushing the limit letting it all hang out. This my friends is just great racing with gifted riders. Wow!!!
Met Freddie in 1975-76 when we were both about 13-14 years old. It was in the parking lot of MidSouth Honda in Shreveport. My aunt introduced us. I also rode with her several times to pick up daily bank deposits from Freddie’s dad at his grocery store. Freddie and his dad had his bike trailered and were headed somewhere for the weekend to race. I remember Freddie was walking around the trailer and inspecting his bike in detail. It was clear that he was much more focused than the kids I rode with. His dad gave my aunt a can of Schlitz from his cooler.
Had a 94 vfr750 sold it for newer 2008 vfr800 and have regretted it ever since. Probably end up selling the 2008 and buying a 86 vfr750 or the vf1000 interceptor I just like the older more authentic bikes way better
@@michaelwall2304 I had a 1980 CB750F in 1989- basically a sleeved-down 900 (which I couldn't afford at the time). Loved it, but not as much as the '86 VF750F I'd had prior (black and red with those gold wheels). Sold that to free up some money and, if I'm honest, because I was always worried the top end would grenade itself - they did have a bad rep. Lovely bike to look at and ride. I think Honda build quality was at its peak in the late 80s.
Dang, there you are, Dave. I was doing photography for Motorcyclist back in those days, on spec. Have a pic of mine in the coverage of this event, a contemplative Kevin, right there on the starting line. And I had a chat with you at Yoshimura on a visit, way back when. Funny, I was wondering about some of the mechanics from back in those days, and your name was among them. Glad to see you popping up here.
At 34:24, the fuel man is Mike Velasco. I met him when he moved to Bremerton Wa. and set up a shop to build race bikes. A super nice guy with a wealth of knowledge on building bikes. He helped me with my CB900F.
VFR came later, just VF back then, had one also from new. Never had a bike since that got more attention. Loved those motors with its tandem twin firing order.
Freddy was an amazing racer no doubt, he won in all disciplines, including Europe. In this race he was substantially faster in the infield sections, but that back straight/bank speed was beyond just rider talent, he blew past competitors like they were standing still - the fastest rider on an a faster bike. I'm not old enough to know, but if Wes and Freddy swapped bikes and pit crews for this race could it have been an epic photo finish? Very fun to watch.
Really what is it...I don't see any of the current racers ever reaching these level of skill and stardom. Maybe it's because they went from zero technology to hyper-tech....riding frighteningly powerful and fast bikes with poor tires and suspension.. More like daredevils on those things. I loved watching this stuff as a teenager, I could relate, and was awed by them...the courage to take it the hairy edge, tank slapping down the front straight at SIR... You would say "JHC" how do they do that....
I bought a 81 cb900f new and Freddie was my guy. Used to carve up the western NC mountain roads on that thing .Wish I had it and my youth back ,I’d make that V&H pipe ring these mountains again
What a race for sure. This 1 win made him 1 of the best come back super bike wins from behind of all time. Leading honda to introduce the vf700f, vf750f and the monster vf1000f to every honda motorcycle dealer in the country. You could not find a vf700f or vf750f for sale on the show floor at many honda dealers. Due to the fact of this race.
In the States, pretty much allof the Superbike class bikes sold yo the public was the VF700F Interceptor and not the 750, thanks to the lobbying by (AMF) Harley Davidson.
#289 was my number as a TZ250 Club racer in California 1986. Kevin has great taste!!! LOL I wish I had a tenth of his talent. Damn I also street raced (like a young fool) a 1985 FZ750. I miss that FZ, bought brand new during that horrible 700cc tariff. Costed me an arm a leg but could hang with my buddy Scott on that 900cc Ninja!!!! Love Yamaha! Sorry for rambling on but I am in my 60's and miss my youth. God bless .
Was at his house in Las Vegas in 2011 or so with a friend checking his pool pump and he came out for a bit, when we left the garage door was open and saw a Motorsports Hall of Fame poster on the wall. And there was a secondary hardened door of metal in there that was was pulled down.
+NotEnuffCC's At the time, the groundbreaking and highly desireable bike was the Honda VF45 Interceptor (750cc). It featured a 16" front wheel which was to be the norm for this period - quick handling at a cost of some stability if I recall.
No they were stable due to the chopper like 29.5 degree head angle. I had a 86 750 for many years, I upgraded the wheels to the cbr600F2 and Ohlins rear shock and Raceteck emulators and springs. It really handle nice on the new rubber.....but was a total pig. No power and heavy. I also had at the same time a RZ350 that I raced and hot rodded. That bike flew.... Fast, light, handled great......still have it to this day.
I bought a CB1100F after Fast Freddie Spencer and his two teammates swept the Daytona 200 I believe it was 1985. I was on turn one and couldn't believe the speed when they went by.
Dale Singleton died on 2 Sep 1985, roughly 5 months after appearing here on this video, in an air crash leaving a stock car race, on a flight to Chattanooga, Tenn.
I don't understand... F Spencer won many many races and the world title of 250 cc and 500 cc more than once, and in one year, he'v got bouth on the same seasson..... How on earth the interviewer tells that the Daytona is Spencer's bigest achievment????
That's American's for you bigging up a National production bike based Superbike endurance race as the biggest thing in the world! You are correct Freddie's biggest achievement was winning the 500 and 250 World Championships in the same year and no one has done it since. This race was in 1985 so Freddie only had one 500 World Championship (which is a bigger accomplishment) several 500 race wins and was on his way to his double World Championship. I would say that Suzuka, Le Man and the Isle of Man TT are more prestigious World events than this local race.
What race didn't Freddy win in 1985? Holy cow! 250cc, 500cc, Daytona, what's left? Suzuka 8 hrs? (don't tell me he won that as well...) Has there ever been a season like 1985 for any other rider?
Not exactly but there have been several riders who won two world championships in the same year. Click the link and scroll down to see the list. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_World_Champions_by_year
@@dccajc1 same here, my first track bike was a "salvaged" gxsr 750. Nothing structurally wrong. Just plastics, they were scaped up but still intact. Cleaned it up, performed maintenance and let her rip.
No. The Daytona 200 is NOT the biggest motorcycle race in the world. It might be the biggesr M/C race in the U.S. but in no way is it that big outside of America
I have 3-1985 Fz 750's :) I'm a small guy,only weigh 118lb's I fly on these old girl's Wish I could have raced these guy's and give them a run for there money lol
Me my know everything, spencer trui his handelbar came in automatik styl and it came up 2 cm to slow down on the verrekte power.With that 1 jet(hoofd,kop) came lose and made spenser a vet,dikke, beloser. Ps where was deel the singeltoon in ammerzoden for al the information on the duse, that dude. 🤡😷😎😊🤗🇷🇺
Marquez, Stoner, Dohan and that's just Honda riders. Bikes are closer these days and no shortage of matured depth of talent in the fields. I'm a huge Spencer fan, he was my hero for sure back when I first started riding, he had a massive natural talent and could ride beyond his bikes. Stoner would be his more modern equivalent in the way he rides. I still have the Freddie Spencer 500 and 250cc world champion poster that Honda sent out to bike shops.
@@Dug6666666 My personal favourite is Eddie Lawson, actually a Honda rider himself for a season (which he won) but his name's strongly related to Kawasaki in my mind...
