Former Honda works Grand Prix rider Ralph Bryans demonstrates an ex-Mike Hailwood 249cc Honda RC166 6 cylinder GP bike at the John Surtees Brands Hatch Super Prix in 1989. Copyright Hayden Williams / mikethebike70 2021
One of the best videos I’ve ever seen! Hearing all those iconic bikes being used PROPERLY! Absolutely love it! I bet that was the last time the 6 cylinder was ridden in anger
What this video cannot convey is how gut wrenchingly loud the Honda 6 was. Many years ago I had the pleasure oh chatting with Michelle Duff who when she was still Michael Duff was a Yamaha factory rider in the mid 1960s. She said she still has a ringing in her ears from chasing Paul Redman and Mike Hailwood on the Honda 6 as well as the 125 5 cylinders.
@@derekbond3512 You are, of course, correct. I don't know where I got Paul from. I shall punish myself by listening to videos of the 250/6, 125/5, and 50 twin on full blast, through headphones, until my ears bleed or I've had enough. Or perhaps attempt an oil and filter change on my Moto Guzzi with the world's dumbest oil filter location and the silly dipstick.
Thats really interesting to see. This bike is the 1967 RC166 which normally displayed in the Honda museum at Motegi, Japan. It is actually an RC174 frame with an RC166 engine. Very difficult to tell apart, but the rear shock absorbers are bigger in diameter and the exhaust mounting brackets are fixed to the horizontal frame tubes on the 174 (as you can see in the video), rather than the diagonal down-tubes as on the 166. Also, although you can't see it from the video, the main tubes on the 174 are 1mm bigger in diameter. Sometimes 'in period' the 297cc RC174 engine was run in an RC166 frame, but not the other way around.
@@mikethebike70 Hi Michael, yes OK thanks. Just wishing that life could get back to normal and we could go testing and racing again! Hope you are well too...
@@boblancaster3826 Hi Bob, yes... distant memory indeed. From the look of it we might be a bit lucky if we are able to do it this year too... lets keep fingers crossed!
That's very impressive knowledge you have on the Honda six! To me, personally, it has to be the greatest race bike ever produced. Once you have heard that sound, you never forget it, truly magnificent.
