OK, I have to ask y'all. Has anyone heard the rumor that Honda is testing a 1200cc V-twin per the new WSBK regs? I've heard all kinds of rumors about the RC61, but no real dirt. I'd love to get some info on this thing. Imagine that: a 1200cc Duc hunter as light as a 1000RR! :eek:

PUT ME ON THE LIST! I love my EVIL TWIN!

I'm still waiting for the second coming of the CBX as well, a high revving, Ferrari sounding, 6 cylinder Sport Tour with attitude. My original CBX has 57,000 miles, I might have to buy a low mileage spare!


John

John,
Funny you should mention that. I stopped by the dealership to pick up my bike this morning an the had a CBX sitting there in the service area. Pretty bike. Don't know a thing about it other than it had 6 mean looking header pipes and the motor stuck out both side like one of those rediculous Boss-Hoss bikes. Looks fun! I hear rumors that the 61 will be a techno wonder like the $70k NR750. I pray the rumors are right. Can't wait to see/ride one.

The CBX was the world's fastest production bike in 1979, they actually handled pretty good, considering the spaghetti thin front forks and undersized brakes.
Yep, they look like a chrome picket fence coming down the road at you, part of the appeal, for the aficionado. To me the CBX is the most challenging motorcycle I've ever worked on, syncing 6 carbs, adjusting 24 valves, but I love to wrench and it keeps my skills up. When tuned ride they run silky smooth, and pull very strong with a unique 6 cylinder howl!! When i first got the bike i would tell my friends above 7 grand the Samurai inside the engine literally scream!!! It's one of my Jay Leno collector pieces, but it gets ridden frequently because it is so comfortable, and smooth to ride, it is one of my keepers!

John

You may then enjoy this CBX ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2gd9ZOjKuc&feature=related

And the bike itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2RnqCFF5cs&feature=related

That's pretty FUNNY, looks like my CBX ride with friends this past weekend. We tore up central Virginia. I put 600 miles on the CBX, and it's sitting in my garage right now in need of an oil change and good cleaning. CBX rally begins today in Luray, Virginia. I'm taking the RC 51 however, she's prepped and ready to tear up some more mountain passes. Have a good one, thanks for sharing,
John

Nice videos and a great CBX.

Yeah I wish Honda would come out with a new design v-twin sportbike.
The time is really ripe for it.

You've got Ducati with their line and now KTM with the RC8.
Ducati is coming out with all kinds of variation on the v-twin theme and continually expanding their customer base.
KTM's getting their foot in the door as well.
With the 1200cc WSBK rules, KTM will be joining Ducati in WSKB next year.

Ducati is redesigning their Testasretta engine. It will be a total redesign.
Rocking the cylinders back to make more of a V rather than an L layout.
Making the displacement a full 1200cc with 112mm bore and 56mm stroke for a 12,500 redline.
For race-spec engines, it will keep the demo valve train, but non race-spec engines will lose the demo and resort to mainstream valve train.
And they're ditching the cam drive belts and going to chains.
Radical for Ducati. But great for riders.

Honda's always loved the v-4 layout, so I'd expect a v-4 over a v-2 though.

It would be nice to see a big v-4 finially realeased the interceptors are nice riding bikes just need a little more in the power department for my tastes.

Well that's one rumor, a liter size Interceptor.

Yeah I wish Honda would come out with a new design v-twin sportbike.
The time is really ripe for it.

You've got Ducati with their line and now KTM with the RC8.
Ducati is coming out with all kinds of variation on the v-twin theme and continually expanding their customer base.
KTM's getting their foot in the door as well.
With the 1200cc WSBK rules, KTM will be joining Ducati in WSKB next year.

i'm not a poster, but i figured i would throw in my 2 cents. in fact, i damn near forgot about this site, but i'm curious why you feel now is the ripe time for it? there will always be those of us wishing for another honda v-twin, but it's not in the cards at this time. ducati can't be considered in the discussion, as there will never (fingers crossed) be any engine besides the v-twin for duc. ktm opted for the twin layout but had the advantage of coming along right around the time WSBK changed the displacement rule for twins.

for honda to bring out another twin means they must walk away from the 1000RR. i don't see that happening, especially considering how much they seem to be putting into the I4 program these days. not to mention the current state of the world economy.

not trying to be a dick, just expressing my opinion! thanks for getting me posting though, maybe it'll motivate me to be a bit more social around here!:D

oh jeez...sorry to be "that guy" in the thread bringing stuff back to the top. i should have paid attention to the time stamp on the post. but hey! 2 posts in an hour? nice!

No need to apologize for what is indeed the truth.
Everybody knows that an I-4 is far easier and cheaper to manufacture than any V-twin. V-twins have a higher parts count than I-4's.
The current I-4 designs are very compact, especially length.
Without have an extra cylinder out the rear and using stacked transmission shafts, the engine can be made very short length-wise, which is what you want in order make the swingarm as long as possible to better control rear suspension movement angles.
And that has been the current design dogma for several years.
With Yamaha using it's cross-plane crank firing order, the advantage of "V" designs being more tractable and easier on tires has been matched.

Honda has never let emotion interfere with racing.
The RC51 existed only due to the rules at that time and that Ducati was winning despite anything Honda did with the RC45. Hence the RC51.
When the rules changed, Honda dropped the RC51 like a hot rock in favor or a 1000cc I-4.
However Honda really does believe the V-4 is the perfect engine configuration and it took long discussions to persuade them to even build the RC51 V-twin. And that was according to Colin Edwards chief mechanic.
If the rules change or an advantage occurs that makes the I-4 uncompetitive, Honda will drop the I-4 like a hot rock in favor of the current racing engine configuration.

With all that said, I prefer the V-twin power characteristics and sound over an I-4. I've ridden a buddy's 2008 GSXR1000 and it's a really nice bike.
I myself have a Hayabusa but I ride my RC51 far more because it suits me better.
When the economy improves, I'll probably sell the 'Busa and maybe buy a Tuono as a "standard" bike for longer rides.

You may then enjoy this CBX ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2gd9ZOjKuc&feature=related

And the bike itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2RnqCFF5cs&feature=related

2nd link is removed....:confused:

I don't know, the V4 came out when I4's were where it was at and in a not so good economic situation. It would be great if honda would take all the things they have learned in the last 20 years and put it into an engine built for performance and not for a sport touring bike's platform. I bet it kick a$$.

i also heard they building the V5..for VFR...could be also for the VTR or RVT

The wild rumor about a V5 Viffer has been makign the rounds for years. As has the liter class Viffer.
Not gonna happen...
I have a DIE HARD VFR friend. That just kills him...
I don't think there will be many more V twins either. Spendy to mfg. Big bang four cyl bikes have made the traction thing moot. tire technology is improving daily as well.

The I-4's are just too convenient to manufacture over V-type engines.
Also easier to package compactly.
That's why Aprilia, Ducati, and KTM will be primary marques for performance V-twins in the US. And Buell's 1125R will be a secondary choice.

ducs without desmo??? doubt that but stranger things have happened

ducs without desmo??? doubt that but stranger things have happened

That's what I read in a UK magazine.
They'll keep desmo for the R bikes, but not for the S bikes. Along with ditching the belts as chains are more reliable.
And rocking the V back, which will allow the engine to be placed closer to the wheel for more forward weight bias.

I'm guessing more people will buy Ducatis if they don't have to check their valves or replace belts as often.
I know a $1200 service charge changes my buying decisions.

no doubt on the expensive service on the ducs. it has killed a couple deals i had cooking. that being said, the desmo system works well and it's ducati's signature.
pros and cons both ways.

That's what I read in a UK magazine.
They'll keep desmo for the R bikes, but not for the S bikes. Along with ditching the belts as chains are more reliable.
And rocking the V back, which will allow the engine to be placed closer to the wheel for more forward weight bias.

I'm guessing more people will buy Ducatis if they don't have to check their valves or replace belts as often.
I know a $1200 service charge changes my buying decisions.

I seriously doubt Duc will ever abandon the Desmo system.
I have a 77 900ss. When I bought it the services were about $500. That was a LOT of money then...
I learned to adjust Desmo valves...

that cbx is awesome. great work.

Honda isnt going to build a bike and call it an SP3 and think that they will have success just because of the SP1 and SP2. that dont make much sense. They would have to do the R&D, build the bike, test the bike, and homologate the bike for the race series. I mean hell its honda, it can be done but why. they have the new 1000 to compete with. If they were going to do anything with a twin, i dont think that the development of the RC would have stopped.
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I'd be happy if they'd come out with a liter bike V-4.
Maybe Yamaha with their cross-plane engine and Aprilia's RSV4 might nudge them in that direction, although I'm not believing it for a moment.

Im with you Sub, a new V-4 in the right price range (51 vs 45) would make my pickle tickle. I love the evil growl of the new V4's like the Aprilia and D16. I have to say I like the OEM exhaust better on the D16, the race system makes it sound like a twin. I see them all the time here in southern CA, good stuff.