Virtual Content Has No Border

Tag: six-cylinder

  • Honda RC166: The Legendary Six-Cylinder Racing Marvel

    Honda RC166: The Legendary Six-Cylinder Racing Marvel

    The five motorcycles that will be featured in today’s article have unique histories and features. From rare bikes like the Honda RC166 to motorcycles like the Hesketh V1000, will be discussed today. Each bike has its own place in motorcycle history and many enthusiasts want to have these bikes in their collection.

    Honda RC166

    1. **Honda CX500 Turbo**
    The Honda CX500 Turbo was a motorcycle from the 1980s that aimed to capitalize on the turbocharging trend of that era. It was designed to boost the performance of the ordinary CX500 with its V-Twin engine. However, the CX500 itself wasn’t very exciting and didn’t hold much value. The CX500 Turbo didn’t help change that perception and was only in production for a single year in 1982. The CX650 Turbo’s successor also had a short production run the following year. Today, very few licensed CX500 Turbos are combined in the UK and America.

    2. **Hesketh V1000**
    The Hesketh V1000 was an ambitious project by Lord Alexander Hesketh to establish a new British motorcycle manufacturer. It featured a V-Twin engine developed in-house, providing modest power. Marketed as a luxury sports motorcycle that could revive the British motorcycle industry, the Hesketh V1000 faced engine issues and only 149 units were produced, leading to its ultimate failure.

    Honda RC166

    3. **Norton Manx**
    The Norton Manx is a legendary British racing motorcycle that was highly successful for many years. It was a dominant force in Grand Prix racing, even after the introduction of multi-cylinder Italian motorcycles. The Norton Manx provided a level playing field for talented amateur riders to compete against established stars in its heyday. Around 1,100 units were built, and there is still a demand for replica models in the market.

    4. **Confederate X132 Hellcat**
    The Confederate Hellcat X132 is a unique and futuristic-looking motorcycle designed by Pierre Terblanche. Hand-built and powered by a powerful 2,163cc V-Twin engine, the Hellcat X132 featured extensive use of carbon fiber to keep its weight low. It was produced between 2012 and 2017, with only 65 units ever made, making it a rare and sought-after collector’s item.

    Honda RC166

    5. **Honda RC166**
    The Honda RC166 is a highly coveted racing motorcycle from the 1960s. It was an innovative and technologically advanced bike with a six-cylinder, 250cc engine that could rev up to an astounding 18,000rpm. The exhaust note of the RC166 was as impressive as its performance. Only a handful of these bikes were built, and the official Honda race team exclusively used them. Owning an RC166 today is a rare and expensive privilege, with prices reaching millions of dollars if one is ever available for sale.

  • Six-Cylinder Bike: The Symphony of Lisbon’s Unik Edition

    Six-Cylinder Bike: The Symphony of Lisbon’s Unik Edition

    If you’ve never had the chance to hear a motorcycle with six cylinders in full throttle, you’re missing out on a true mechanical symphony. That’s exactly what Lisbon’s Unik Edition has achieved with their latest project—a café racer built around a screaming six-cylinder Benelli Sei.

    Benelli Sei

    The Benelli Sei may not be the most well-known six-cylinder classic motorcycle (that title goes to the Honda CBX), but it was the first production bike to feature a six-cylinder engine. Benelli introduced the 750 Sei in the early 1970s and later released the redesigned 900 Sei in 1979, boasting 80 horsepower and angular bodywork. Only 2,000 units of the Benelli 900 Sei were ever produced, and they came with a hefty price tag.

    Tiago Gonçalves and Luis Gonçalves, the founders of Unik Edition (no relation), embarked on this project using a 1979 Benelli 900 Sei, but very little of the original bike remains. They stripped it down to its frame and engine, replacing or rebuilding almost everything else.

    “Our goal was to create an incredible machine with six exhausts that is also easy to ride,” says Tiago.

    To ensure they built upon a solid foundation, the duo thoroughly refreshed and tuned the engine. Having serviced several six-cylinder Benellis and Hondas before, they were well acquainted with these powerful motors. The Sei’s three Dell’Orto carbs now breathe through new pod filters.

    However, it was during the modification of the chassis that things truly became interesting. They started by removing the factory subframe and fabricating a new one. They then made strategic cuts and reinforcements to the frame. The most ambitious modification, though, involved swapping in a single-sided swingarm from an early-2000s Ducati Monster S4R.

    This required redesigning the rear end with a new shock mount to accommodate a modern mono-shock setup. It also involved aligning everything, from the swingarm pivot to the sprockets, to fit a wide 190 rear tire.

    The rider is greeted by a digital Motogadget speedometer, neatly molded into the headlight housing. Motogadget also supplied the switches, grips, keyless RFID ignition, and bar-end turn signals and mirrors. The handlebars are from LSL, and the throttle is a Domino part.

    At the rear, a tidy license plate bracket positions the plate behind the rear wheel without extending the tail section unnecessarily. It features a Koso license plate light and a pair of small Motogadget LED turn signals. Completing the build is the pièce de résistance of any six-cylinder custom bike—the exhaust. Unik Edition crafted a complete stainless steel six-into-six system, featuring three compact mufflers stacked on each side.