Moto America Twins could get (more) interesting.

OK, I'll consede that point. Back in the D Production days, I felt that every FZR400 I beat on my Hawk should be ashamed, especially after I rode one of the FZRs.

 

Let's see ... that is 650cc vs 400cc, correct?

So to make any Honduh competitive, give it a 62.5% displacement advantage?

 

Even that was not enough, you had to build the shit out of it to be competitive with fzr400

 

No, the Yamaha has to have an extra 2 cylinders and an extra 5500 rpm in order to stay ahead of the Honda.

 

So I guess Honder can't count beyond two?

 

You would think with their sales volume, race history and engineering experience, one of the Japanese manufacturers would eventually be able to make an Aprilia killer that did NOT require $20k worth of engine work to be competitive.
Guess you can always hope for 2024…

 

Hey, it is possible going downhill with a 60mph tailwind if someone changed the gearing.

 

Even if the plane was on a treadmill?

 

Damnit, I'd already written something snarky about a treadmill but stepped away for a few minutes before continuing. Oh well...

On a more serious note I felt like the RC51 was on par with its primary competition (the SV1000 and the TL). Maybe I was wrong. I know Stokes was mopping up with his Aprilia in those days so maybe it really was a sub-par bike. I loved it anyway ... except when I hated it for tossing me into the gravel trap.

 

Well this is what I found on the internet. Given the RC51 is probably less aerodynamic, but heavier, it probably isn't too far off.

 

The TL/SV1K Honda equivalent was the Superhawk. The RC51 was supposed to be the everyman's Duc 9xx

 

I hope the thread title is tongue in cheek (or just realllly wishful thinking), as "exciting" and "new middlewight twin from Honda" simply don't go together.

 

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2023-honda-cb750-hornet-yamaha-mt-07/

 

Bold claims...I'll believe it when I see a real dyno run

 

The RC was supposed to be the super-duper bike and competed against the TL-R and the Duc 9xx bikes. The TL-S was more like the SV1K, and Superhawk. I don't think Yamaha built anything for that category. I am probably wrong though - I usually am.

And we shouldn't leave out the amazing effort from Harley with the VR1000.....a little earlier but in the same vein.

 

(engine built by Porsche)

 

Have you seen an R7 frame?