TINY GIANT
Octane|250 - April 2024
Only 250cc, but ten straight race victories thanks to six cylinders, six carburettors and six exhaust pipes! This is the rival-slaying Honda RC166
Simon de Burton
TINY GIANT

Motorcycle-loving Octane readers who grew up in the UK during the 1970s and early '80s might remember those heady days when any 17-year-old could legally jump aboard a 250cc motorcycle and blast off into the sunset with L-plates blowing in the breeze - despite the fact that many 250cc Japanese two-strokes were capable of touching the magic ton.

The Government put an end to that in 1983 by restricting learner riders to bikes of no more than 125cc, but some who cut their teeth on those 100mph rice rockets might avow that their Yamaha RD250, Suzuki GT250 or Kawasaki KH250 (and so on) was the best quarter-litre motorcycle ever made.

This story is from the 250 - April 2024 edition of Octane.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 250 - April 2024 edition of Octane.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OCTANEView All
Back to a different future
Octane

Back to a different future

Pontiac's Tempest was packed with improbable engineering and ingenious bodgery from a young John DeLorean. Sam Glover drives an early survivor

time-read
9 mins  |
253 - July 2024
Rupert Keegan
Octane

Rupert Keegan

A life in motorsport, from Formula 3 to Formula 1, via frustration with Sir John Surtees to turning down an offer from Paul Newman

time-read
8 mins  |
253 - July 2024
RED & GOLD
Octane

RED & GOLD

What's the best classic bang for your buck? A fire truck, says Jay Leno, especially when it has a V12

time-read
7 mins  |
253 - July 2024
NART BEFORE TIME
Octane

NART BEFORE TIME

Unseen in public since 1988, this ultra-rare and forward-thinking Ferrari 365 GTB/4 NART Spider will soon be unleashed at The Quail, Monterey. David Lillywhite got to see it first

time-read
8 mins  |
253 - July 2024
FORCE FED
Octane

FORCE FED

The 911 Turbo also celebrates 50 years this year and it all kicked off with the G-Series

time-read
3 mins  |
253 - July 2024
G FORCE
Octane

G FORCE

From under-the-radar collector status to realistic daily-drive prospect, the G-Series is the air-cooled 911 of the moment. As it hits its 50th anniversary, Porsche authority Steve Bennett tells us why

time-read
10+ mins  |
253 - July 2024
The Maestro remembered
Octane

The Maestro remembered

A huge memorial service for Sir Stirling Moss OBE brought central London to a standstill

time-read
3 mins  |
253 - July 2024
Nathalie McGloin
Octane

Nathalie McGloin

The only female tetraplegic racing driver in the world and co-founder of Spinal Track, charity supporting disabled drivers

time-read
5 mins  |
250 - April 2024
Atomium
Octane

Atomium

An iron molecule, 100m tall and scaled-up 165billion times, was the future in ’58

time-read
3 mins  |
250 - April 2024
The Valjoux 7750
Octane

The Valjoux 7750

Rendered obsolete in the late 1970s, Edmond Capt's wonder movement is not only back, but selling 200,000 units a year

time-read
3 mins  |
250 - April 2024