Honda went out on a limb with its V4s in the early Eighties. One of the best examples of the early models was the 500cc version. John Nutting rides a survivor and recalls its launch in South Africa.
![Soul Survivor](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5243/194938/5853f9b3450df/Soul-Survivor.jpg)
V4 engines have mostly been the design choice in Grand Prix motorcycle racing since the early 1980s. They are compact, smooth and deliver more easily-managed power in the premier prototype class. Yet there are barely more than a handful of V4 road bikes in production these days.
The virtues of a V4 racer are just as valid on the road, but they come at a price, which is why just a few large machines use the layout. It may be the ideal, but a V4 is tricky, and therefore expensive, to manufacture. And the smaller the V4 engine’s capacity the tougher it gets to sell, with a 500 costing almost as much to produce as a 750 or even a 1000, yet riders would reasonably expect the price tag to be lower.
A case in point is Honda’s VF500FII featured here which was launched in 1984 with a hefty £2550 ticket in the UK. This was almost as much as an exotic Ducati 600 Pantah from Italy, and more than Kawasaki’s GPz750 or Suzuki’s GSX750ES. And Honda’s own super-fast VF750F V4 cost just £400 more, which was worth stretching the wallet. At the same time, Yamaha’s Powervalve RD350LC offered the average Johnny almost as much performance at a much more affordable £1695. It was a no brainer. No wonder the VF500FII, a brilliant example of Honda’s engineering expertise, was a sales failure. Which makes surviving examples like the one owned by Dave Sheppard a rare treat to ride. He found it in mint condition with just 3000 miles on the clock in 2013, since when he’s doubled that on weekly VJMC runs. “It’s a lovely bike,” he says, and after a spin on town and country roads I agree.
Bu hikaye Classic Motorcycle Mechanics dergisinin December 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Classic Motorcycle Mechanics dergisinin December 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Honda VFR750R - RC30
If there’s a more worshipped V4 out there, we’ve yet to see it: welcome to our reboot of the awesome VFR750R RC30…
![Mountain tension!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/6128834cd2ab6/crp_Mountain-tension.jpg)
Mountain tension!
Award-winning motorcycle engineer!
![Fazer set to STUN!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/61288945b8905/crp_Fazer-set-to-STUN.jpg)
Fazer set to STUN!
What do you get when you mix CRK’s lovely café racer kit to Yamaha’s budget middleweight and the recently-retired Martin Fox? Well, one helluva foxy Fazer!
![Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/612877300a5e5/crp_Project-Suzuki-1984-RG250-part-4BRUNO-BARES-ALL.jpg)
Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!
This month, while we wait for backorder engine parts, we strip the chassis back to the bare frame, assess what is needed and plan the reassembly…
![Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/61288005ee272/crp_Project-Kawasaki-Z900-Stocker-part-2-Ralph-has-a-blast.jpg)
Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!
For the best finish on his Z900’s motor Ralph wants the best, so he visits Stephen Smethurst Casting Renovation to find out how it’s done properly.
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Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!
We’re getting down into the nitty-gritty this time with component testing and loom building. What could go wrong?
![Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/612874d758e99/crp_Project-Yamaha-TX750-Part-12A-question-of-balance.jpg)
Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…
Only The Beach Boys had good vibrations… so what’s Mark been up to, to sort out the bad ones coming from his TX750?
![Splitting links](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/612881a974776/crp_Splitting-links.jpg)
Splitting links
Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.
STAVROS: PRINCE OF PRANKSTERS!
It’s probably fair to say that Stephen JamesParrish’s persona and overall levity throughout his life have muddied the waters as to just how good a bike racer he was back in the day.
![Metal magic!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/675190/60c86275889dd/crp_Metal-magic.jpg)
Metal magic!
Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox co uk so he knows what works.. .