Myths

Billy Balthorpe · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

Is it just a myth that the VFR750 cost more to produce than they were selling it for when it was first released?

Other myths.

Is it true that they tested the original Fireblades 983 engine by winding it up to the rev limiter on a dyno and leaving it for the weekend?

Did Mike Hailwood once ask the Honda mechanics to remove the shock absorbers from the bike he had just finished a race on so he could have a look at them, then threw them in a pond when they gave them to him so they couldnt use them in the next race because they were that bad?

Did Valentino Rossi's Dad win a race at the IOM TT before being disqualified because they found out he was under age?
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Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

Is it just a myth that the VFR750 cost more to produce than they were selling it for when it was first released?

Many things get sold at a loss, including some cars and bikes. Depending on global markets, the cost of labour etc that could well have worked out true

Is it true that they tested the original Fireblades 983 engine by winding it up to the rev limiter on a dyno and leaving it for the weekend?

I've seen a video of i think it was a ZXR revved to the rev limiter till all the coolant boiled out and plastic bits started melting. They then gave up on killing it that way, drained all but a little of the oil out and repeated it till it died. IT took a remarkably long time to completely die, something like an hour.

Did Mike Hailwood once ask the Honda mechanics to remove the shock absorbers from the bike he had just finished a race on so he could have a look at them, then threw them in a pond when they gave them to him so they couldnt use them in the next race because they were that bad?

Sounds more like something barry sheene would do. If the shocks were so bad, he probably wouldn't have won. If he had won on them he probably would have been sufficiently respected that he could tell them to change them and be listened to.

Did Valentino Rossi's Dad win a race at the IOM TT before being disqualified because they found out he was under age?

He was a good racer, people do race under age, but that ones certainly not true. When asked in an interview about the isle of mann he said:

Billy Balthorpe · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

They are all true arent they.

Well, not sure about the last two, but i know about the finger and wearing BS's leathers an helmet to qualify. The doctor thing sounds like him an all.

The reason i ask about Rossis Dad, is that Rossi actually says in his biography that his Dad Grazziano, was disqualified from winning a race in the IOM because of his age. Never been able to find the paragraph since, i suppose i'll just have to read it again.
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radical · Spanner Monkey Joined: 02 Jul 2010 Karma :

An RC30 which was the original vfr750 did indeed cost more to make than what they sold for as did its baby brother the nc 30 400cc quad cam 16 valve motorcycle, the Rc 30 was indeed a work of art and its resale values reflect that point. The modern 750cc and 800cc variants could not hold a candle to the original RC30 and are worthless by comparision.

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Don't really blame you, I use wikipedia all the time. I was just being an arse Laughing

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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I was under the impression that the early VFRs were totally overengineered then sold at a loss following their disastrous VF700/750 motors (which often imploded before the first service).

Honda had a point to prove (they had publicly stated that V4 engines were the way of the future) and a tattered reputation for building reliable motorcycles to pick-up. I have no way to check if they actually were sold at a loss but never underestimate the lengths the Japanese will go to in order to save face.

It is true that Ron Haslam took third place on a totally standard, straight out of the box one, in the wet round Donnington in 1986 after wrecking his works bike and the spare during practice/qualifying.

As a result, it's also true that Honda dealers were queued round the corner the following Monday with everyone wanting one of those blue hondas like off the telly.
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Billy Balthorpe · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

I've got a lot of points to answer and raise from the last posts, but i'll do it in the morning when i'm not quite so drunk.

Has anyone else got any Myths they want to bring to this thread?

PISSEsfrd, ha ha, bedtimne,
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Billy Balthorpe · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :