Honda V4s are a great inspiration for a Suzuka replica special. But what if you fancy something a bit different that still packs the 8-Hour vibe? Check this lot out…
1. DOME DCF1 HONDA CBX750
Built for the 1985 race by Japanese car racers Dome Racing, and ridden by PS’s own Mat Oxley, this Honda CBX750-powered TT-F1 machine was unique, featuring a carbon fibre reinforced plastic semi-monocoque chassis (which gave the bike its Black Buffalo nickname) and two-piece, all-enclosed, longitudinally split bodywork. At just 149kg the DCF1 was light, but performance was hampered by its under-powered, air-cooled CBX motor, which was no match for the FZs, GSX-Rs and Honda V4s of the time. Consequently, the bike’s appearance was brief – fitting given that sponsor Wacoal made lingerie… Oxley crashed in practice when the GSX-R in front threw a rod, so didn’t get to race. Hiroo Takemura and Vesa Kultalahti qualified 55th and finished 38th.
2. MUGEN ‘WHITE BULL’ HONDA CBX750
Soichiro Honda’s son Hirotoshi formed racing/tuning company Mugen in 1973. The firm’s first crack at the Suzuka 8-Hour was in 1984 with a CBX750 powered TT-F1 machine known as the ‘White Bull’. The tasty looking box-section framed racer was campaigned a year later by Joey Dunlop (who’d raced the first White Bull the year before with Jim Wells) and Roger ‘Reg’ Marshall. Joey and Jim qualified 11th in ’84, then 16th in ’85 with Reg, but the White Bull failed to finish both years.
3. MORIWAKI HONDA ZERO-VX7/ZX7
Moriwaki has always been way more than just a tuning company. Back in the days of TT-F1 the Japanese firm built complete chassis for its VFR and CBR750 powered Suzuka racers. The factory kitted, RC30- derived V4 was code named Zero-VX7 (best result of 12th in ’92 with Mal Campbell and ex-500GP star Shunji Yatsushiro).
The inline-four CBR750F powered Zero-ZX7 achieved a fine 6th in ’89 thanks to Campbell and Graeme Crosby. A VFR750F RC36 frame and engine with braced VFR-F-G swingarm would provide the perfect base for a tasty VX7 rep.
4. MORIWAKI HONDA CBX750 RC17
Honda’s standard CBX750F was already behind the curve when it appeared in ’84, but for teams linked to Honda, like Moriwaki, there wouldn’t be a liquid-cooled alternative until ’86.
Even so, Moriwaki’s aluminium box-section framed RC17 is a fabulous inspiration for a rep – aSuzuki GSX750EF frame would be a good start, with maybe a twin-shocked GSX-R750 slabbie swingarm.
5. TEAM MC SUNDANCE H-D
