10 special things about the legendary Honda NR750
In 1992, Honda made a big breakthrough when it launched the NR750 model with the most advanced technology of the time. Some of the technology is still used today.
1. Fox eye lamp
|
| In the 1990s, motorcycle headlights were simply round (single or double) and rectangular. Only the NR750 and VFR750 deviated from that norm. In fact, the NR750’s headlight was a flat rectangle, with a line dividing the light into two parts. |
2. Single gripper
|
| Before the NR750, there were a few models using single-sided swingarms, such as the RC30 in 1987 and the BMW R80G/S in the 1980s. However, the single-sided swingarms of these models were quite crude and stopped at the convenience level. It was not until the NR750 that the single-sided swingarm was elevated to a beauty and inspired the Ducati 916. |
3. Exhaust pipe under the car
|
| Many people think thatHondaThe NR750 was the first bike to use an under-mount exhaust. There were actually a few 2-stroke bikes that used this idea before. Massimo Tamburini modified the Ducati 916 design to follow the NR750's idea. If the NR750 had not come to be, the Ducati 916 would have used a single-sided exhaust like the Cagiva Mito. |
4. Titanium coated windshield
|
| In the 1990s, helmets often used titanium-coated visors to make them more attractive. Honda did the same with the NR750 windshield, but at a much higher price - 1,572 euros at the time. |
5. Digital clock
|
| The first model to use a digital clock was the Suzuki RE5. But it was not until the NR750 that this type of clock became prominent. Honda completely separated the speedometer from the rest of the instrument panel, including the tachometer, temperature, and oil pressure gauges. With yellow numbers on a black background, you only need a glance to see the speed of the car. |
6. Carbon materials
|
| Nowadays, carbon fiber is quite popular in car manufacturing, there are even frames made entirely from carbon fiber like the BMW HP4 RACE and Ducati 1299 Superleggera. But in 1992, carbon fiber only appeared on racing models, with very little frequency. The tank cover and seat on the NR750 cost up to 6,839 euros. |
7. Oval piston
|
| One of the highlights of the Honda NR750 engine is the use of oval pistons. Honda has been pursuing this idea since the late 1970s and began to apply it on the NR500 GP. Honda developed this type of piston because it wanted to prove that 4-stroke vehicles could beat 2-stroke vehicles in MotoGP racing. |
8. Double connecting rod
|
| The MotoGP rules at the time forbade bikes from using eight-cylinder engines, but did not limit the number of connecting rods. With oval pistons, the NR750’s engine resembled a V8, with two connecting rods per piston. This was necessary to prevent piston expansion and damage to the cylinder interior. |
9. Eight valves per cylinder
|
| Another consequence of using oval pistons is the need for eight valves per cylinder. Together with two spark plugs, eight valves are good for high-revving engines. While the NR750 can rev to 15,000 rpm, the NR500 GP that was born from this idea can rev to 21,000 rpm. |
10. Crazy prices
|
| At the time of its launch, the Honda NR750 was priced at £38,000, equivalent to £72,000 today. This price was on par with current super products such as the Ducati 1299 Superleggera or BMW HP4 RACE. With a price equivalent to a Porsche 968 Cabriolet, Honda had a hard time selling all 200 NR750s worldwide. |
