Honda NR500
Encyclopedia
NR500 was an innovative racing motorcycle
developed by Honda HRC
in 1979 to compete in Grand Prix motorcycle racing
. The NR stood for New Racing.
The motivation behind the NR500 was company founder Soichiro Honda's
desire to compete using four-stroke engine technology since the majority of motorcycles manufactured by Honda used four-stroke engines. When the FIM
announced new regulations for the 1968
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
season that limited the 500 cc engines to four cylinders, this gave an advantage to teams using two-stroke machinery. Honda decided to withdraw from motorcycle racing to concentrate on its automobile division.
In November 1977 Honda announced it would be returning to motorcycle Grand Prix racing using four-stroke technology. Even though two-stroke engines dominated motorcycle Grand Prix racing in the late 1970s, Honda felt bound by their convictions to race what they sold and thus decided to compete using a high-technology, four-stroke race bike. Since a conventional four-stroke, four-cylinder engine could not produce the same power of its two-stroke rivals, Honda had to increase the valve area in order to be competitive. The rules at the time allowed up to four combustion chambers so Honda designed a 32-valve V8 with four pairs of linked combustion chambers. This then evolved into an innovative engine with four oval-shaped cylinder
s. The oval cylinders allowed room for 32 valves and eight spark plug
s, the same as that of an eight-cylinder engine while staying within the four-cylinder rules limit. Another innovation used on the NR500 was its monocoque
body which wrapped around the engine like a cocoon and helped reduce weight. In an effort to reduce drag, the bike also used 16-inch wheels instead of the mainstream 18-inch versions.
Honda overcame significant manufacturing problems to develop its oval cylinder technology and by late 1979
the bike made its much-anticipated debut at the British Grand Prix
ridden by Mick Grant
and Takazumi Katayama
. Both bikes retired, Grant crashing out on the first turn after the bike spilled oil onto his rear tire. Katayama retired on the seventh lap due to ignition problems. Honda persevered for two more seasons but never managed to make the bike competitive. The monocoque frame had to be abandoned because it made it too difficult for mechanics to work on the engine during races. The 16-inch wheels also had to be abandoned for 18-inch wheels. American Freddie Spencer
was able to reach 5th place at the 1981
British Grand Prix before the bike broke down. The NR500 never managed to win a Grand Prix, a thirteenth place by Katayama at the 1981
Austrian Grand Prix being its best showing.
Honda decided to abandon the project and designed the NS500 two-stroke bike to compete in the 1982
season. Spencer would ride the NS500 to Honda's first 500 cc world championship in 1983
. Ultimately, what doomed the NR500 project was that Honda had tried to develop too many technologies at one time. The NR500 did experience a few successes. Freddie Spencer rode the NR500 to a heat race victory at Laguna Seca
in 1981 and Kengo Kiyama won the Suzuka
200 kilometer race that same year.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
developed by Honda HRC
Honda Racing Corporation
Honda Racing Corporation is a division of the Honda Motor Company formed in 1982. The company combines participation in motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of high potential racing machines. Its racing activities are an important source for the creation of leading edge...
in 1979 to compete in Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
. The NR stood for New Racing.
The motivation behind the NR500 was company founder Soichiro Honda's
Soichiro Honda
was a Japanese engineer and industrialist, and founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..Honda was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan on November 17, 1906. He spent his early childhood helping his father, Gihei, a blacksmith, with his bicycle repair business. At the time his mother, Mika, was a weaver. At...
desire to compete using four-stroke engine technology since the majority of motorcycles manufactured by Honda used four-stroke engines. When the FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
announced new regulations for the 1968
1968 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1968 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 20th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of ten Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc...
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
season that limited the 500 cc engines to four cylinders, this gave an advantage to teams using two-stroke machinery. Honda decided to withdraw from motorcycle racing to concentrate on its automobile division.
In November 1977 Honda announced it would be returning to motorcycle Grand Prix racing using four-stroke technology. Even though two-stroke engines dominated motorcycle Grand Prix racing in the late 1970s, Honda felt bound by their convictions to race what they sold and thus decided to compete using a high-technology, four-stroke race bike. Since a conventional four-stroke, four-cylinder engine could not produce the same power of its two-stroke rivals, Honda had to increase the valve area in order to be competitive. The rules at the time allowed up to four combustion chambers so Honda designed a 32-valve V8 with four pairs of linked combustion chambers. This then evolved into an innovative engine with four oval-shaped cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
s. The oval cylinders allowed room for 32 valves and eight spark plug
Spark plug
A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
s, the same as that of an eight-cylinder engine while staying within the four-cylinder rules limit. Another innovation used on the NR500 was its monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
body which wrapped around the engine like a cocoon and helped reduce weight. In an effort to reduce drag, the bike also used 16-inch wheels instead of the mainstream 18-inch versions.
Honda overcame significant manufacturing problems to develop its oval cylinder technology and by late 1979
1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 31st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:A season of changing fortunes in the 500cc class saw American, Kenny Roberts capture his second crown in the face of the Suzuki-mounted opposition. In the 50cc class, Eugenio...
the bike made its much-anticipated debut at the British Grand Prix
British motorcycle Grand Prix
The British motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season. Before 1977, the British Grand Prix was the Isle of Man TT, held there from 1949-1976.-Winners of the British motorcycle Grand Prix:...
ridden by Mick Grant
Mick Grant
Mick Grant is a former professional motorcycle road racer. He is a seven-time winner of the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race on various bikes, including 'Slippery Sam', a three-cylinder Triumph Trident...
and Takazumi Katayama
Takazumi Katayama
Takazumi Katayama is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion. He was the first Japan-based Korean rider to win a motorcycle road racing world championship when he claimed the 1977 350cc title aboard a Yamaha. In 1979 he accepted an offer from Honda to develop their exotic...
. Both bikes retired, Grant crashing out on the first turn after the bike spilled oil onto his rear tire. Katayama retired on the seventh lap due to ignition problems. Honda persevered for two more seasons but never managed to make the bike competitive. The monocoque frame had to be abandoned because it made it too difficult for mechanics to work on the engine during races. The 16-inch wheels also had to be abandoned for 18-inch wheels. American Freddie Spencer
Freddie Spencer
Freddie Spencer , known by the nickname Fast Freddie, is an American former World Champion motorcycle racer. Spencer is regarded as one of the greatest motorcycle racers of the early 1980s.-Biography:...
was able to reach 5th place at the 1981
1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 33rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Suzuki riders Marco Lucchinelli and Randy Mamola battled it out to the final race of the season with the Italian rider claiming the crown and Mamola finishing runner-up for the...
British Grand Prix before the bike broke down. The NR500 never managed to win a Grand Prix, a thirteenth place by Katayama at the 1981
1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1981 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 33rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Suzuki riders Marco Lucchinelli and Randy Mamola battled it out to the final race of the season with the Italian rider claiming the crown and Mamola finishing runner-up for the...
Austrian Grand Prix being its best showing.
Honda decided to abandon the project and designed the NS500 two-stroke bike to compete in the 1982
1982 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1982 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 34th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Italian Franco Uncini on the Roberto Gallina backed Suzuki took a well-earned championship in the 500cc class. Yamaha introduced a new V4 bike for Kenny Roberts but suffered from...
season. Spencer would ride the NS500 to Honda's first 500 cc world championship in 1983
1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 35th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:The 1983 battle for 500 cc supremacy between Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts would be one of the most dramatic seasons since the 1967 duel between Giacomo...
. Ultimately, what doomed the NR500 project was that Honda had tried to develop too many technologies at one time. The NR500 did experience a few successes. Freddie Spencer rode the NR500 to a heat race victory at Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved road racing track used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, originally constructed in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, California, USA....
in 1981 and Kengo Kiyama won the Suzuka
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
200 kilometer race that same year.