A new V-twin concept that existing 2-stroke manufacturers have no experience with, developed simultaneously with racers!
Honda's only 2-stroke model for public roads was the 50cc sports MB50 from 1979. The MVX250 was hastily developed as a production model to coincide with Honda's participation in the World GP, but various problems were revealed with the MVX250. Honda began to review its basic strategy, assuming that an all-out war would break out.
This was not a replica development following the example of a racing machine, but a straightforward and unprecedented approach to include production models in the development of racing machines.
This also required an engine type that was not available from existing 2-stroke manufacturers. With little experience in 2-strokes, it was more efficient to work hard and achieve Honda's unique advantage using their own methods rather than trying to catch up.
Honda had already introduced a works machine in the World GP with a V-shaped cylinder arrangement to avoid the scavenging ports interfering with adjacent cylinders, a problem with two-strokes. It was then decided that a 90° V-twin would be used in the development of their subsequent production racer, and a project to convert this into a sports motorcycle that could be run on public roads was taking shape.
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Information Source. [ RIDE HI ]
