Honda RC116
 RC116 with cable-actuated front caliper rim brakes having shoes/blocks directly acting on the aluminium-alloy wheel rim-sides - the airflow smoothing discs seen on the rear are absent from the front wheel in this image | |
| Manufacturer | Honda |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | RC115 |
| Class | racing (50cc class) |
| Engine | four stroke, twin cylinder 16 BHP @ 21,500 rpm |
The Honda RC116 was a race motorcycle built by Honda Japan which raced in the 50cc class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the 1966 season. The motorcycle was a development of the previous RC115 version.
The RC116 won 3 races out of the 6 that season. Ralph Bryans finished second in the world championship, Luigi Taveri third and Honda won the constructors title.[1]
For their Ultra-Lightweight class (50 cc) Grand Prix race bikes during the 1964, 1965 and 1966 race seasons, Honda re-introduced the 1920s format of cable-actuated caliper rim brakes with shoes/blocks directly acting on the aluminium rim-sides (alloy wheel rim), creating almost a 'consumable' item from the wheels, but dispensing with heavy conventional brake components, and allowing for experimentation with lightweight airflow-smoothing discs covering the wheel-hubs and centre-part of the spokes.[2]
References
- ^ http://racingmemo.free.fr/MOTO-GP-classements_66-050.htm
- ^ Motor Cycle, 15 September 1966. pp.374-375. Accessed 2015-12-01