In 1974-5, I restored, at Mike's request, a Honda RC174 and
the TT winning RC181. The bikes came to me with a pile of spares and
this is the remains. Most of the stuff I sold to Bob Heath a few years
ago. This is just a small collection of odds and ends mostly, but there
are one or two gems; a six cylinder piston, a valve, a pair of tyres removed
from the 181.
One 6 cylinder piston
A pair of 6 cylinder head gaskets
One 6 cylinder valve
A pair of worn tyres removed from the RC181 (who else rode it?)
A 3ft x 1in bore plastic breather pipe (RC181)
Nuts,bolts,odds and ends(maybe 100 or so pieces)
4 T-bar spanners
2 special open end spanners
A valve spring compressor
A dial gauge, with fitting for Honda head
Contact peter.forsyth
at btinternet.com for more information.
If necessary I can yap on endlessly with background info, perhaps for
another occasion. But the stuff is legit. Well reported at the time in
the 'Motor Cycle', etc.
Here's some more pics, and a shot of the 350/4 I restored (now Bob Heath's).
Regards, Pete.
Here's a couple more images; the 500 is frame number RC181F - 301, engine
RC181E - 302, this is in the specification that it ended the '67 season;
I have seen other pictures of 181s with the huge TT tank, not the under
seat additional fuel tank,different rear frame bracing,and not drilled
front brakeplates. Just mods you would make during a racing season,particularly
with the bikes handling difficulties. All respect to Honda, it is the technology
of the time, but when I delivered it to Mike, he didn't greet it like an
old friend. There was a comment about 'the old wooden tyres'.
January 2006
subject: Originally signed Oil Painting for sale
Email: jo.shepherd<at>lr.org
message: My mother who was a good friend of Mike Hailwood painted an
original Oil painting of Mike and he signed it on the back, we are wondering
if anyone is interested in purchasing this, it is an excellent framed picture
and provide photographs of both the painting and the signature if anyone
is interested, I look forward to your response
