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The Honda NS500 was one of the most significant racing motorcycles ever made. It was the first 2-stroke 500 GP bike built by Honda and ended their persistence with four stroke bikes that had stretched back to the 1960's. They chose 3 cylinders to keep the bike more compact and to soften the demands made on the rear tire by the hard hit of a two stroke, after noting that the 500 and 350 GP bikes had similar lap times. It gave them their first 500GP victory in 15 years and completely changed the way they looked at both bikes and strategy. HRC came into being at this time and the success of the NS500 led into a period of domination by Honda in the 500 class. It's a position they maintain to this day. The customer version of the NS500, the RS500 that was introduced in 1983, was a mainstay for privateers for the rest of the decade of the 1980's.
Honda has since played with other unusual engine configurations, notable the V5 used in the MotoGP era. They've returned to their roots in once sense, though, as they again seem obsessed with engine power over all else. They've forgotten that lesson from the NS500.
JR
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