VOLUME 56 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 5, 2019 P85
in 1984, but with a 52/48% forward weight bias
even with the forward-facing array of carbs, which
resolved the stock RS500's problems of insufficient
weight on the front wheel.
TESTING THE CHEVALLIER HONDA RS500
However, you're immediately aware of how "reet
petite" the Chevallier is when you ride it—as against
the dozen-odd NS/RS500 Honda triples, I've
been fortunate to ride down the years, this is a 350
compared to a 500. In fact, Rachel Nicotte was
longer than the RS500's 54.1 inches—presumably
for added stability. However, instead of the single
carbon front disc, which de Radiguès raced with in
1984, there's a pair of 310mm AP-Lockheed steel
discs fitted today, with four-piston calipers. That's
because the impecunious Thierry Espié installed
these when he borrowed the bike for the 1985 sea-
son—he couldn't afford to replace the carbon discs
regularly when they wore out, so they've been there
ever since! This means that the bike today weighs
255.7 dry, rather than the 244.7 pounds it scaled
