Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125800
WHAT MAKES ACTION FOURS RUN SO 1 • c. . (J) UJ ;: W Z w --' u r u Action's ace drag racer smokes off the line at OC I R. The staging lights blinked and then, one by one, the yellow lights of the uChristmas tree" came on down the pole. I'm no drag racer, and, when it got close to to time to be on my way, I began slipping the clutch on my 500cc HI-R Kawasaki road racer. I red lighted, but it didn't matter since we were just playing at Orange County lntemational's drag strip. A moment after I got away, I heard the incredible bellow of the Action Fours Honda 500 and Steve McLaughlin, no drag racer himself, pulled up along side of me and then slightly in front. We ran through the quarter 'that way, with him in front. However, we didn't shut off when the end of the quarter-mile came by. Through the top of fourth on the H I·R we were even. Then the streamlining on my racer began to make itself felt, and slowly, every so slowly, -I was able to catch and finally pass McLaughlin and the howling Action·500. It was very impressive when a stock appearing Honda (with a weight close to the showroom figure) can deal with a factory built two-stroke road racer of the same displacement like that Honda just had. 1 was still muttering to myself when wI-' hit th.e back section of the course. Steve let me go first then slipped up beside me, looked over for a marnen t, and then walked away. There are a lot of nipples back there, and the Honda didn't seem disturbed in the least. I knew that Steve could dust me off even if he was riding a 125, but in this case the Honda was helping him. I would see when I got my chance to ride it. I had gotten involved in this thing when Steve called me up one day and asked if I would like to ride the Action Fours Honda 500 that he has employed to mop up local road racing. My reply was a quick affirmative. Action Fours has done a number on drag racing; taken six curreht NHRA records and retired one. In a previous issue we looked at their dragsters, but I'm a road racer and was naturally more ;,;terested in that end of Action. They have developed two Honda fours: a 500 based on the street machine and an all-out formula 750 One special item being tried on the 500 is an extra large sump. It increases the oil ca and improves c~lin9. contender for the AMA ational road race. The one that is more prominen t at the fQoment is the 500. It has won the most races and it is also the one that is closest to what the average Honda owner can buy. Almost all of the parts are sold by Action. Of those that they don't sell themselves, the parts that are of consequence are available from other suppliers. The most obvious visible change to the 500 is the headers and megaphone. Both are Action Fours production items. Strange as it may sound at first, the Action exhaust systems aren't designed to· give maximum power. "They have to fit on the motorcycle" said Jim Dickinson, one of the Action Fours wizards. What he means is that a lot of four-in to-one systems emerge from the motorcycle at all sorts of odd angles and make it virtually impossible to comer the machine. In fact, there is one set of headers which are alleged to be useable as a side stand. The Action units boost power and ground clearance. Other visible changes include a 19-inch rear rim for even more ground clearance, a Kawasaki A-7 steering damper, road racing tires (or, occasionally, a drag slick), Koni rear shocks, and a set of Honda CB-77 carburetors (three rights 'and a lefL) The only item th at would pose even a sligh t problem for the home builder is the carbs. It takes several hours of labor to install them, but it is unskilled labor and only requires simple tools. What's in the engine is avilable from or through Action Fours, and .the transformation from mild-mannered tourer to Action Fours superbike takes place deep in the engine's innards.> The rocker arms are lightened. and a Kenny . Harman cam and valve springs are installed. The head has been reworked and polished by Branch Flowmetrics. The Action Fours people have nothing but praise for Branch with whom they have worked closely. The pistons are Action products. All their pistons are matched to within one gram. The result is quite startling, as I found out when I got to ride the 500. The machine simply flies down the road. My fust instinct was to wind it up and slip the clutch. That isn't the way l, Action Fours got their first look at the 900 Kaw when our writer turned up on one. They predict over 100 horsepower. - .. The author and McLaughlin rush through OelA's back section. The 500 ha'ndles very well.