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/126904
(Above) The 'Knight TT Honda; a race ready dirt tracker. (Below) Gremica discs. Carlisle Universals and Works Performance Shocks. The Knight IT Honda (Above) The Knight frame houses the (below right) Honda RS600D fourstroke single. (Below left) The bike comes with Marzocchi forks. Rotax that up until now has been the only complete race-ready dirt tracker on the market. Honda will continue, however, selling the 250cc engine, Lhe 750cc engine and the 600cc engine. The entire KnighL TT Honda package sells for $7000 from Americdn Honda. For more infor~alion, conlaCl Reeves al American Honda, 213/604-2545. • Knight TT Honda RS600D By Paul Carruthers LO IG BEACH, CA, MAR" 25 American Honda Motor Co. and Knight Racing Frames have combined forces to produce 10 race-ready 600ccTT dirt trackers, which currently are being offered for sale to qualified racers. Of the 10 units, four have been built and are ready for the race track. The race-developed 628cc 22 Honda single sits in a chrome-moly steel Knight Racing Frame. The bike' suspension consi~ts of dual Works Performance rear shocks and centeraxle Marzocchi forks; the front tire is a 4.00-19 Pirelli, and the rear a 4,0019 Carlisle Universal. A 10.6-inch Grimeca disc brake is featured on the back, with an 11.6-inch Lockheedl Grimeca combination stopping the front. In the past, Honda has sold Lhe RS6000 mOLar along wiLh the RS7500E and the RTL250 as engineonly kiLS. This year marks a first for Honda marketing - the introduction of a complete motorcycle designed for Class C dirt track racing. What made Honda decide to Lry iL hand at marketing- a complete TT bike? "La tyearwesoldtheenginesonly and we sLarted g-etling- a few inquires abouL compll-Le componenLs," Keith Reeves, Honda's Support Program Coordinator, said. "A lot of people asked about a package deal" so we decided to goo with 10 and sec how iL weill O\·er. We mentioned iL to Terry (Knight) and he followed Lhroug-h on i L; he came up with a proposal al~d iL kind of fell to him." Reeves explained why Honda kepL the projecL quiet: "We kepL iL low key until now because racer Lypes geL nervous," he said. "When they decide Lhey want something- Lhey want iL now and they don' t want to wai I Lhree weeks, so we waited until the bikes were ready," Honda and Knig-ht Racing could challenge Ron Wood aBd tbe Wood Engine type Air-cooled. SOHC. four-stroke single Bore x stroke loo.0x80.0mm Displacement 628cc Compression ratio 11 .8: 1 Carburetor 38mm flat-slide Mikuni Horsepower ... 60.2 bhp@ 7500 rpm Torque ..... 47.7 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm Valves per cylinder . . . . . . . . . .. 4 Intake valve size 36mm Exhaust valve size 31 mm Intake lift 10mm Exhaust lift 10mm Intake valve timing 45°-50° Exhaust valve timing 60°-35° (measuring point) 1mm Starting system. . . . . . . . . .. Push Ignition COl Lubrication. . .. Dry sump. forced Redline 9000 rpm Primary drive Straight-cut gear Final drive #520 chain Gear ratios Primary 70/32; 2.189:1 Final. 14/51; 3.642:1 5th 21/25; 0.840:1 4th 23/23; 1.000:1 3rd 25/20; 1.250:1 2nd 28/17; 1.647:1 1st 31/13; 2.385:1 Frame ..... Knight chrome-moly. dUilI-downtube Rake 25.5° Trail 3.5 in. Front suspension type Telescopic fork Fork tube diameter 41. 7mm Front wheel travel 5.52 in. Rear suspension type Dual· shock swingerm Rear Wheel travel 5.87 in. Front brakes .... 11.6-in. Grimeea disc Rear brakes .... 10.6-in. Grimeca disc Front wheel 2.15x19-in. Kosman Rearwheel 2.75x19-in. Kosman Front tire 4.00-19 Pirelli Rear tire 4.00-19 Carlisle Universal Claimed dry weight 240 Ibs. Overall length 83.0 in. Overall width 34.2 in. Overall height 44.0 in. 54.6in. VVheelbase Fuel capacity 1.5 gal. Ground clearance 7.2 in. Seat height 31.75 in. Colors. .. .. .. .. . .. .. lNhite Retail price $7000.