Very interesting....I now want a 650 and to visit the museum! Interesting bikes behind the @ and Transalp - if I'm not mistaken, an XLV750; a CL250(?); an XL250 or 350 circa 1976/7; and an MT250 Elsinore 2-stroke from the mid 70's. And is that an FT of some sort behind the Transalp? I think I read somewhere they have one of every model on display (or perhaps that's the Yamaha museum I'm thinking of).

 

I don't think they have every model on display (for example, there was only an RD03 Africa Twin and a PD10 Transalp on display despite many other versions). Certainly worth the trip though. Hundreds of beautiful bikes...including an NXR :thumbup:

 

Fantastic find and well worth the hard efforts

Your attention to detail in your own restoration complements their tennacity

Well done

I'll pm you

 

That was a great read, thanks for putting that up.

Does anyone know the story behind Cyril Neveu's "CHARRO" decals. I think he even had them stitched on his race suit. Was it a sponsor at the time, or did he just like the idea of being a Mexican horseman? I like it in any case. Giving me ideas for my restoration...

 

I think at the time CHARRO was a make of jeans, they were a sponsor:thumb:

 

Thank you!

 

Outstanding contribution to the forum.:thumbup:
Glad I got my RD03 recently!
Those guys really got the essence of what people wanted!
And I had one of those XL 250'S as well as the XL600.
A much bigger garage would be an investment as well!

 

Wow, that's great to read! Almost gives me the enthusiasm to tackle the restoration of my RD07a. Well, almost. It can stay in the garage a few more years...

Thanks for putting that up! What did they have to say about the design of the Dominator?

 

Ok, just remembered that I can attach the PDF here. Enjoy!

View attachment XRV650 Design.pdf

A few people have asked about Transalp and Dominator design stories. Ill track those down and post them in a few days. I'll update this thread with them and post them in their respective topic areas.

 

Ok, just remembered that I can attach the PDF here. Enjoy!

View attachment 55377

A few people have asked about Transalp and Dominator design stories. Ill track those down and post them in a few days. I'll update this thread with them and post them in their respective topic areas.

bump

interesting observation :-

first TA had 55bhp
Rd03 51

 

The RD03 is definitely the Africa Twin that makes my blood boil. It definitely looks like a factory racer. Not so for her successors ;-)

 

The following machines are excellent bikes.
But they got pretty it much nailed first time around for sure!

 

The book unfortunately only has one page on the Transalp and nothing on the Dominator. Never-the-less, here is a quick pdf for the 1987 Transalp XL600v.

View attachment Transalp.pdf

 

A few years ago, I visited the Honda Collection Hall in Japan. That was the first time I saw an XRV650 RD03:



What a beautiful bike! Seeing that bike inspired me to import and restore my own RD03 here in California. It is a magical bike in my opinion and an important bike in motorcycle history. While I was in Japan, I tracked down a rare book about Honda motorcycle design. In fact it was supposed to be a set of two books, but I was only able to find the first that covered 1957 to 1984. Since then, I have been hunting for the second book. A few weeks ago, I found one and had it shipped from Japan. Indeed, it covered the design of the first Africa Twin!



So, meet Mogi Tomonori, the designer of the Africa Twin! Here's the story...

















Pretty cool to see those early design drawings of what the Africa Twin might have looked like.

Contact me if you would like a PDF of this story.

Enjoy!

Thank you for your post. I would love to ha e a PDF of the books. My email is udayakarun@gmail.com and many many thanks in advance for your generosity.

 

Wonderful find!

 

Wow, that's an amazing story ! It must have been an incredible experience to visit the Home of Honda right there in Japan. 😊 A great inspiration for you to continue and import and restore.