// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Honda RC164 say? "I'm revving to go.

Honda RC164

Honda RC164 at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Manufacturer	Honda
Production	1964
Predecessor	Honda RC163
Successor	Honda RC165
Engine	249 cc (15.2 cu in) air cooled DOHC inline 4
Bore / stroke	44 mm × 41 mm (1.7 in × 1.6 in)
Power	48 bhp (36 kW) @ 14,000 rpm
Ignition type	Magneto
Fuel delivery	4 Keihin carburettors
Transmission	Multi-plate dry clutch, 6 speed gearbox, chain drive
Frame type	Open double loop
Suspension	F: telescopic forks R: swinging arm
Brakes	Drum brakes front & rear
Footnotes / references

The Honda RC164 is a 250 cc (15 cu in) air cooled DOHC inline 4 racing motorcycle that was manufactured by Honda in 1964 to compete in the 250cc World Championship. It was the last of a line of four cylinder 250s that were derived from the 1959 Honda RC160.

History

Honda had first entered GP racing in 1959 and by 1962 were dominating the 250 cc class. Yamaha was improving its RD56 and was quicker than the Honda, The existing inline 4 was at the limit of its development. Honda started working secretly on a new model to restore their dominance in the class. The engineer put in charge of the project was 24 year old Shoichiro Irimajiri, Design started in January 1964 on a new inline 6. A development of the 4, the RC164, which was lower and lighter than the previous model, was to be used until the six was ready.

Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri and Isamu Kasuya were the works riders for 1964. Tommy Robb and Kunimitsu Takahashi were also to have ridden the bike but had their contracts terminated early in the year.

Honda didn't attend the opening race of the season at Daytona. At the next round at the Montjuïc Circuit, Spain Tarquinio Provini on the four cylinder DOHC Benelli was surprisingly faster than both the Honda and the Yamaha of Phil Read.

At the French GP Redman and Read battled for the lead, the lead changing several times until Redman's bike went onto two cylinders and he had to retire.

2RC164

Honda updated the RC164 for the Isle of Man TT. The new bikes, designated 2RC164, produced 50 bhp (37 kW) and were lighter. Every component on the bikes that could be lightened had been. Three bikes were made, one each for Redman, Taveri and Kasuya. Redman won the race despite having an oil leak on the last circuit which sprayed oil of the back wheel causing the bike to slide in left hand corners.

At Assen Read lead until the last corner when Redman dived inside him and the two had a drag race to the finish line. Redman won by less than a wheel's length. The next race was at Spa. Read was leading Redman by inches until the fast Masta Kink where Read's Yamaha seized. Taking avoiding action, Redman left the track at 130 mph (210 km/h). Whilst Redman was trying to get back on track Mike Duff on the other Yamaha took the lead. Duff won the race with Redman second.

In West Germany Redman led until the last lap when Read overtook him and took the win. Mike Hailwood, in his only appearance of the season in the 250 class, led the East German GP on an MZ until he came off. As the following riders took avoiding action Redman took the lead. Read followed closely until the closing laps when he overtook Redman. On the final corner Redman drew level but Read out accelerated him to the line. Read won again in Ulster in wet conditions.

With Read leading championship, Honda sent the new 6 cylinder bike to Monza although it was not fully developed. Only one machine was sent for Redman. In the race Redman led until the bike started to overheat and he had to back off. Redman finished the race third and Taveri on a 2RC164 sixth.

At the season finale at Suzuka Redman had an updated version of the 6 cylinder machine, the Honda RC165, which he took to victory with Kasuya second on the four cylinder bike. Although Redman had 58 championship points to Read's 50, only the best 6 results counted and Read took the championship.

Racing results

Points were awarded to the top six finishers in each race. Only the best six races were counted.

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Points	8	6	4	3	2	1

Year Rider Model 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Points Rank Wins 1964 Jim Redman RC164 USA - ESP 2 FRA NC 36 2nd 2 2RC164 IOM 1 NED 1 BEL 2 GER 2 DDR 2 ULS 2 3RC164 NAT 3 RC165 JPN 1 Luigi Taveri RC164 USA - ESP NC FRA 2 11 6th 0 2RC164 IOM NC NED - BEL - GER 6 DDR - ULS NC NAT 6 JPN 4 Isamu Kasuya RC164 USA - ESP 4 FRA - 10 7th 0 2RC164 IOM NC NED - BEL 6 GER DNQ DDR - ULS - NAT - JPN 2 Sources:

Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points classification Blue Non-points classification Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired, not classified (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

Bibliography

• Cameron, Kevin (19 December 2017). "Calming The Crankshaft Of Honda's Six-Cylinder Racer". Cycle World. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
• Frank, Aaron (4 May 2012). "Honda RC166 250/6". Motorcyclist. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
• Kortekaas, Joep. "Honda's Race History - 1964". www.vf750fd.com. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
• Martin, Guy (18 October 2018). We Need to Weaken the Mixture. Random House. ISBN 978-0-7535-4548-5.
• Oxley, Mat (17 November 2023). "Honda's 1960s Japanese screamers — the motorcycles that changed grand prix racing". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
• Pereira, Chris (2014). Motorcycle GP Racing in the 1960s. David and Charles. ISBN 978-1-78711-879-9.
• Richardson, Matthew (30 May 2024). Honda: The Golden Age: Isle of Man TT, 1959–1967. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-3990-5149-1.
• Walker, Mick (2002). Mick Walker's Japanese Grand Prix Racing Motorcycles. Redline Books. ISBN 978-0-9531311-8-1.