More than half a century after his last deed, the Honda RC174 will remember the world again why Slingin that golden decade, it became synonymous with victory and innovation. And when its engine rises and the howl spreads through the stone walls and the meadows of the island, it will be as if the time stopped.
The person in charge of returning that heavenly sound will be a faithful recreation, piloted nothing less than by Mick Grantone of the most venerated names of the TT, with seven victories in his record and a deep respect for the inheritance of classical motorcycling.
The saga debut Honda Six dates back to 1965, when the RC166 of 250 cc appeared in the TT by the hand of Jim Redman. Its six -cylinder and 7 gears engine, capable of turning more than 18,000 rpm (an unusual figure for the time), not only brought it to the victory at the Lightweight TT of 250 cc, but redefined what it meant “performance” in competition motorcycling.
In 1966 and 1967, Mike Hailwoodnicknamed “Mike The Bike”, Took over to the handlebar of the RC166 and chained two consecutive victories in the 250 cc of the TT. The combination of power, lightness and a mechanical melody that bristled the skin made the Honda Six In an immediate icon.
But Sling I wanted more. In 1966 he presented the RC174an evolution up to 297 CC to attack the 350 cc junior category. And in 1967 the performance that is still remembered arrived today: Hailwood beat him Junior TT and sprayed the absolute record with an average of 173.5 km/h from stopping stopped, a feat that left the motor world speechless.
The return of an unmistakable roar, that of RC174
For Mick Grantthe opportunity to get on RC174 It is more than an honor: it is to fulfill a dream that was forged listening to the stories of the heroes of the 60s. Grant himself has confessed that he always felt fascination with Honda Sixa motorcycle that, in his words, “It seemed to come from another planet”For its technology, its sound and its ability to evolve at an incredible speed in full battle against Yamaha in the World Cup.
The recreation that it will pilot has been built with the maximum fidelity to the original, from the mechanical components to the characteristic stylized profile and the aerodynamic fairing that helped tame the wind at more than 240 km/h. Even the escape has been designed to reproduce that metal symphony that marked an entire generation of fans.
The launch of the RC174 It will take place on Friday, August 29, 2025, just before the departure of the Senior Classic TT. It will not be a race, but a historical moment: the opportunity to see and listen again in full action that not only won, but changed the way of understanding the races.
