Honda realized during the 1963 season, that their relaxed attitude would cost them, and for the last GP of the 1963 season, in Japan, new machines were developed. For the 50 cc class, a new twin and for the 125 cc a new four cylinder were developed, and for the 250 and 350 cc the existing fours were improved. These machines are used during 1964. The works riders are Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri, Tommy Robb, Kunimitsu Takahashi and newcomer Ralph Bryans. Halfway through the season Robb is sacked, followed by Takahashi.
It takes some time before Honda gets the new 50 cc, ridden by Bryans, to run well. He comes in second in the Isle of Man, but after that wins three races in a row. However, he has lost too many points to Anderson on the Suzuki, who wins the world title, with Bryans second and Anscheidt (Kreidler) third. In the 125 cc class, the Suzukis and the new Yamahas, though fast, are no match for the Hondas. With seven wins out of 11 races, they win the manufacturers' title. Taveri is heading the individual championship until he falls off and breaks his collar bone in Assen. Redman saves the day by winning the races in Taveri's absence, who becomes world champion, ahead of Redman and Anderson (Suzuki).
1964 2RC164 Honda 6 CylinderIn the 250 cc class the fight is on between Honda and the two-stroke Yamahas. One of the toppers of the season is the immense duel in Assen between Read on the Yamaha and Redman. During the last lap they change places seven(!) times, and exit the last corner before the finish side by side. While accelerating to the finish, Read has to change gear, which costs him 0.1 second or so because the two-stroke simply doesn't rev higher, but Redman revs the Honda to something like 16,000 rpm and wins the race, half a wheel length ahead of Read. It is anyway a splendid day for Redman: he wins the 125, the 250 and the 350 cc classes, all three with new race and lap records!
When towards the end of the season it becomes clear, that Read is going to win the championship, Honda unveils a six-cylinder, secretly developed for the 1965 season, ahead of time in Monza. image at right, showing Redman taking the 2RC164 bike out for its first training spin.
Initially Redman leads the race easily ahead of Read, but then his six starts overheating and he has to relax the pace, whereupon Read wins and becomes the first world champion for Yamaha. Redman is second and Alan Shepherd (MZ) is third.
The 350 cc class is again a walk-over for Honda. Redman wins all the races, and the only man who can keep him more or less in sight is his protégé Bruce Beale on a production racer CR77, who ends up second, while Mike Duff is third on an AJS.
1964 RC165E Engine
Powering Honda racers in the 250cc World Championships from 1964 through 1967, this was the first Honda 6-cylinder to win a GP. It powered an RC165 to victory in the 1964 Japan GP and was later developed into the unbeatable RC166E.