Letter From Europe
LETTER FROM Europe
ROUNDUP
Deltabox Hondas by Harris
Someone has quickly built the bike that Honda didn’t—a V-Four rival to the GSX-R750 Suzuki and the new Deltabox-framed FZR750 Yamaha.
As odd as it might might seem to riders in the U.S., Honda’s VFand VFR-series machines have not enjoyed the success they’ve had in the States. But Steve and Lester Harris, the prolific British frame builders, have taken steps to correct that situation by designing and building an aluminum twin-spar Deltaboxtype chassis for the V-Four Honda range of engines. Originally, the bike was conceived as a one-off project for Japanese sponsor Tetsu Ikuzawa. But that endurance-racing prototype, which finished 12th in the ’86 Suzuka 8-hour marathon, has led to a street version, in the same way that the similar Harris frame for the FZ750 Yamaha engine spun off a road-legal model. Honda would do well to take notes.
But that’s not all. The brothers have also turned their attention to Twins, especially BMWs and Moto Guzzis. Says Lester Harris, “At the moment, the only aftermarket chassis kit available for these motors is the Magni. We plan to produce something much more exciting which will allow the owner to craft his own personal twin-cylinder motorcycling statement.” To that end, they want to produce a high-tech chassis with modern suspension to satisfy the booming market for bespoke café racers, many of whom own Beemers and Guzzis.
Thus, work is now under way on a Harris shaft-drive frame capable of accomodating either BMW or Moto Guzzi engines. The tubular steel chassis, featuring White Power suspension, will be ready for road development in the spring. A racing version will also be available.
In addition, Laverda has given its dohc, 8-valve parallel-Twin a new lease on life with its introduction of
the Atlas OR600 trail bike. This has prompted the Harrises to dust off their drawings for a monoshock street racer based on the Ducati Montjuich engine and adapt it to the Laverda powerplant. Ten bikes have been built for German Laverda importer Uwe Witt, in both road-legal and racing form. The chrome-moly steel chassis is based on a one-off
Harris design built for British rider Malcolm Wheeler several years ago. Considering that Wheeler finished 5th and 7th in successive years in the gruelling Isle of Man TT on the Ducati-powered bike, this latest incarnation-called the Harris-Laverda SFC600 because it is in every way an updated version of the factory’s legendary 750cc production racer —has a pedigree that is above reproach.
Alan Cathcart
