He’s ridden the Triumph land speed record ‘bike at Bonneville, so when Guy Martin says something is the “best he’s ever ridden”, ears prick up.
It’s worth just shy of half a million pounds, mind.
The ‘bike in question is a ‘Honda Six’ RC174 replica, which he rode around Castle Combe last month. All 24-valves, 18,000 revs of it.
“Guy’s view on this bike is not unique,” according to its creator, George Beale of H&H Classics. “Mike Hailwood told me that this was the best ‘bike he had ever ridden.”
Mike ‘The Bike’ used a Honda Six to rule the world in the ‘60s, helping him secure the 1967 world title by the season’s midway point.
Riding the ‘bike was a nerve-wracking experience for Martin. “It was the most nervous I’ve ever been,” he said.
“I went to sleep nervous and I woke up nervous. There have only been three ‘bikes in history I have really wanted to ride: the Britten and my Pikes Peak Suzuki, which I’ve ridden, and the Honda Six. It was better than I ever thought it would be.
“George Beale of H&H Classics, (the ‘bike’s builder), told me not to do more than 16,000 revs but I had to roll off everywhere just to keep it to 16 because it just wants to go. I was expecting it to be a nightmare to keep singing, but although it isn’t the most usable ‘bike, it was alright. It is half usable and it really goes.”