Honda RC162

The Honda RC162 is a 250 cc air-cooled DOHC inline-four racing motorcycle that Honda manufactured in 1961 to compete in the 250 cc World Championship. It won all ten of the Grands Prix it entered, Mike Hailwood won the world championship on it and Honda took the constructors' title. It was developed from the previous year's RC161, with new cycle parts and an engine developed to produce 40 bhp at 14,000 rpm. Honda had opened a new European racing headquarters in Hanover, Germany, and had six works riders, Kunimitsu Takahashi, Sadao Shimazaki, Naomi Taniguchi, Moto Kitano, Jim Redman and Tom Phillis, and it also lent works bikes to selected dealers, one going to Stan Hailwood of Kings of Oxford for his son Mike.