Cycle World: 1963 Road Test |
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Honda Superhawk |
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In the engine, we found more of the cleverness that marks the entire machine. This is a vertical twin, like many others, but unlike the rest it has an overhead camshaft, a 180-degree crankshaft, all alloy construction and everything runs on either roller or ball bearings. The crank is of the built-up type, with crankpins and main-journals that are pressed into four "flywheels." Therefore, roller bearings can be used, and the connecting rods are made in a single piece, with no detachable cap.
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Honda 305 cc or 247 cc vertical twin. Note the race kit velocity stacks. |
The crankshaft runs in a whole flock of bearings, and the sprocket for the cam drive is located right in the center of the engine. The cam-drive is a bit unusual all around instead of the conventional 2-stage chain, or combination chain and gear drive, a single chain leads up and around a sprocket on the camshaft. Careful attention has been given to the problem of chain tensioning, and the drive system (possibly because it covers such a short span) is a success - no more troublesome or expensive than an ordinary push rod and rocker arm layout.
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