Honda Classic 2 Strokes: The Honda MVX400F the model that never was

From time to time you here of a model that never was, and yesterday what looked like a genuine brochure appeared on the internet for a never released prototype, the MVX400F.

Details are thin on the ground but it does appear on a google search and reading various translated pages you can piece together a picture of market in the early 80's which would of led to the project cancelation and on to the NS400R. The brochure mainly talks about the 400cc market, which was worth 79690 units per annum and the strong business case for producing a large capacity 2 stroke to support their 4 stroke inline 4 CBX and V4 VF models. With the addition of the MVX400 Honda would have a 400cc offering that would suit all tastes in Japans most popular category. The MVX400F had an identification code of NC14.

Brochure translation

firstly apologies if it reads a bit weird, but the translation via an old scan via google translate, but you will be able to understand where Honda was with the model.

Introduction

As you know, the 400cc sports bike has been an entry-level bike for people since the license system was introduced, and can also be considered a high-performance bike. Its customers are mostly young people (men around 20 years old), and super sports types are the mainstream. Therefore, each company is introducing a number of the latest models in this class equipped with cutting-edge nanotechnology and various devices. Honda has released the CBX400F with an inline 4-cylinder engine and the VF400F with a 4-cylinder engine. Both have been popular and highly acclaimed for their performance and technology. Looking at the actual figures for January to March 1983, the price of 2,000 yen shows the wide range of the market at that time. These are Honda's popular models.

1982 400cc Super Sports Registration Stock: 79.690

In addition to this, we will introduce the MVX400F equipped with the 7401 V-type engine, which is a standard water-cooled 90V D type engine, which has been featured in the Road Racing GP. This machine has a sharp design with a sharp finish. It is designed to achieve the best performance with a spirit of event.

Trends in the 400 Supersports Market over the Last Five Years

Market needs

Needless to say, the 400cc category is dominated by super sports bikes. Our customers are mostly in their teens and early twenties, and are keen on high-potential technology. Their image is of a machine with the most powerful, super-performance qualities, with a racing concept. However, at our club, the young generation, who make up the bottom half of our customers, are looking for a bike that is lightweight and easy to ride, as they are more likely to ride with a high-performance bike.

However, we must never forget that these people are riding machines that fully utilize cutting-edge technology and mechanisms, and that they can enjoy riding them. It is important to understand their desires and make the characteristics of the MVX400F, which has high performance and high mechanics based on a unique concept, low movement, is lightweight and easy to handle, and has good sponsorship, a selling point.

Aim of development

In a word, it is an "NS Replica", that is to say, the engine is a high-powered water-cooled mini-cycle V-twin engine that inherits the same concept as the Honda Power Racer NS500, which has been winning consecutive races in the road racing GP500 class, and its 400cc capacity makes it even closer to the NS500. Furthermore, by mounting this engine in a lightweight, compact frame body of the 250 class, it is possible to fully utilize its intense power.

The peakiness that is common in conventional 2-stroke engines, and the lack of. Unlike the previous model, it has a wide power range that can be used from mid- to low-speed ranges, and the flexibility at high speeds that is unique to Qigong.

In other words, just as the NS500 overturned the concept of a GP racer by surpassing the conventional concept of a simple pedal-powered racer, the MVX400F also pursues sweet, sharp response and performance that shows its true value not only when going straight but also when cornering, and will beat other cars with its high fighting power due to its total balance.

Selling points

A world first! Equipped with an innovative 2-stroke V3 engine.
The most exciting 400 Super Sport racer concept
A V-type gasoline machine that is closer to the NS500 concept
The high output of the engine and the small, lightweight body of the 250vv bike make this a great choice.

We have a weight ratio that is the same as the NS500 concept car. Not only does it have the same peak power, but it also has a sharp throttle response from the mid-to-low speed range, and good acceleration at high speeds, making it easy to use and high power. Moreover, the mass is balanced (W+W 2W), making it theoretically possible to achieve this.

Accessories that expand the world of riding with the MVX400F

Cowling that creates a racer image

Centre cowl - These aero parts are full of racing spirit (radiator side covers)
Under cowl - This is an aero part that further enhances the body line (Belly pan).
Sports cowl - It is a sporty cowl that evokes the image of a single seat.
Knuckle cowl - side covers for the nose fairing
Silencer case - Storage compartment for small items that give the appearance of a rear silencer.
Rear Carrier - A fit suitable for sport machines
Tag Bag Soft -
Body cover - bike cover

END OF TRANSLATION

Timeline

1982, Honda started development of the MVX250F to complete against the RD and RG250 bikes, at the same time Yamaha started development on what would become the RD500.

1983, Honda released the MVX250F, and to capitalise on the NS500 race bike's success development started on Honda's largest 2 stroke the MVX400F.

1983, Yamaha changes the game with the Kenny Roberts inspired V4 500cc 2 stroke the RD500

1984, Yamaha introduced the alloy framed RZV500R specifically for the Japanese market, while Suzuki enter the race replica market with the RG500 and RG400 for Japan.

In addition to the new exciting rival race replicas, sales of the MVX250 were lower than expected and the engine had suffered reliability issues, and as Honda had another 250 2 stroke in development with the impressive new V twin NS250R the MVX was dropped. With the market shifting fast Honda knew the big bored MVX would be out-gunned and be less desirable than the new class of GP replicas they decided to cancel the MVX project completely. Honda knew they had to go all-out with a NS GP replica especially after winning the 1983 world championship and immediately shifted their resources to the NS400 project.

It has long been accepted that the NS400 engine started like as the MVX250 but with all the faults addressed, capacity increased and the addition of ATAC. Although all that is still technically true we now know there was an additional step in its development with the MVX400.

There are also references on some Japanese websites to a MVX350/400, maybe this would of been an RD350 rival but I cannot tell if the 350 was a development stage and had its displacement increased along the way or in fact they were just the same thing, after all we know the NS400 had a capacity of 386cc and a capacity of 373cc for South Africa (50 units using NS250 pistons). There is also a small reference to a MVX100 with a V configuration engine, now that would have been very special or another translation error!

The NS400R was every bit of a race replica and now is a very desirable collectors bike, but things could of been very different!