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Honda FTR 223 Tricolor Street Flat Tracker
The very first story of the “FTR223” is much complicated. It was in the 1980s
when HONDA had first announced its participation in the USA flat track race
(dirt track race). Freddie Spencer, the WPG champion, used to be a dirt track
rider in the past, and even had an experience riding a HONDA motorcycle then.
FT400 and FT500 made its debut in 1982 taking in this flat track style. However,
they experienced a sluggish sales. “FTR250” was a motorcycle brought to the market in 1986 to become a full-fledged flat track model. It became the motif of the FTR. HONDA, which won the manufacturer and the rider championship in 1984 and 1985 at the AMA Flat Track, had devoted its technology to develop this motorcycle. It had a XLR type air-cooled RFVC 4-valve engine. It was indeed such a full-scale engine that could be used for flat track races too. It also had an excellent response characteristics. Yet, the Japanese market was in the midst of the racer replica boom then. The sales hovered at a low level, for the flat track itself was not familiar among Japanese people. It had to end its production in 1989. It was in the late 1990s when the street custom motorcycles stirred a new boom. The price of the secondhand FTR250 jumped up and Yamaha TW200 became a great hit. FTR was a motorcycle developed and sold to compete against the TW200. FTR took after the flat track race (dirt track race) motorcycles, and inherited the style of the FTR250. It was a street single motorcycle with a light and compact body. It mounted a 2-valve engine based on the air-cooled single cylinder engine of the SL230.
The engine focused on the full-load torque at regular use range under
5,000rpm, and its set its maximum output rather low, 19ps. It was tuned to
become a easy-to-handle motorcycle. Its slim body that was maneuverable on both streets or dirt tracks attracted
the fans. FTR became popular as an “easygoing and definitely active street
tracker.”
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Any corrections or more information on these motorcycles will be kindly appreciated. |