REPLICA/LOOKALIKE...PLICA A MIXED RESPONSE

Dear CR Just a note to say I agree entirely with your views on so called ‘replica’ racers (see right) which of course are nothing of the kind. The RC142 lookalikes are possibly the worst example. I was also at the 1000 Bikes meeting at Mallory, in fact privileged to be out on the track alongside yourself on the Honda four. As you mention there were a lot (too many) of the Honda four ‘concept bikes’ around that day. To me, perhaps the worst part was seeing them displayed in the paddock alongside genuine CR racers; many punters totally believed they were looking at a collection of genuine 1960s factory bikes; the same people were completely ignoring a beautiful and totally original CR110 racer and a few CR93S too. With respect to the CBR250RR bikes, I can’t really understand anyone who spends huge amounts of money to build a ‘racing’ bike that, as far as I know, can’t actually be raced at any event anywhere in the world. Dennis Murfin Email

Dear CR Although I have a great respect for Malc Wheeler I find his views on replicas a bit disappointing to say the least. I am fully aware that my replica/ lookalike is a second rate alternative to the real thing and I strongly believe any rare appearance of an original should be given pride of place over any replica or recreation. On saying that, I believe there is a place for replicas because back in the 1960s the Japanese placed no value in history and so most of those fantastic works bikes were destroyed, leaving us with very few, which are now either museum exhibits or locked away in dark cellars as future investments. Expensive blueprint recreations are the ideal way to fill the gap in history, though sadly the brilliant Ferry Brouwer Yamahas have now gone the same way as the remaining factory bikes with little chance of seeing them in action again.the Beale Honda sixes are amazing but fragile, expensive investments and understandably rarely seen in action. I own a credible replica/lookalike of Phil Read’s 1964/5 championshipwinning Yamaha RD56 which I parade with great pride whenever possible, while making it quite plain it is a replica and not a priceless almost non-existent original. In my experience most people appreciate good quality replicas as a viable alternative to the real thing and certainly better than nothing. I have also paraded a (quality) RC163 water cooled lookalike at the Mallory Park 1000 Bike event since 2009 in the revered company of my heroes (amongst others) Tommy Robb and the late great Ralph Bryans, not to mention a certain MW. All on lookalike replicas.

Brian Cook Derby PS: my only intention is to keep history alive and not to change it.