2004 Honda Rune Nrx1800 on 2040-motos

Honda’s Valkyrie Rune astonishes us in a number of ways and on many levels.

After you look at the Valkyrie Rune up close and see the degree of detail and the quality of finish, it’s kind of shocking that this utterly unique 1800 flat six will sell for only $27,000 (with chromed wheels). It’s amazing that a huge company like Honda ever took the Rune past the concept-vehicle stage, that it took the time (6 years) and effort to build a limited-production piece of rolling art. The fact that it’s being built on an assembly line in Ohio also takes us aback. It’s remarkable that Honda  let its designers stray this far out of their usual boxes, and that the designers could spread their wings and fly so perfectly when they were released from those boxes. We were surprised to learn that those designers — who dreamt of the Rune, who drew it, shaped it and championed every curve and angle through the processes leading to production — were mostly Americans.

And finally we are dazzled by the engineers who took this vision of the Genuine Honda Custom and managed to turn it into production reality, to make it function to Honda’s considerable standards without compromising away the designers’ sensational vision.

The example most often cited by both sides of the issue is the Rune’s radiator. The designers found a radiator that looked right and fit the space they wanted to fill. The engineers found that radiator moved about 20% of the BTUs they needed it to handle. The engineers would have rearranged the surrounding parts, reshaped the front fender and stuffed a great big radiator in there. But the designers weren’t going for that. Shapes and part placement were critical to this motorcycle. In the end, the engineers had to come up with a very efficient radiator with compound curves that pleased the designers and met Honda’s tough standards for cooling. That scenario was repeated for almost every part of the motorcycle. In virtually every case, the designers got their way and the engineers came up with technology to satisfy the vision and Honda’s technical and functional requirements.

Though we are impressed that Honda’s various motorcycle-creation divisions could meld such disparate requirements, we weren’t surprised to confirm that they had done so when we rode the bike. Though its size and radical styling scream that it should be a handful, we knew that Honda wasn’t going to manufacture a bike that was intimidating to ride. You will need a thick wallet to pilot a Valkyrie Rune, but an average riding portfolio will be sufficient.

SPECICATIONS
2004 Honda Rune

Designation: NRX1800
Suggested base price: $25,499, $26,999 as tested
Standard color: Black, blue, maroon
Standard warranty: 36 months, unlimited miles

ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
Type: Liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed six
Valve arrangement: SOHC, two valves per cylinder
Displacement, bore x stroke: 1832cc, 74 x 71mm
Compression ratio: 9.8:1
Carburetion: PGM-FI
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump
Transmission: 5 speeds, multiplate clutch
Final drive: Shaft

CHASSIS
Wet weight: 888 lbs.
GVWR: 1153 lbs.
Seat height: 27.2 in.
Inseam equivalent: 31.8 in.
Wheelbase: 68.9 in.
Overall length: 100.7 in.
Rake/trail: 29 degrees / 4.9 in.
Front tire: 150/60R-18 tubeless radial
Rear tire: 180/55R-17 tubeless radial
Front suspension: Trailing bottom-link; 3.9 in. travel
Rear suspension: Pro-Link single damper; 3.9 in. travel
Front brake: 2, double-action three-piston caliper, 13.0-in. discs
Rear brake: Double-action two piston caliper, 13.2-in. disc
Fuel capacity: 6.2 gal.
Handlebar width: 33.6 in.

ELECTRICAL & INSTRUMENTATION
Forward lighting: Triangular (7-in. max width), dual-bulb headlight, position lights
Taillight: Dual LEDs, license plate light
Instruments: Digital speedometer, odometer, dual trip meters, fuel level indicator; lights for high beam, neutral, turn signals, engine heat

PERFORMANCE
Fuel mileage: 30-36 mpg; 34.0-mpg average
Average range: 204.6 miles
Horsepower: 90.6 @ 5250 rpm
Torque: 110.9 ft.-lbs. @ 2500 rpm
60-80-mph acceleration: 5.20 sec.
Quarter-mile acceleration: 12.42 @ 107.23