Thanks for all your encouraging comment gents. Just a little background on the Phil Read Replica as I understand it, any corrections are welcomed and encouraged!
Honda UK contacted Honda Japan and got permission to create a tribute bike for Phil Reads win on the Isle Of Man in 1977 while riding a 750 Honda. With Hondas approval they contacted Collin Seeley to create a Phil Read Replica based on the poorly selling 1977 and 1978 CB750F2. Honda UK had its dealers sent Collin their unsold F2's, he received about 500 bikes in total and once the concept bike was accepted by Honda UK he started to produce finished bikes as well as kits that F2 owners could buy and modify their own bikes. After Collin Seeley had produced about 150 bikes Phil Read became upset with Honda UK for not getting compensated enough in the way of royalties for the use of his name on the bike, it is rumoured he was receiving £10.00 per unit produced and expected more. At this point Honda UK pulled the plug on the project and had Collin Seeley modify the remainder of the warehoused F2's into "Honda Britain's". Same fairing, no Phil Read decal, different tank and exhaust cans, and painted white with red or blue stripes . The remaining 350 bikes were finished in this fashion.
Of the 150 Colin Seeley produced bikes about 55 can be accounted for today, most still in the UK. It is considered the first fully faired race replica built with the original manufactures consent . It's only performance improvement over the stock F2 is a freer breathing exhaust and jetting to suit. As far as I'm aware it was only sold in the UK although some have been exported to Europe and I know of 2 presently in the US of A . The Honda CB750K was about 52 hp at the rear wheel and the F2 was about 58hp so the Phil Read Replica could be estimated at about 60hp.
What I'll do next week is detail in pictures what Collin Seeley did to modify the F2's and create the PRR's
