Description
Additional photos of this 1987 Honda RC30 are available here for your perusal.
We obviously love our Honda RC30s here, but this one is pretty special — even for us. Honda gave Americans access to the RC30 in 1990, and our European colleagues were able to buy it as early as 1988. However, the first 1,000 examples were exclusively offered in Japan, and what you see before you is one of those very bikes.
When the first RC30s were announced in Japan in the summer of 1987, Honda essentially used a lottery to select who would be able to buy one. The lucky few were rewarded with one of the most iconic race replicas of all time — a homologation specifically created so that Honda could compete in the new-for-1988 World Superbike Championship.
There are several features that are unique to the original 1,000 RC30s, including smaller headlights, black mirrors, blue turn signal housings, a 77 horsepower restriction (the Japanese limit for 750cc motorcycles at the time), and a numbered plaque on the frame which said that this bike was “For those few who can appreciate the finest Motor Sports has to offer.”
This example is VIN: RC301000214. This came to us out of a collection in Japan.
The odometer shows 12,018 kilometers (7,467 miles).
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us clean and sync the carbs, wash the calipers, swap out the air filter, and flush the oil, the brakes, the clutch, and the cooling system. Moreover, we replaced the battery, the brake hardware, the clutch lever hardware, the triple tree bolt cap, the hand grips, and the front wheel bearing dust seals.
We also sent out the top triple clamp and the rear link rod for vapor honing. Brian from BKM Creations refinished the mirrors, and Matt from Colorzone repainted the upper fairing, the belly pan, and the tail section.
We also installed new Shinko 006 Podium tires with date codes of 1520 and 0821.
Ollie did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:
Tire Life – Front/ Rear: 100%
Brake Life – Front: 60% Rear: 75%
Hydraulic Fluid – Front: Ok; Rear: Ok;
Clutch: Ok
Oil – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok
Coolant – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok
Low Beam: Ok
High Beam: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light: Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Killswitch: Ok
Horn: Ok
Battery: 12.6V
Modifications:
3.5″ front wheel.
Adjustable forks.
Öhlins shock with remote preload adjuster.
Brembo brake calipers.
Battery tender lead.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Inside of the tank:
The sale includes one key.
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Honda is offered on a clean Oregon title. Please note that as an import, this bike lacks certain compliance and emissions stickers that the state of California would require to transfer a title. Have any RC30 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
