1988 Honda RC30 Bol d’Or with 425 Miles

Description

Additional photos are available here for your perusal.

When the new World Superbike Championship was introduced in 1988, Honda had an issue as its highly successful custom-built RVF750 factory endurance racer (not the RC45) wouldn’t be eligible to compete. So they set out to create a new top-shelf, street-legal, limited edition race bike, producing the minimum number of units required to satisfy homologation rules. Knowing it would only have to turn out a relatively small batch of machines, Soichiro Honda wanted to use the new model to demonstrate what its factory race department was capable of. The result was a no-expense-spared race-grade legend brimming with features previously reserved for track-only machinery. Japan called it the VFR750R, but the bike we fell in love with in America was named the RC30.

At the heart of the RC30 was a liquid-cooled, 748cc, 90-degree V4 engine with four valves per cylinder, gear-driven double-overhead cams, titanium connecting rods, forged two-ring pistons, an 11.0:1 compression ratio, and a “big bang” firing order. Paired with a six-speed transmission with a trick slipper clutch, the sophisticated V4 made 118 hp at 11,000 rpm and 55 ft-lbs of torque at 9,800rpm (unrestricted). The VFR750R had a best-in-class dry weight of 396 lbs and a wet weight of 488 lbs, which was almost 10 lbs less than the game-changing Suzuki GSX-R750. The VFR had a top speed of over 150mph, and thanks to an incredibly high gear ratio, could break 80 mph in first gear.

The RC30 got fully-adjustable Showa suspension fore and aft — 43mm telescopic forks up front and a mono-shock out back. Braking duties went to a pair of fully floating 310mm discs bit by four-piston Nissin calipers in the front and a single 220m unit pinched by a dual-pot caliper in the rear. The bike’s fork sliders also allowed the front calipers to remain in place during wheel changes, a feature that, like the ELF-designed single-sided swing-arm, was born out of competition for ultra-quick pit stops.

Exclusive to the French market was the Bol d’Or model, a designation that came about as a result of the Honda’s RC30 homologation requirements. Along with boasting an unrestricted engine, it also sported the large headlights and a set of Bol d’Or decals. Not only that, but the bike also purportedly saw a slight change in the frame (although, based on the information from a press release packet from Honda, it was cast in the same mold as the original RC30). Here’s a copy of said press release if you’re interested (and can read French).

This example is VIN: RC302001726.

The odometer shows 685 kilometers (425 miles).

Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, we replaced the fork oil and seals, the intake manifolds, the water pump o-ring, and the fuel valve. Additionally, we cleaned and synced the carbs, changed the oil and oil filter, flushed the hydraulic fluid and coolant, and serviced the chain.

Olly did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:
Tire Life – Front/ Rear: 100%
Tire Pressure – Front/ Rear: 34/36PSI
Brake Life – Front/ Rear: 90%
Hydraulic Fluid – Front/Rear/Clutch: Ok
Oil – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok, New
Coolant – Level: Ok; Quality: Ok, New
Low Beam: Ok
High Beam: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light: Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Killswitch: Ok
Horn: Ok
Battery: 12.48V

Moreover, we sent out the fork lowers for vapor blasting and we had Brian from B.K.M. Creations refinish the pimples on the belly pan, touch-up the road rash on the mirror, and buff-out the chips and scratches on the tail. We also had M.B. Powder Coat strip, blast, and refinish the clutch master cylinder and the water pump cover.

Modifications:
MRA windscreen.

Battery tender lead.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:

Inside of the tank:

It is riding on Dunlop Roadsmart IV tires with date codes of 1421 and 1921.

The sale includes two keys.

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. Have any RC30 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!