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.
In total, only 316 RC30s were sold in the US – all in the 1990 model year.
Manufactured November 1988, this example is VIN: JH2RC3027KM100021. Per this RC30 website, this bike is one of the 50 sold in Canada in 1989.
The odometer shows 10,674 kilometers (6,632 miles).
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us clean and sync the carbs, change the oil and oil filter, flush the coolant and hydraulic fluid, and clean, lube, and adjust the drive chain. We also rebuilt the rear master, replaced the battery, rebuilt the petcock, repaired the left hand turn switch, repaired a broken rivet on the subframe, and gave the bike new tires.
Our service department notes the following on their condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: GOOD
Engine Oil Level: GOOD
Engine Oil Quality: NEW
2T Oil Level: N/A
Coolant Level: GOOD
Coolant Quality: NEW
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: OK
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: NEW
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: OK
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: NEW
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: OK
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: NEW
Final Drive Condition: CLEANED AND LUBED
Headlight High Beam: PASS
Headlight Low Beam: PASS
Passing Light: N/A
Parking Light: PASS
Turn Signals: PASS
Tail Light: PASS
Brake Light (Front Switch): PASS
Brake Light (Rear Switch): PASS
Plate Light: PASS
Horn: PASS
Kill Switch: PASS
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: 75
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: 60
Forks: GOOD
Shock/s: GOOD
Tire Date Code Front: 0625
Tire Date Code Rear: 1824
Tire % Remaining Front: NEW
Tire % Remaining Rear: NEW
Tire Press. Front: 36
Tire Press. Rear: 38
Battery Standing Voltage: 13.1V
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: 13.89V
Running Condition: RUNS
Test Ride Completed: YES
Test Ride Distance: 3MI
Modifications:
The bike appears to be stock.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Shinko 005 Advance and Shinko 006 Podium tires with date codes of 1824 and 0625.
The sale includes one key and binder with literature and sales history.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Panorama City, California, this Honda is offered on a clean Canadian title in the previous owner’s name. Have any RC30 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
