Description
Please note: Iconic is labeling this motorcycle a race bike despite the headlights and street tires as the bike has no turn signals, no fans, no horn, and ported cylinder heads. If you’re planning to use the bike on the street, these items will need to be added. Please see the Maintenance section for more information.
Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 1989 Honda RC30.
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.
Manufactured November 1988, this example is VIN: JH2RC3028KM100027.
The odometer shows 1,720 kilometers (1,068 miles). However, it’s likely true mileage unknown.
Maintenance:
The seller has been storing the bike at Iconic and we have performed various work over the last year including:
01/13/24: Carb clean & sync, replace fuel valve seats, replace carburetor gaskets and O-rings, replace HRC carb slide, replace spark plugs, replace intake manifolds, replace band clamps, replace pilot jets.
03/20/2024: Remove/Replace fork seals and fork oil, change oil and oil filter, flush, fill and bleed brake fluid, rebuild clutch master cylinder, service rear caliper, swap out rear rotor, install rear brake hose bracket.
05/21/24: Gas tank cleaning.
08/01/2024: Flush, fill, and bleed cooling system, remove/replace drive chain, replace sprockets and sprocket cover.
Our service department notes the following on their condition December 2024 report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: Ok, little dirty
Engine Oil Level: Ok
Engine Oil Quality: Ok
2TOil Level: NA
Coolant Level: Ok
Coolant Quality: Ok
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: Ok
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: Ok, <1.5% Moisture
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: Ok
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: Ok, <1.5% Moisture
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: Ok
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: Ok, <1.5% Moisture
Final Drive Condition: Ok, New
Headlight High Beam: Ok
Headlight Low Beam: Ok
Passing Light: NA
Parking Light: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok, NO FRONT SIGNALS INSTALLED
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light (Front Switch): Ok
Brake Light (Rear Switch): NONE INSTALLED
Plate Light: Ok
Horn: NO HORN INSTALLED
Kill Switch: Ok
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: 80%
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: 80%
Forks: Ok
Shock/s: Ok
Tire Date Code Front: 24/21
Tire Date Code Rear: 34/21
Tire % Remaining Front: 98%
Tire % Remaining Rear: 98%
Tire Press. Front: 36 PSI
Tire Press. Rear: 38 PSI
Battery Standing Voltage: 12.90V
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: 13.24V
Running Condition: Good
Test Ride Completed: None taken
Test Ride Distance: NA
Notes:
-Mechanically noisy
-Cylinder Heads have been ported
-No radiator fans
-No front turn signals installed
-No horn installed
-No seat back or back plate
*Deep Oil Pan Kit
*Fox shock
*Fork Brace installed
*Aluminum rear axle assembly
*Micron exhaust system
*Drilled for weight-loss in places
**Needs Dyno Tune – small flat spot at 7K RPM**
SERVICES RECOMMENDED:
-Replace rear bum pad and lock
Modifications:
Custom paint.
Painted wheels.
Micron exhaust system.
No front turn signals.
Fox shock.
Aluminium rear axle assembly.
Fork brace.
Drilled for weight-loss.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Michelin Road 5 2CT+ tires with date codes of 2421 and 3421.
The sale includes one key and maintenance records.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California, (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Honda is offered on a clean Arizona title. Have any RC30 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
