Description
Additional photos of this Honda RC30 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.
This example is VIN: JH2RC3024KM100008. Per the seller, it was originally a factory Honda Team bike sold in Canada. He notes that “It was either piloted by or later sold to Murray Clift. Then Chuck Downie bought & campaigned it in the US. He tricked a buddy of mine into trading it for a crashed ‘92 CBR900 so he could race that instead. It was #94 when I got it.”
The seller has owned the bike since 1995. The odometer shows 988 kilometers (613 miles), which represents the distance covered after an engine rebuild by Mike Velasco (details below). True mileage is unknown.
Maintenance:
A dyno run from 2004 shows that this bike put down 106.1 hp and 49.3 ft-lbs of torque to the rear wheel.
In 2015, the seller had the engine rebuilt by Mike Velasco of Brothers Powersports – work included a ported cylinder head, balanced crank, and bored/honed cylinder block (+1mm). Total for the engine rebuild/installation/frame prep, new tires, carb clean, shock rebuild, fork rebuild, and dyno break-in was $11,420.11. As part of the work, the seller had sourced one of the last NOS cranks from Honda Japan.
Modifications:
The petcock knob is missing. The seller has been using a crescent wrench to turn it as needed.
The chain guard is missing.
Modifications:
D&D exhaust with custom headers.
PIAA driving lights.
Braided brake and clutch lines.
Aftermarket mirrors.
Zero Gravity windscreen.
Sprocket Specialists rear sprocket.
Aftermarket bar ends.
Aftermarket seat.
Aftermarket tail lights/turn signals. The running light works but the brake light and turn signals are intermittent as some of the wires under the tail are loose (there is no inner fender).
Extras:
Rear stand.
Aftermarket set of bodywork (front fairing, lower fairing, tail).
Parts manual.
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 Pirelli Angel GT tires with date codes of 0513 and 1113.
The sale includes two keys – one for the ignition and one for the gas tank.
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!
