1990 Honda RC30

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 and Europe 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 monoshock 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 in January of 1990, this example is VIN: JH2RC3011LM200057. The seller acquired the bike through an Iconic auction in December 2021.

The seller has not ridden this bike (or even seen it in person). He bought it to have us recommission it and export it to him out of the country but he’s had something come up and now needs to sell the bike. The odometer shows 68,653 miles.

Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us replace the battery, the brake pads and fluid, the head gaskets, the breather gaskets, the valve cover gaskets, the water pump, the fork seals, and the grips. We also installed new Shinko RZ tires with date codes of 0821 and 0921.

Olly did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:

Tire Years – Front/Rear: 2021
Tire Life – Front/ Rear: 100%
Brake Life – Front: 95%; Rear:100%
Hydraulic Fluid – Front: Ok; Rear: Ok;
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: 12.6V; Charging: 14.2V
Test Ride: Ok

Additionally, the seller had us send out the fork lowers, lower triple clamp, handlebars, radiator guard, stop plates, pegs and shifter, and heel guards for vapor blasting. Moreover, we had the fork tubes re-chromed, the black hardware re-plated, the wheels powder-coated, and the bodywork completely resprayed.

Modifications:
Battery tender lead.

Inside of the tank:

The sale includes two keys.

The sale also includes a size EU58 Fieldsheer suit, a matching set of Fieldsheer gloves, and a rear stand.

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