Description
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Introduced in the latter-half of 1999 as a 2000 model, the Honda RC51 was a big-bore V-Twin superbike created to put an end to Ducati’s reign of supremacy in production-based racing. The RC51 featured a powerful liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 999cc, 90-degree, DOHC V-Twin paired with a six-speed transmission and an aluminum alloy twin-spar frame. Honda achieved some impressive results with its “Ducati killer” in the form of World Superbike Championship titles in 2000 and then later in 2002 — the same year the RC51 was ridden to an AMA Championship.
With around 130 hp on tap and a dry weight of 440 lbs, the 999cc V-Twin was good for a top-speed of over 165 mph. The RC51 was also markedly more reliable than its Italian twin counterpart, making it much more attractive to riders on the street. It’s not uncommon to come across RC51 specimens with more than 100,000 miles on the clock that are still going strong.
A true racebike with headlights, the RC51 was brimming with competition-grade hardware and componentry. Even the instrumentation is configured with a race-style rev-counter, and the rest of the running gear is equally track-focused. Sold from 2000 through 2006, the RC51 was produced during an era in which American riders were at the top of the game and will forever be associated with legendary US-born racers like Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards.
This example is VIN: JH2SC45A5YM005733. It came to Iconic as an import from Japan.
The odometer shows 40,830 kilometers (25,370 miles).
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection, replace the battery, change the oil and oil filter, diagnose the intermittent ignition, and repair the tip-over sensor. We also gave the bike a detailing and installed new Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires with date codes of 2222 and 4222.
Our service department notes the following in their condition report:
Tire Year Front/ Rear:1819/1318
Tire % Front/ Rear:90/90
Tire Press Front/ Rear:30/30
Brake % Front/ Rear :70/60
Hydraulic:OK
Oil:NEW
Coolant:OK
Low Beam:OK
High Beam:OK
Turn:OK
Tail Light:OK
Brake Light:OK
Plate Light:OK
Kill:OK
Horn:OK
Battery: NEW 12.8/ 13.9 CHG
Notes:
○ TEST RIDE OK, UNIT OPERATES AS DESIGNED.
○ HAS PENSKIE SHOCK; TIP OVER SENSOR RELOCATED TO ACCOMMODATE
Modifications:
TSR exhaust.
Penske shock.
Battery tender lead.
Inside of the tank:
The sale includes one key.
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
Tennessee title. Please note that as an import, this bike lacks certain compliance and emissions stickers that the state of California would require to transfer a title. Have any RC51 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
