Description
Click here for an CycleVIN Motorcycle History Report on this 2001 Honda RC51 SP1. 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 again in 2002 — the same year the RC51 was ridden to an AMA Championship.
With 133 horsepower, 71 ft-lb of torque, and Honda reliability, it was an absolute gem. Cycle World thinks this is one of the best used bikes you can buy, and we’d have to agree. This was Honda’s take on the V-Twin replica racer, beating Ducati at it’s own game with multiple World Superbike Championships and a AMA Championship.
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: JH2SC45371M100138. The seller acquired the bike before it was scheduled to go up for auction. He joined Iconic for the Barber track day at the last minute and didn’t want to miss an experience riding such a memorable circuit.
The seller rode the bike in C group for one track day. The odometer shows 8,689 miles. Please note: because of the discrepancy in the CycleVIN report, true mileage is unknown.
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us fix the rear brake light, clean the coolant overflow bottle, and perform a safety inspection. Steve did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:
Tire Year Front/ Rear: 1922/4621
Tire % Front/ Rear:90/90
Tire Press Front/ Rear:28/30
Brake % Front/ Rear :90/90
Hydraulic:ok
Oil:ok
Coolant:ok
Low Beam:ok
High Beam:ok
Turn:ok
Tail Light:ok
Brake Light:ok
Plate Light:ok
Kill:ok
Horn:ok
Battery:ok
Modifications:
Nicky Hayden bodywork.
Tail tidy.
Aftermarket tinted windscreen.
Supersprox sprocket.
Progrip tank pad.
Not pictured: Power Commander III and SP2 clutch with anti-judder spring.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires with date codes of 4621 and 1922.
The sale includes one key.
The sale also includes an RC51 service manual and a Delkevic slip-on exhaust.
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 with registration that expired in October 2022.
Per the CA DMV website, it would cost $144 to make registration current through October 2024.
Have any RC51 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
