Description
Click here for an CycleVIN Motorcycle History Report on this 2003 Honda RC51. 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.
2002 was also when Honda made some updates to the original model (known as the SP1). The second generation RC51 (or SP2) benefited from a host of changes requested by Honda’s factory racers, including a taller windscreen, longer swingarm, reduced steering head angle, stronger yet lighter frame, and a power plant that got a few extra ponies.
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.
Manufactured in December of 2002, this example is VIN: JH2SC45493M300353. The seller purchased the bike through an Iconic auction three years ago.
The odometer shows 6,492 miles.
Maintenance:
The seller reports that he has performed an “annual oil and filter change” with “visual inspection of remaining fluids.” Moreover, he notes that he has consistently “checked chain tension” and “always kept the bike on a trickle charger.”
He adds that the bike was “ridden infrequently,” as it “was kept as a display bike at sellers company.”
We had our service department inspect the bike for potential maintenance areas. Daniel would recommend a full fluid flush, a coolant replacement, and a chain service. His condition report is as follows:
Tire Year Front/ Rear: 1118/1818
Tire % Front/ Rear:85/80
Tire Press Front/ Rear:32/34
Brake % Front/ Rear :90/90
Hydraulic: Bad; >3% Moisture
Oil: quality ok, lvl ok
Coolant: Expansion Tank Empty
Low Beam: ok; Has HID
High Beam: n/a
Turn:ok
Tail Light:ok
Brake Light: Rear ok; Front switch not
installed
Plate Light: n/a
Kill:ok
Horn:ok
Battery:12.9V, CHG14.4V
Modifications:
Carrozzeria wheels.
Yoshimura exhaust.
Dynojet Power Commander.
Healtech Speedohealer.
Öhlins shock.
Accossato brake and clutch radial master cylinders.
Galfer rotors, Brembo calipers, steel braided brake lines.
Gilles Tooling rearsets.
HTMoto seat.
Aftermarket front turn signals.
Tail tidy.
Rizoma lever guard.
Supermoto engineering chain adjusters, swingarm sliders.
D-axis swingarm spools.
Aftermarket gas gap.
CRG bar end mirror.
Healtech GIpro gear indicator.
Aftermarket windscreen, mirror blockoffs, fairing bolts.
Aftermarket license plate holder.
Tank pad.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Dunlop Sportmax Q4 tires with date codes of 1118 and 1818.
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 California title. Have any RC51 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
