1989 Honda VFR750R RC30 Motorcycle

Description

Honda’s classic VFR750R road racer, otherwise known as the RC30, was developed as a homologation special for the World Superbike Championship using cutting edge technology and cost almost twice the price of a standard 750 sport bike.  Derived from the motor found in the road-going VFR750F, the 360-degree 748cc liquid-cooled four-stroke V4 engine featured 16-valves (using steel valves with special Sellite coating), gear-driven double overhead camshafts, titanium conrods, forged alloy pistons, a single compression and single oil control ring, plus a close-ratio six-speed gearbox and slipper clutch to limit back torque.  A high-tech CDI ignition system was employed, along with four 38mm Keihin downdraught carburettors and power output was 112 horsepower with 51 lb/ft of torque in stock form, although the standard exhaust system was often replaced with an HRC titanium unit to liberate more power.  The compact hand-made alloy frame drew inspiration from Honda’s F1 and WEC racers, using the latest Showa front forks and a fully adjustable Showa rear shock - Aussie champ Wayne Gardner famously rated the RC30 the best-handling motorcycle he’d ridden.  Race success came quickly, Fred Merkel taking out the inaugural WSBK Championship in 1988 and backing up the following year, while Carl Fogarty won the World F1 Championship and Steve Hislop set the first ever 120mph lap on the Isle of Man TT course on his RC30.  The production VFR750R was first released onto the Japanese market in 1987, in Europe the following year and the United States in 1990; just 3,000 were made all up, many of which were heavily modified or crashed.  Highly specialised and very expensive, the VFR750R appealed to a very select group of customers when new and these bikes now rank as one of the most collectible Japanese road racers of all.