Honda RC30
There had been plenty of exotic two-wheeled pornography before Honda unleashed the VFR750R in 1988. But there had never been anything as hardcore this. The machine code-named RC30 was close to being Honda’s all-conquering RVF750 factory racebike with lights; a stunningly faithful recreation of the V4 missile that ruled top level four-stroke racing.
Its sleek RVF shape, unmatched specification and racing heritage made the RC30 highly desirable, but it was the Honda’s all-devouring performance that made it irresistible. Its 112bhp output, combined with compact size and slippery bodywork, sent the bike surging to 155mph with a deceptively effortless feel and a deliciously deep 360-degree V4 exhaust drone that raised the hairs on your neck. The rigid frame and Pro-Arm, racy RVF geometry and peerless suspension gave handling so precise it was as though you were gripping the front wheel spindle.
Winning is sexy, of course, and the RC30 did plenty of that. Foggy and Flyin’ Fred Merkel rode race-kitted RC30s to back to back titles in the world F1 and Superbike championships in 1988 and ’89. Unfortunately for less well-backed racers, in some classes the costly V4 was so dominant that there was no point in turning up without one. Two decades on, it remains highly valuable — and the ultimate example of Honda’s engineering class.
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