Race-winning Joey Dunlop Honda V4 bikes heading to auction
A pair of race-winning Joey Dunlop Honda V4 bikes will be auctioned off next month, with both models expected to fetch a big fee.
Two Joey Dunlop Honda race bikes will be going under the hammer as part of the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show in October.
The auction, presented by Bonhams Cars, will feature a 1988 Honda VFR750R RC30 bike which Dunlop took to victory during the Formula 1 and Senior TT races at the Isle of Man that same year.
The second race-winning Dunlop bike that will be sold on 12 October is a Honda RVF750 RC45, which the road racing legend took to victory at the Ulster Grand Prix in 1999.
Both bikes are estimated between £80,000 and £100,000, and although that’s just a guide price, it wouldn't be at all shocking to see these privately-owned bikes sold for such figures.
A bit about these bikes - the VFR750R RC30 Dunlop Honda formerly held the outright TT lap record with an average speed of 118.54mph. It has been preserved by the Dunlop family since Joey’s passing in July, 2000. It has also been lent out for special occasions, including the Classic TT paddock display that celebrated 30 years of the RC30, and more recently the ‘Joey 25’ celebration of his life.
The RC45 V4 machine was a bike Dunlop raced up until his death and is a genuine HRC works bike. According to the listing from Bonhams, the bike features “an unstamped factory race frame and engine, as was customary for HRC machines”. The motorcycle also has a riveted frame plaque which relates to a scrapped CB900RR.
Just last month the bike was ridden by 23-time TT winner John McGuinness during parade laps at the Classic Bike Festival, at Bishopscourt, in Northern Ireland.
For more information on the two bikes, the auction start time and how to bid, head over to the official Bonhams website.
Images: Bonhams
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
