Much has been said and re-said about the VFR750R. Here's a recent write-up from Rare Sport Bikes For Sale (.com):
"For all the accolades it's received, the Honda VFR750R RC30 is a subtle machine. To the uninformed, it doesn't look all that special, especially now that single-sided swingarms have become fairly common. The proportions are good, it's very compact, and the colors are classy: it's a handsome bike, but doesn't appear to be much more than another Japanese sportbike, although one that just looks right. And the spec sheet doesn't really do much to give the game away either, although hints about that this is a very special machine.
The bike weighed in 458 lbs with fuel, coolant, and oil, with power quoted at 118 hp, good for a top speed just a shade north of 150 mph. It wasn't especially lightweight, even at the time, and the power-to-weight looks decidedly tame now. Of course, numbers don't tell the whole story. They never do. They're just a useful metric, a way to compare apples to apples. Nearly thirty years later, I'm sure it'd be hard to understand the impact of a bike like this when it was introduced if you're used to riding modern motorcycles, bikes that all learned a trick or two [or ten] from this one.
The RC30 might represent peak Honda: everything is perfectly engineered, and reviewers have always gushed about just how easy it was to get the most out of. As Pirelli says, "Power is nothing without control" and the RC30 was, by all accounts, an easy bike to ride fast, a bike that flatters the rider. The proof is in the pudding, as it were, and the bike won innumerable victories in Superbike and endurance racing. For a racebike, it had a surprisingly long shelf life, and was popular with both factory teams and privateers."
"For all the accolades it's received, the Honda VFR750R RC30 is a subtle machine. To the uninformed, it doesn't look all that special, especially now that single-sided swingarms have become fairly common. The proportions are good, it's very compact, and the colors are classy: it's a handsome bike, but doesn't appear to be much more than another Japanese sportbike, although one that just looks right. And the spec sheet doesn't really do much to give the game away either, although hints about that this is a very special machine.
The bike weighed in 458 lbs with fuel, coolant, and oil, with power quoted at 118 hp, good for a top speed just a shade north of 150 mph. It wasn't especially lightweight, even at the time, and the power-to-weight looks decidedly tame now. Of course, numbers don't tell the whole story. They never do. They're just a useful metric, a way to compare apples to apples. Nearly thirty years later, I'm sure it'd be hard to understand the impact of a bike like this when it was introduced if you're used to riding modern motorcycles, bikes that all learned a trick or two [or ten] from this one.
The RC30 might represent peak Honda: everything is perfectly engineered, and reviewers have always gushed about just how easy it was to get the most out of. As Pirelli says, "Power is nothing without control" and the RC30 was, by all accounts, an easy bike to ride fast, a bike that flatters the rider. The proof is in the pudding, as it were, and the bike won innumerable victories in Superbike and endurance racing. For a racebike, it had a surprisingly long shelf life, and was popular with both factory teams and privateers."
Click on image for the eBay link. What: VFR750R
Where: Hinckley, Ohio
Why: RC30
Price: Auction; reserve not met at $36K
UPDATE: With 17 bids, the reserve was not met at $39,100. Not relisted.
This example is a collector that unfortunately will most likely never see a road or race course again. With only 643 miles and in "museum quality" condition, it will be deemed too valuable to risk.
Originally sold from Cycle Sport Center in Cridersville, Ohio, amazingly the bike still resides in that state.
Hurry, the auction ends today.
Where: Hinckley, Ohio
Why: RC30
Price: Auction; reserve not met at $36K
UPDATE: With 17 bids, the reserve was not met at $39,100. Not relisted.
This example is a collector that unfortunately will most likely never see a road or race course again. With only 643 miles and in "museum quality" condition, it will be deemed too valuable to risk.
Originally sold from Cycle Sport Center in Cridersville, Ohio, amazingly the bike still resides in that state.
Hurry, the auction ends today.
Click on image for eBay link. What: VFR750R
Where: Marina Del Rey, California
Why: RC30
Price: Buy It Now $39,995
UPDATE: After a few more relistings, the item is "no longer available."
Offered by a dealer, this example shows 7400 miles and is described as in "fantastic condition and all stock." With a fair amount of salesperson hyperbole our seller invites us to give a visit and check out this and their other inventory:
iconicmotorbikes.com
This eBay classified has been relisted a few times looking for its buyer.
Where: Marina Del Rey, California
Why: RC30
Price: Buy It Now $39,995
UPDATE: After a few more relistings, the item is "no longer available."
Offered by a dealer, this example shows 7400 miles and is described as in "fantastic condition and all stock." With a fair amount of salesperson hyperbole our seller invites us to give a visit and check out this and their other inventory:
iconicmotorbikes.com
This eBay classified has been relisted a few times looking for its buyer.
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