Honda’s second generation small V-4 took the successes of the VFR-400R / NC30 and modernized them for the late 1990’s. Having never been sold new here, all are gray market imports with metric speedos. RSBFS reader Jae has this super-clean example tuned for the high country. Sticking with the winning formula, Honda made evolutionary changes…
The Honda RC51 had a short lifespan as a factory-supported superbike contender, but it made its years count, taking home World Superbike titles in 2000 and 2002. The latter was a special year for the big twin Honda, as Nicky Hayden also captured the AMA Superbike championship aboard one. Honda celebrated the feat in 2004…
Sold in 1987 and 1988, the NC24 version of Honda’s VFR400R could easily be overlooked for the gem that it is. Styling is subdued, although the single-sided Pro Arm swingarm hints at something special underneath. This was a V4 sportbike for the masses, instead of an expensive, difficult-to-obtain homologation bike, like the RC30. As you’d…
Many Japanese bikes aren’t intentionally sexy, in the way that a Bimota or MV Agusta often is, and they often fall flat stylistically when they do try to put style ahead of function. Italian machines are almost gratuitously beautiful, full of details that don’t enhance the bike’s performance, they just make the parts more interesting…
Trying to come up with something new and interesting to type about Honda’s [insert superlative] RC30 is like trying to tell a budding car nut something they don’t know about a Ferrari F40. The specs are available with a single Google query. The original and retrospective road tests drip with corn syrup-sweet praise for the…
Update 10.12.2019: Both bikes have sold. Congratulations to buyers and seller! -dc Not one, but two of the most sought after middleweights have become available because of a slight shortage of garage space. The 1990 ( white tank and nose ) was purchased from RSBFS sponsor Moto2 Imports and the 1989 ( red tank and…
The Honda RC-51 was Big Red’s answer to Ducati’s twin-powered attack on turn-of-the-century World Superbike, with a big v-twin stuffed between the generous alloy framerails. The big-bore twin immediately paid off for Honda, with Colin Edwards cracking off to the 2000 World Superbike Championship on the bike’s first try. It won the WSBK crown again…
6.29.2019: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc If you are looking for the ultimate collector, why would you settle for a watered-down street bike when something better is available? What is better you may ask? How about a complete and current Moto2 GP machine with a world championship winning Kalex frame,…