Honda spent mega-$ designing their own V-twin Superbike, but reaped the benefits on both the AMA and WSBK scenes. This owner has identified the 2004 Nicky Hayden commemorative as the RC51 for the long term, and has kept it beautifully for the next owner.
2004 Honda RC51 RVT1000 Nicky Hayden Edition
for sale on eBay
Similarly to their Superbike nemesis, Honda chose a 90-degree L-twin, and added PGM-FI fuel injection with two injectors per cylinder. Power and torque were outstanding with 136 hp and 77 ft.-lbs., but the mystery resided in the alloy chassis. At the ends of the lighter and more rigid frame, 43mm inverted forks and Pro-link monoshock were tuned to keep the 17-inch rubber on the tarmac. The monoposto fairing wore a facsimile of Nicky’s livery, smaller sponsorship decals and white number areas front and rear.
Clearly an RC51 superfan, the owner’ states it’s his third of the model and is selling because he has another rider. With just second oil change miles and celebratory paint, it’s a sparkling example without so much as a scuff. A long but informative video is posted – here –. From the eBay auction:
2004 Honda RC51 Nicky Hayden replica in absolutely mint condition. This is a 1 owner bike with only 3047 original miles. The condition is 10 of 10 and its all original with the exception of a Yoshimura exhaust, a modification that anyone should make if they own one because nothing quite sounds like a RC51 at revs.
It was Honda’s take on the V-Twin replica racer, beating Ducati at it’s own game with multiple World Superbike Championships (Colin Edwards) and a AMA Championship under the late great Nicky Hayden whom also won the 2006 MotoGP championship with the Honda RC211V.
I’m selling this bike because its the 2nd RC51 in my collection and the other is more a rider so I might as well let someone else enjoy this beautiful bike. Add it to a collection or ride it, either way you can’t lose as you may never find a cleaner one offered for sale.
Hayden won the AMA Superbike crown in 2002, and was ushered into the factory Honda GP team making steady progress toward his 2006 championship. After his death in a bicycle accident in 2017, the Hayden replica is now a sadder commemorative. If not the singular superbike claimed by the owner, the RC51 is certainly in a select few, even at Honda with its multitude of winners. Bidding is quite active and shows over $10,000 with four days left to run.
-donn
eBay shows sold for $12,901. Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc
I’m surprised values of these are as high as they are. I’m sure they’re great bikes (never ridden one) but it’s basically a Honda white flag, where they surrender the technical tour de force that was the 750 V4s that were a Honda signature (how desperate do you have to be to stick with an engine config to go the oval piston route?). This was “1000cc if we go to a twin??? Sign us up!” kind of bike to me. Nothing special, just effective per the rulebook. And they still didn’t seem to have any advantages over the Ducatis in WSB from what I saw.
Anyways, just surprised people want to collect these. V-twin Ducati? Of course. But a v-twin Honda? Meh. Maybe it’s the Hayden connection, I get that.