Lot details
Registration No: R282TAU
Frame No: RC452000195
Engine No: RC45E2000227
cc: 749
MOT Expiry Date: April 2010

The RC30, introduced during 1988 had established an enviable record in competition, including securing the World Superbike Championships in 1988 and 1989 together with a host of national championships and TT victories. With hindsight this was hardly surprising given the nature of its design, for the RC30 was in effect a road legal racing motorcycle. However by the end of 1993 the RC30 was facing increasingly stiff competition, particularly from Ducati and the decision was taken to develop a replacement. The RC45, introduced in 1994, was clearly a development of its predecessor retaining many of the RC30's essential features including the single sided swinging arm, aluminium frame and capacity, and titanium connecting rods. However Honda took the opportunity to incorporate new technology, among them programmed fuel injection, upside down forks and to improve the concept in other areas, the single sided swinging arm was redesigned to allow the use of a fatter rear tyre, the cooling system now featured two radiators instead of the RC30's single unit and the six speed gearbox and hydraulic clutch were both improved. In standard form the new model developed 120bhp at 12,000rpm, with more available if the "race kit" was fitted. Unfortunately for Honda, the RC45 was forced to compete against the larger displacement Ducati twins in the World Superbike Championship, ultimately securing only one title when the British based Castrol Honda team secured the 1997 Championship, in reality, that championship and the numerous victories that the model secured in its four year career competing against larger capacity machines demonstrate what an exceptional machine the RC45 was.

This example, dating from the penultimate year of production is described by the vendor as being in excellent, original condition. It is offered with the original Honda stand, toolkit and owners manual together with a Data Tool and Data Tag. The vendor believes that the original owner took the machine overseas and notes that a replacement speedometer has been fitted. It is accompanied by the original sales invoice , a Swansea V5C and has an MOT certificate valid until April 2010.