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1986 Vfr 750R Rebuild


rc30fan

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  • Member Contributer

To do this I've enlisted the help of an avionics specialist currently working on F-35 systems.

After he's done with it, your RC30 will have vertical takeoff capability!

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  • 2 months later...

I just got back from the Handbuilt motorcycle show held in Austin, sponsored by COTA for the MotoGP weekend. I was invited to bring my RC30 and they had a photographer take pictures of all the bikes. They also had an artist come in to draw selected bikes. He asked me what I considered to be the most visually appealing aspect of the bike and I said the rear wheel/exhaust. I look forward to seeing his interpretation in addition to the photos:

IMG_2350_zpsa7d444ca.jpg

The show was spectacular. The bikes were amazing, the people even more so. I've never been a fan of custom built bikes that use harley engines and cant go around corners, but these things, and the people who built them, are incredible.

The closer you get to these works of art the more spectacular they are:

IMG_2361_zps865d200d.jpg

IMG_2362_zpsf514a74d.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks Matt.

Nice looking 400. Do you have video of it anywhere? I'd love to hear it running.

I'm trying to find pictures or video of Gobert and Corser riding my RC30 back in the early 90's but i'm having no luck at all.

You're right about the cost of rebuilding an RC30. I could have bought a (very) nice track bike for what I spent on this thing.

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  • 4 months later...

I finally got around to scanning the tintype photo taken at the Handbuilt show, printed on a sheet of steel. According to the photographer this picture will last "hundreds" of years.

tintype_zps45cce7be.jpg


Another shot from the show:

HMS-2_zps2f016b13.jpg


Recent track day. I didnt take it on track, its too much of a risk.

SUN_IMG_420782_zps5c07056b.jpg

I have my new V-4 for that:

SUN_IMG_365602_zpsca31c144.jpg

Edited by rc30fan
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  • 7 months later...
  • Member Contributer

Sweet bike, nice rebuild, glad this thread resurfaced as I missed it at the time.

Only pity is you didn't ride it at CoTA :(

I'm sure the RSV4 is no comparison, a wholly different ride with another quarter century of development behind it ! Not to mention an extra 250cc ;)

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So now that I have worked out your name, I suspect that I now know the bike a little better - when I first got into VFRs in 1997/98 I also did some online searching of RC30s/45s, and NRs. You've got to know your heritage, right. And I'm pretty sure I recall finding some stuff from you... you were still Down Under at that stage. So do I correctly remember this bike being all red?

Awesome pics and videos. This sort of stuff is what makes the internet cool.

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Thanks Baileyrock. Unfortunately now that the bikes rebuilt there's not much more worth posting.

Phantom, I did have a solid red fairing for this bike - i didn't want to risk the winfield bodywork on the track.

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Inspiring! Almost time to tear down my 98 VFR for it's final transformation into an VFRC51 canyon companion. Thanks for the great write up and pictures.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Img_1886sm_zpsa84c6a1e.jpg

Another update on this project;

I spoke to a few engineers about this bolt. The consensus is the spiral increases stretch which actually reduces clamping force on the crankcases.

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  • Member Contributer

Just stumbled on this thread today.

That bike has a lot of history on OZ.

As far as I can remember it was one of two that were ridden by Anthony Goberts and Mal Campbell, both riders for Team Honda Australia.

A rare and very interesting find.

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all I had was a Doohan lid...........

HPIM2714.jpg

and have an autograph from Troy..

post-8974-0-43810300-1432900597.jpg

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  • 7 months later...

Well its a sad day but I finally did it. This bike is now for sale.

I always thought I'd have this bike forever but after seeing how difficult critical engine parts are to get (i.e. impossible, at any price) this just isnt the bike for me anymore. I want a bike I can ride but this one is just too valuable. It needs to be on display somewhere so other enthusiasts can see it.

Its fully functional and I've ridden it once since the rebuild, in addition to starting it up dozens of times so people can hear it run.

Anyone who reads raresportbikesforsale.com will see it there shortly. I took a bit of a guess at the price. Its by no means a pristine RC30 but it has a different value. I'll also be contacting the Barber museum to see if they are interested, plus a collector in Sydney who has the polished frame sister of this bike.

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  • Member Contributer

Shaun,

Hate to hear that you have decided it is time for another party to be the steward of this bit of history. Since that history is not just of the HRC marque but also of the country in which you spent much of your youth, I am certain that the decision was not made lightly.

I wish you all the best with the sale and hope to see you on track at some point in 2016 if you are still with Ride Smart.

Thank you for sharing this rebuild thread however briefly with our community. Don't be a stranger here (RSV4 kinda counts for VFR membership).

Keith

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Thanks Guys,

I'm not sure what I'll replace this bike with yet. I might get another special V4, or I might invest it in a new business.

CornerCarver, I'm not with Ridesmart any more. I'm now a coach for California Superbike School so I'll be doing events all over the country this year. If you ever decide to do a CSS day let me know.

Shaun

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I'll let you know.

I take the test/class to become a Lee Parks Total Control instructor in March and will be required to take classes from other groups annually to keep my certification with Total Control.

I like the sound of "another special V4"....

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Img_1886sm_zpsa84c6a1e.jpg

Another update on this project;

I spoke to a few engineers about this bolt. The consensus is the spiral increases stretch which actually reduces clamping force on the crankcases.

Thanks for this bit of info... I accidentally backed one of these out when I was looking for an antifreeze drain when I first got my Y2K VFR800. It's on the lower part of the front of that engine.

Great thread and what a piece of history... Good luck!

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