LoopRider Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 I have just bought a RC24 with a build date 5/89. It has 41,000 miles on it. It runs nicely and is not massively overshadowed by either of my two more modern bikes, in fact sits nicely in between them in terms of riding experience. I had always wanted a RC24 and one with the 17 inch wheels thinking they were otherwise the same. However there appears to be quite a few differences. Is there a good reference site that outlines the differences anyone has found? So far, other than the wheels, I can determine the fairing is different (3 piece + adjustable screen), speedo has a fuel gauge, pillon peg hangers, and front suspension (no antidive and 41mm over 37mm) and it grew in weight by 4 kilos. Was the motor changed in anyway? This one was a British model but never made it there, diverted to New Zealand and sold new here in 11/89. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer CornerCarver Posted June 2, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted June 2, 2014 We missed out on those later model RC24s here in the stated due to the "save Harley" tariff on bikes over 700cc's. I may be wrong (again) but I think there were some changes in the dials, square vs round gauge surrounds or some such. I knew about the modern wheels for modern radial tires but did not know about the adjustable windscreen. Post some more pictures including close ups of the bits and bobs for those of us who never had the opportunity. Perhaps the VFR forums of Australia and England will have more information for your questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer gll429 Posted June 2, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted June 2, 2014 17 inch front wheel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veefer800Canuck Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Your front indicators are different than the North American 86-87s, and you have a different bump pad on the solo cowl. Also, the grab rail at the back. My '86 did not have that. Good find, it looks new. Wish we had gotten those here. Cornercarver, I was under the impression that we did not get them in North America in 1988 and 1989 due to the introduction of the Hurricane series, and not because of the the Harley Tariff, as you did get the 700cc models for 1987 at least. There were 750's in the US also, just with a bigger sticker price on them. That's what I read in the MC mags at the time anyhow. Take it for what it's worth. My '86 was a full 750, as we did not have the Tariff in the GWN. Oh yea, POST MORE PICS!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VFRBert Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Differences between 86-87 and 88-89 model are: 17 inch rims, 41 mm front fork against 37 mm, 297 mm rotors against 279 mm, 36 mm carbs against 34 mm, 3 part fairing against 2 part. Improved ingnition system, fuell gauge and clock added. More power at midrange.Exhaust system redesighned, the spaghetti system of the first model was replaced by a ughly collector, wich has a tendency to rust away. The first model was delivered with round and square gauges, depending on the market they werd sold. Personally i am happy with my round gauges. Both Models where sold with or without grabrail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoopRider Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share Posted June 7, 2014 Differences between 86-87 and 88-89 model are: 17 inch rims, 41 mm front fork against 37 mm, 297 mm rotors against 279 mm, 36 mm carbs against 34 mm, 3 part fairing against 2 part. Improved ingnition system, fuell gauge and clock added. More power at midrange.Exhaust system redesighned, the spaghetti system of the first model was replaced by a ughly collector, wich has a tendency to rust away. The first model was delivered with round and square gauges, depending on the market they werd sold. Personally i am happy with my round gauges. Both Models where sold with or without grabrail. Thanks VFRBert a very comprehensive list. There is no TRAC markings on the larger suspension, was the anti-dive removed or is that those workings are on the fork behind the axle? From looking at photos on the net, also seems the rear pillon peg holder was changed. There is also a fold out bungee cord hook behind each one. New Zealand got both the round and the square dials. Personally I like the round ones and probably easier to read, these square ones are not easy to read on the fly. The numbers are very small. The fuel gauge is pretty accurate, when it reads empty you go onto reserve. The clock would be handy too, if I set it properly. The three piece fairing is longer and little of the engine is apparent. The right middle fairing is fibreglass so must be a replacement after a crash. They have done quite a good job from the outside but you can see the matting when looking in. Somewhere in that motor must be some bigger valves fed by bigger carbs. A feature I like is the adjustable screen. Though when I park it, I drop the screen as it looks better lower. I could not see a collector box but maybe that has been replaced, just a whole lot of pipes in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VFRBert Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 The track system is still on the 89 model, you can see it on the left fork, witch is differen tfrom the right one. If there is no collector, big chanche they replaced it with the pipes from the '86 model, wich i prefer. Most collectors are rusted away. The '86 pipe system stay's intact. The bigger valve's and carbs are for improved midrange power, giving better drivabillity on the road. There was no improvement in horsepower. On my '86 i replaced the 16 - 18 inch rims for 17 inch. I have a michelin pilot power 11 front tire and a 150 rear tire. A big improvement over the not so sticky tires available for the old rims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keny Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Differences between 86-87 and 88-89 model are: 17 inch rims, 41 mm front fork against 37 mm, 297 mm rotors against 279 mm, 36 mm carbs against 34 mm, 3 part fairing against 2 part. Improved ingnition system, fuell gauge and clock added. More power at midrange.Exhaust system redesighned, the spaghetti system of the first model was replaced by a ughly collector, wich has a tendency to rust away. The first model was delivered with round and square gauges, depending on the market they werd sold. Personally i am happy with my round gauges. Both Models where sold with or without grabrail. The 88-89 RC24 also had a taller screen as stock. The rear subframe is different (like someone noticed passenger pegs that where removable) as indicators. The engine had also different heads so scruw valve adjuster where replaced whit shims. Fuel light of the older where also replaced by a fuel gauge, so tank might be different also. Ignition system was also diffrent Nice red bike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Switchblade Posted June 7, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted June 7, 2014 Nice bike !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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