Porl

My nagging injury finally got the better of me. Just became a 'past' owner Bye bye RC30.

Only lasted 'til my wife came home...

Some great photos there! The sound of must have been intoxicating to a V4 addict.

Yeah mate, already a member on Yahoo, joined even before I got my RC30. Have had fantastic help from other members on there. Cheers for the tip all the same.

I first saw a picture of an RC30 in a magazine just after they were released back in 1988. I didn't even have a motorcycle license yet but this was obviously something special, and expensive. Then I saw one parked outside a popular motorcyclists cafe and knew I wanted one. Two years later I bought my first VFR, a brand new 1990 VFR750FL (3rd gen), which in some ways I saw as a compromise between the much more expensive and much less practical RC30. Having no car there was some need to consider at least some day to day practicality. Fast forward 23 years to 2013, quite a few bikes and another 2 VFR750F's later, I finally bought an RC30. As much as I would have preferred an Australian market bike, there hadn't been any advertised in ages so I gave up looking and bought a JDM model that someone else had already imported to Australia a couple of years before. Much to my disgust, three Australian bikes have been for sale since. Never mind. OK, so my RC30: Originally a JDM bike, restricted to 78HP and 180km/h from new. I bought it unseen from a guy half way across the country who'd owned it for two years and in turn bought it from a bike shop who imported a few RC30's and RC45's from Japan a while back. I got it with about 19,400km on the odometer, so it has an unknown history from 1987 to 2011. For the most part though it's in really nice condition and rides beautifully. Here's what I do know: VFR750RH built 1987 Frame number RC301000993 As one of the original 1000 JDM bikes it has a plaque on the frame numbered 880959 Mine has had a Euro spec CDI fitted, removing the speed limit and some of the power restriction, so with rejetting it now makes 92HP at the wheel even with the stock air filter and exhaust. What the PO did to it: Euro spec CDI Rebuilt rear shock Usual service items What I've done with it: Ridden it very rarely, looked at it a lot! My biggest worry is breaking or wearing out something hard to impossible to replace. Cleaned it Fitted a Factory Pro jet kit Replaced the black JDM mirrors with the ROW white ones. The JDM mirrors have cracks that seem to develop in all of these, I've seen 2 new sets in original packaging with the same damage. I'm experimenting with a possible repair solution... New chain and sprockets Not OEM but close replicas Replaced all fluids New OEM brake pads Checked valve clearances found and adjusted 2 tight inlet valves - now worried about the possibility of needing to replace all the inlet valves. Early RC30's often suffered a problem with them, but usually much sooner than 20,000km. Need to check them again reasonably soon to really know. Run it on a dyno, 92RWHP and just slightly rich in the midrange. When I get motivated enough to take the carbs off again, I'll adjust the needles and give it another run. I'd really like to fine a European or Australian spec airbox and snorkel, or even just the snorkel, but apart from really hard to find they sell for insane amounts. And ultimately I'd still really like an Aussie spec bike but that would come with it's own problem... Divorce. I know this thread is useless without pics, here's one. There's heaps more in my gallery.

Righto, seeing as how this is the first and so far only entry in the RC30 section, I thought we could do something useful with it. I know the list will likely be short, but how about adding to this thread info and stories about YOUR VFR750R experiences. Most of the other sections on VFRD have proud owners discussing their present and past VFR's with and without pictures, so let's get some RC30 posts happening. This could turn out to be a useful resource or just a cool collection of pictures and stories, either way VFRD needs more RC30 stuff. There can never be too much RC30 stuff! (My wife might not agree...) Edited spelling.

Dire Straits lyrics on the hip flask Dutchy?

Clever solution, but... Aren't the standard 'Frankenbolts' designed to be removed with a coin? More likely to have one of those on you than an allen key. I seem to remember that being written in my Owner's manual, but must have been from my '90 model. The '95 manual just states: 'See your authorized Honda dealer for installation/removal of the rear seat cover' WTF? Next they'll want the bike brought in for refueling. In any case a coin seems to fit the Frankenbolts better than any screwdrivers I have. Big Philips head fits OK, big flat blades are either to thick or too narrow adding to the idea that it was made for a coin.

V-FORE is correct, though mine are black. There should be one on each side. Without them the rear cowl will get mashed when either the grab handles or just the bolts that secure them are tightened. The part in question goes inside a rubber grommet. Part numbers are: Collar RR 77217-ML7-000 and Rubber RR 77218-ML7-000, refer to LINK .

4th gen, Adelaide Hills Gratuitous artsy '30 shot

Just a thought: I had a 'chirp' or brief high pitched rattly sound on my 3rd gen and 1st 4th gen when running low RON fuel. Like yours, it only happened at low revs when accelerating. I put it down to detonation due to the low octane fuel because it never happened with decent petrol. I don't know what fuel you get in South Africa, but 'normal' Aussie petrol is only around 91 RON. Honda recommends a minimum of 90 according to my owner's manual so it should be OK, but considering I regularly got 'chirping' on 91 and NEVER on 95 RON, I wonder what's what, Honda's recommendation being low, or the petrol companies standards... Never had the same problem with my second fourth gen, but haven't ever run it on 91... (91 RON is approx 87 octane by US standards... I think....) Of course you might be hearing an air intake leak, or birds.

Me too :smile2:

JZH, your pictures seem to say otherwise, all I had to go by was the part number from Honda. Now I wonder if there was a change from the 3rd to 4th gen, but that they are still interchangeable. The photo's clearly show the rear part of the light is different, but it seems the front (lens) may be the same. Has anyone got both generations and enough time on their hands to find out for sure?

I always thought they were the same. It's only the top fairing that makes them look different. Take the red plastic away and there's no difference. The parts manual seems to support that, with a complete assembly only available for the '90-'93 though, I'm not sure what's different (the whole assy includes the bulbs and rubber covers), because the actual headlight unit carry's the same part number from '90-'97: 33120-MT4-671. So the short answer is YES, they are the same.