Photo: Flybynite53 / Bring a Trailer
For those who want to kill the liter-bike game in style, the RC51 is a perfect companion.
Popularized by Colin Edwards’ success in WSBK at the dawn of the 21st century, the Honda RVT1000R RC51 is one hell of a machine. Folks outside the U.S. know it as the VTR1000 SP1 (followed by the SP2 later on), and few are those who wouldn’t be intrigued by the prospect of having one such specimen in their garage.
The exemplar we’ll be looking at today is a 2000 model that’s still in the original owner’s possession after all these years. It comes equipped with an assortment of aftermarket add-ons, including a tinted Zero Gravity windshield, Harris slip-on exhaust silencers, and a top-shelf steering damper from Ohlins. Additionally, one may also find a Second Look tank cover matching the bike’s livery.
What powers the mighty RC51 is a liquid-cooled 999cc V-twin sporting dual gear-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder head, and a high-pressure fuel injection system with 54 mm (2.1-inch) throttle bodies. The latter delivers juice at 50 psi via two injectors for each cylinder, and compression boasts a very generous ratio of 10.8:1.
Joined by a six-speed close-ratio gearbox, the engine is good for up to 130 hp and 71 pound-feet (96 Nm) of torque at the crank. This force motions a dry weight of 432 pounds (196 kg), enabling Honda’s juggernaut to hit a top speed of 164 mph (264 kph). For suspension, the RVT1000R uses inverted 43 mm (1.7-inch) Showa forks and an adjustable piggyback shock absorber.
Finally, braking falls under the jurisdiction of dual 320 mm (12.6-inch) floating discs and four-piston calipers up front, along with a 230 mm (9.1-inch) rotor and a single-piston caliper at the rear. This Japanese crotch rocket is now heading to auction at no reserve, and you’ve got until the early afternoon of September 16 to place your bids on Bring a Trailer! Out of the five offers made thus far, the highest amount to a little over three grand.
The exemplar we’ll be looking at today is a 2000 model that’s still in the original owner’s possession after all these years. It comes equipped with an assortment of aftermarket add-ons, including a tinted Zero Gravity windshield, Harris slip-on exhaust silencers, and a top-shelf steering damper from Ohlins. Additionally, one may also find a Second Look tank cover matching the bike’s livery.
What powers the mighty RC51 is a liquid-cooled 999cc V-twin sporting dual gear-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder head, and a high-pressure fuel injection system with 54 mm (2.1-inch) throttle bodies. The latter delivers juice at 50 psi via two injectors for each cylinder, and compression boasts a very generous ratio of 10.8:1.
Joined by a six-speed close-ratio gearbox, the engine is good for up to 130 hp and 71 pound-feet (96 Nm) of torque at the crank. This force motions a dry weight of 432 pounds (196 kg), enabling Honda’s juggernaut to hit a top speed of 164 mph (264 kph). For suspension, the RVT1000R uses inverted 43 mm (1.7-inch) Showa forks and an adjustable piggyback shock absorber.
Finally, braking falls under the jurisdiction of dual 320 mm (12.6-inch) floating discs and four-piston calipers up front, along with a 230 mm (9.1-inch) rotor and a single-piston caliper at the rear. This Japanese crotch rocket is now heading to auction at no reserve, and you’ve got until the early afternoon of September 16 to place your bids on Bring a Trailer! Out of the five offers made thus far, the highest amount to a little over three grand.
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