Honda RC51

[Twism86]

The V-Twin sexiness...... Has anyone ever had the chance to ride one? Ive always had a thing for them. They had a short lifespan and their current prices reflect that. Not cheap to come by.

I found this one one ebay, one of the nicest ive seen: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-RC51-/160605936138?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item2564dc1a0a#ht_500wt_1182

[yamahonkawazuki]

The V-Twin sexiness...... Has anyone ever had the chance to ride one? Ive always had a thing for them. They had a short lifespan and their current prices reflect that. Not cheap to come by.

I found this one one ebay, one of the nicest ive seen: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-RC51-/160605936138?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item2564dc1a0a#ht_500wt_1182

htey also have a problem of running hot. ive seen and rode many. most of which had hte lower plastics removed to allow for better cooling

[BaltimoreGS]

I had one for a short period and didn't really care for it.  Great power and decent handling but I found the ergonomics to be horrible.  Good for a track bike or short rides.  A friend had the TL1000R and I liked that bike a lot better.  You can find cheap/reasonably priced examples out there.  A co-worker sold his 2001 in good condition for $2350 last summer.  My buddy that bought it re-sold the bike for $3500     If you are searching the internet make sure you try searching 'VTR1000R" which is the actual model name.  RC51 is a nickname that stuck.  It's all a matter of right place/right time.  A buddy of mine is the original owner of a CBR929RR that has been babied, I'm just waiting for him to put a for sale sign on that one!  Good luck   

-Jessie

[yamahonkawazuki]

does this one nit have a side stand? couldnt see it for the clarity

[yamahonkawazuki]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0aYRrsTx30&playnext=1&list=PL2D77333CE41BC6AD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhg75Gtq88Y

[Twism86]

That first vid sounds awesome! I would still like to ride one but yea, they dont look comfortable. They are race bikes after all. RC51 just sounds nicer anyway....

[yamahonkawazuki]

That first vid sounds awesome! I would still like to ride one but yea, they dont look comfortable. They are race bikes after all. RC51 just sounds nicer anyway....

i wouldnt mind one as a parts bike. i dont like the rad layout. aka build my own beast

[tt_four]

I've always wanted one for a streetfighter, because some upright bars would solve a lot of the ergonomics problems, but those radiators don't make for a pretty naked bike. I've always loved them though.

There's a video online somewhere of a guy revving one in his garage without an exhaust on it, and all the tools started falling off the wall and the camera fell over sideways haha

[yamahonkawazuki]

I've always wanted one for a streetfighter, because some upright bars would solve a lot of the ergonomics problems, but those radiators don't make for a pretty naked bike. I've always loved them though.

There's a video online somewhere of a guy revving one in his garage without an exhaust on it, and all the tools started falling off the wall and the camera fell over sideways haha

loking for in on youtube, no luck however i did find a few sans pipes

[tykho]

I almost bought one, but I picked up a 954RR instead. Price was right! But they are awesome bikes, feel, ride, sound, and looks.

[yamahonkawazuki]

I've always wanted one for a streetfighter, because some upright bars would solve a lot of the ergonomics problems, but those radiators don't make for a pretty naked bike. I've always loved them though.

There's a video online somewhere of a guy revving one in his garage without an exhaust on it, and all the tools started falling off the wall and the camera fell over sideways haha

a coloured cover around the  outside of hte rads may help there.

[Twism86]

Nothing beats the sound of a v-twin with strait pipes!!!!!

[ryott52]

There's one for sale here in NOVA, $3500 with rash on the lower right fairing the guy says was from a lowside.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/mcy/2465024741.html

[Twisted]

Nothing beats the sound of a v-twin with strait pipes!!!!!

I would have to say my Duke sounds better than most Harleys with straight pipes. But each to his own.

[tykho]

ANYTHING sounds better than most Harleys with straight pipes. But each to his own.

Fixed.

[yamahonkawazuki]

biased much?  ive sen gs's straight piped htey sound like shaZam! too, not many bikes at all sound good stright piped. i put hte gsxr wedge can on my gs. and although louder it sounded ok. basically removed half the muffler but other than that . ill explain HD again tho for the biased. it is in essence a thumper. albeit a vtwin. both pistons ride on the same crankshaft. any straight piped thumper will sound IMHO awful ive seen some straight piped gsxr's that sounded rather evil but still un-gsxr like

[tt_four]

You want to hear a mean sounding V-twin, listen to this video. Give it until 1 minute in. http://youtu.be/r9LT3DqzKQo

This is the RC51 video, I had the details slightly wrong, it wasn't tools falling off the wall, it was crap falling out of the ceiling and the house alarm going off, haha... http://youtu.be/04JKX_vlePE

[bill14224]

Hondas are great in general, but some are sketchy, and this is one of them.  I can see it dropping valves that will cost $3,000 to repair.  For some reason Honda never appeared to be able to make V-twins that hold-up and perform like the competition, not counting cruisers, and cruisers have no place in my life.  The best V-twins to me by far are the Suzuki SV650 and 1000.  They perform AND they last.  I could be full of shiite but I think Honda makes great singles, parallel twins, and in-line fours.  I don't trust anything else they make except V-twin cruisers, which I hate like I said. (not counting 6-cylinder Gold Wings)