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Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: Twism86 on June 22, 2011, 12:07:34 PM

Title: Honda RC51
Post by: Twism86 on June 22, 2011, 12:07:34 PM
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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on June 22, 2011, 05:24:57 PM
Quote from: Twism86 on June 22, 2011, 12:07:34 PM
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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: BaltimoreGS on June 22, 2011, 07:46:18 PM
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   :thumb:

-Jessie
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on June 22, 2011, 08:09:36 PM
does this one nit have a side stand? couldnt see it for the clarity
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on June 22, 2011, 09:17:34 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0aYRrsTx30&playnext=1&list=PL2D77333CE41BC6AD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhg75Gtq88Y
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: Twism86 on June 23, 2011, 09:56:59 AM
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....
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on June 23, 2011, 09:11:11 PM
Quote from: Twism86 on June 23, 2011, 09:56:59 AM
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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: tt_four on June 24, 2011, 06:16:20 AM
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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on June 24, 2011, 10:54:45 PM
Quote from: tt_four on June 24, 2011, 06:16:20 AM
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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: tykho on June 24, 2011, 11:16:47 PM
I almost bought one, but I picked up a 954RR instead. Price was right! But they are awesome bikes, feel, ride, sound, and looks.
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on June 24, 2011, 11:49:37 PM
Quote from: tt_four on June 24, 2011, 06:16:20 AM
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.
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: Twism86 on June 27, 2011, 09:34:00 AM
Nothing beats the sound of a v-twin with strait pipes!!!!!
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: ryott52 on June 27, 2011, 10:53:31 AM
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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: Twisted on June 27, 2011, 11:20:26 PM
Quote from: Twism86 on June 27, 2011, 09:34:00 AM
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.
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: tykho on June 28, 2011, 02:25:37 PM
Quote from: Twisted on June 27, 2011, 11:20:26 PM
ANYTHING sounds better than most Harleys with straight pipes. But each to his own.

Fixed.
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on June 28, 2011, 07:23:10 PM
biased much?  :dunno_black: 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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: tt_four on June 29, 2011, 01:59:35 PM
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
Title: Re: Honda RC51
Post by: bill14224 on July 02, 2011, 03:49:35 PM
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)