Ultra Rare Honda RC45 Road Test - Cycle News
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2018
- Thanks to American Honda, we were thrown the keys to one of their most prized possessions--this 4000 mile, absolutely pristine condition 1994 Honda RC45.
Riding and indeed testing a bike like the RC45 very rarely happens these days, and this test took over a year to compile as we suffered a mechanical problem on our first try. It took us a full year to get this test finally completed (hence the reason Rennie looks older at the end of the video than the start!).
The RC45 is incredibly rare. Only 200 were ever made available to the buying public, and this particular RC45 is probably the best condition example outside of the Honda Museum in Japan.
Come for a ride as we sample a legend of 1990s superbike racing.
If you like this video, please give us a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe! - Auta a dopravní prostředky
For me the 90s are the golden age for the World Superbike championships
Yes. Do you know what kind of horsepower The RC45 put out after you installed the "superbike kit"?
Patrick Steinmark from memory I'm pretty sure in AMA they were making around 155 hp and about 170 hp in SBK with full factory backing doesn't sound like much compared to today's road bikes
Wow that's impressive for a quarter of a century ago. I know MotoGP bikes are making 250 plus HP and the new Panigale V4 makes around 216 with it's race pipe so, mark me as still impressed. Thanks for the info.
I agree, I got rid of my thunderace, I dont know wtf I was thinking...
Nick Massey man I haven't seen 1 of those on the road for years I liked the blue and black colour scheme
I've had one for approximately 14 years and it is a very special experience to ride....worth it for the sound alone.
Totally agree!
Absolutely beautiful machine! The 90's really where an amazing time in terms of sport bikes and motorcycle racing. Doubtful we'll see anything like it again.
Always have a weakness for those Honda bug eyes. What a looker! :)
Really cool to see a video on this piece of history. I'm still riding a 1990 cbr250rr, bought at 30K on the odo, now at 115,000 k's with many thrashings. The gear driven cams are ridiculously reliable, like the rest of the bike.
I enjoy that signature high 'meshing' sound. It just sings 'hardcore race engine' to the ears.
@Wall Cutter I've still got it. It's around 125,000k's now.
@Wall Cutter I have only good things to say about it. Easily the best quality and most desirable of all the il4 250's. Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki all made their own versions, but the MC22 is definitely the king. More durable, and all round better design and quality. In a perfect world I would always like to keep it. It has served me so faithfully.
I owned an rc-51 and it was one of the coolest most unique sport bikes I ever had. I had an srad gsxr which was also a cool older bigger bike but that rc51 was something special. Closest thing to this bike I've ridden.
And that’s why I love my 1998 vfr800 fi it’s got little of the dna of this bike the engine sounds exactly the same. Definitely not the fastest thing out these specially now a days but it sure puts a smile on my face every time I ride it
I have a 98 and 02 VFR 800's love the v-four, would die to spend a couple of hours with that (RVF) girl!!!
'99 VFR owner - I ride a lot of modern bikes on hire as a holiday thing, but I always come back to the VFR and will never sell it.
Very little as this is a racebike sitting on, vfr750-800 went to be ordinary, it was the CBR900rr that changes things on the street until the Yamaha R1 came in 98.
I say street as the rc45 was a real racer even if thus one is very downtuned, i mean 101hp, that sucks, even the cbr600 had something like that then.
@@silweragentum739 IIRC, I think it was the '01 R6 that broke the 100hp barrier, but don't quote me on that.
I had a VFR 400 NC30. Loved that V4.
gizzy nc I didn’t own one but I got to ride one many years ago and although I own a big 1100 cc now I’ll never forget the day I got to ride the NC30. It was so smooth and stable. I was impressed by its performance back then as I had a GPX 250 ninja and the NC30 was a lot quicker. If I could afford 2 bikes I would get one just to relive it over again :)
Even 15 yrs after her year. she still feels good & will pound a 400 twin all over the place.
I had a vfr400 and I have a RVF400, both fantastic little bikes. very easy to ride fast. lovely smooth throttle, great turn in, very stable in holding a line. and they were made over 20 yrs ago ... you can go faster these days but I don't think you can have more fun
I'm a Yamaha guy from day one but my dream bike is always been there RC45😍😍🇺🇸🇺🇸
fantastic video. i love the enthusiasm and encyclopedic knowledge about the era of the bike. vfr800fi(rc46) rider here loving the honda family history lesson. great work. subscribed.
I would Love to ride one of these. Such a beautiful machine.
Took the RC51 out today..indescribable pleasures.
An awesome tour of Honda history, thank you so much Renny
You got it!
Watch Joey Dunlop on his RC45 at Dundrod in 1999 beating the big 1000cc R1’s at 47 years young! Shows you what the bike is capable of....
I ride a 2001 VFR 800. ABM Straight bar. Givi windshield with x-tra on top. 520 conversion chain 2 up rear sprocket. A great road bike. all day comfort at triple speeds. Own one for years is when you really appreciate it. I've never felt it become unstable at high speeds.
Fantastic video. Back in 1993 I saw that RC 45 presented in Estoril circuit during a WSBK race, and I think it was the first time that it was shown in Europe. The first race won by Pirovano and the second one, I’m not sure if it was Fogarty or Falappa that won in a 888 Ducati. The thing I remember the most was a completely stock RC45 in a presentation lap in between the two races. Back in those days I remember that it was over priced and a technological showcase, and your description about Aroon Slight and his races against Fogarty make me travel trough time in the good old 90’s. Thanks for sharing your experience. You won a fan.
Lovely bike👍
I love my CBR 250R on canyon roads. Honda handling rocks❤
I had a 1992 CBR, one great bike. Easy to handle and at the top of its class for the 600’s that year. Red and white. It was so much fun and the chics, good lord.
Great video! I love my 01' cbr929rr, awesome time for motorcycles, I'll never sell it.
Wonderful video. Nothing sounds like a gear-driven Honda V4. There was an RC45 in Tucson, Arizona in the late 90s 🌵
u r very lucky man!
its one my favourite bike ever!
amazing to see one of the 3 jewels of the crown of honda
Great video, thanks for sharing 👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
When in my early teens - @ the Spa-francorchamps racetrack - i stood next to one of these gems when the owner #lucky bastard, started the bike and gave it a few good revs before riding off...That was it for me...it may look "very 90's", but to me, its the most beautiful (sounding) bike on the planet. 🏁
My ultimate / favorite Honda V4....would love to own one.
What a bike!!
I wish more modern CZcams reviews were like this.
V4 is THE engine for me. So far I've only got one, a US model '83 VF750F V45 Interceptor that's complete but in need of a full ground up restoration.
Thinks for the vid MCN.
No worries. Except we're not MCN. We're Cycle News.
I’ve ridded 2 examples of the rc 45 and 6 rc 30’S. I own a RC30 and that’s good enough for me!
I saw one of these in the flesh on the show room floor at Sandgate Honda Brisbane. I didn't know much about the bike back then, they wanted Aus.18K at the time I thought it was over priced.
I had a 96‘ RC45 which I bought in 2005 for 8.000 EUR. Sold it later for 11.000 EUR, which was one of my bigger mistakes ever. A true fantastic bike to ride, and years ahead of it‘s peeks. Excellent video M8, just one remark: Honda built 1000pcs and the dealers had to give massive discounts, as the bike was nearly triple as expensive as the Fireblade. In road condition the Fireblade was even faster, what did not really help.
Rennie..brilliant pikes peak run mate from down under.
I'm also a mad v4 Honda nut. 5 vfr's later including my current 2000 5th gen vfr800.
As close to exotica as the bank balance allows
Thanks, Michael. Close but no cigar this year. Good stuff on the VFR--great bikes.
Great bike and excellent review.
Was surprised there was no mention of John Kocinski the only person to take the RC45 to a WSBK title, something our Aaron Slight was unfortunately not able to do :(
At 4:38.
Beautiful bike!Doesnt bother me a jot that it wasnt seen as successful as the'30.I would have both in my fantasy garage no problem.....Great review again;)
Yeah, I loved that bike as a kid. Aaron Slight was The Man in my book on that bike.
I don't know why Honda, which is a V4 pioneer doesn't make a RR version, or even a V5.
This was the "RR" of it's day. They just hadn't started using "RR" yet. More recently, Honda did make the RC213V-S, a motogp derived limited edition (limited power also) v4. Not a v5 or an "RR" but quite special at $185000. Back in 2005 I was working at a Honda dealership, a customer insisted Honda would make a v5 sportbike, I wonder if he still waiting?
Local dealer had one in the front window the year it came out. Price was 27,000 as I recall. A shame, VFR fans have been screaming for a full-on sport V4 for decades now. Honda doesn't seem to care.
Ducati to the rescue.. and Aprilia.
That'll be interesting, for sure, but both the RC30 and RC45 were available for purchase. Who ld buy at those prices when one can buy a GSXR that will run along side those platforms all day? Thanks.
Not sure what euro 4 or 5 is, but always stoked to see the new models...a super charged Busa, that'll be sick, as well as the Kawasaki. Good stuff!
I'd be happy with just a Street Triple style naked VFR with half decent suspension and tuned for fun. They only have the cb650 or whatever in that sector and it's dull. The VFR chasis has always looked great, but Honda insist on only putting huge ugly plastics all over it.
William best bruh..........Honda don’t care about us. They release full on race bikes for street at $100K a pop with 50hp and wonder why no one buys them. We’ll see what’s good with the 20 SP and how long it sticks around.
good stuff guys! dont forget edwards vs bayliss either
Slight on the Red White and Green Castrol machine. What memories. The closest I’ve come to the RC45 is the 4th Gen VFR. It’s the one I miss the most. Thanks for that very personal review. I’m sure Doohan’s NSR is still a possibility if you’re nice to Honda? Good Luck!
If I get the chance to ride an NSR500 I'll eat my hat. But never say never -- Rennie
I had an RC 30. It was a model I built 👍
Had one of these back in mid 90's. Previously owned couple of RC30's. I sold my 916 and jumped on a RC45. So different ..but what I beautiful machine..Bit boring compared to the 916 or 888 SP3 though. Great to re live those day's watching this.. I fitted a Twin Yoshi and HRC rear sets to mine and rose to South of France to watch Bol Dor. Great day's.
I Have still got the the centre spread poster of this Bike from AMCN Magazine ..
I really like these reviews, Rennie. Could you do a retro review on a 916 for me? I'm really close to buying one.
If we can find a pristine one, I'd love to!
This was a great review . Great leathers too they would go great with the Ducati 1098 I hope to own at some point .Speaking of Ducati I have an ST2 it's two valves per cylinder 944 cc fuel injected and liquid cooled . It's got pretty much the same frame forks brakes wheels and rear shock as a 916 but a more comfortable riding position and they come with panniers . For me it's the best sports bike I have ever ridden but hears the thing they are very cheap to buy and they are every bit as reliable as japanese bikes . The bike to go for in the st range is the st4S it's got the 996 engine
with 4 valves per cylinder and huge power olinees suspension and marachanizie light weight wheels . a 996 with built in comfort and panniers and a center stand . Anyone fancy a FVR 750 but don't have that kinda money burning a hole in their pockets a vfr750 are a great bike gear driven cams and a great sounding engine rc 30 / rc45 kind of experience on a budget can be had for a reasonable price these days too .
@@harrykuntz878 I ended up buying a 1998 916SPS. It's fantastic. Got a slight throttle issue, but the mechanic is looking into that soon.
@@Sir_Gonzo well wear with her Gonzo what a beautiful bike they are . They make crazy money these days even a non sps and it's only going to go up in value . Have you seen the channel on hear desmoworks . He rebuilds a 748 race bike complete nut and bolt rebuild engine the lot . A great view for any bike fans . But be forewarned your probably going to want a Ducati if you watch it . Another great channel on hear is hackaweek he turns a Ducati st4 into a street fighter and he also does a complete rebuild of a Honda cb 750 both great viewing .
There is an HRC RC45 for sale here in NZ at the moment for 60k!
Awesome Honda ✌🏻
... and don't forget Doug Polen's struggles on the bike? I never quite figured that one out? Maybe it was more than just the bike/rider gelling?
Imagine putting the halo angel eyes on that bike. 👍😍👌
Had a 1984 INTRECEPTER 500 in 1988, it was trashed but I loved it!!
Here's how a 25yr-old RC45 compares with last year's (2017) Fireblade & ZX10R around the Isle of Man. Bear in mind the Fireblade and the ZX10R are two of the fastest litre-bikes ever built (vs. 750cc) , they're carrying practically weightless camera equipment and running on the stickiest modern-day rubber. There have been a number of road improvements too on the IOM over the last quarter-century.
czcams.com/video/jITPGQCnN3c/video.html
Both videos can be seen elsewhere on CZcams: I've simply put them side-by-side.
Why was the US model down on power from the EU model? Emissions requirements?
Yes, it was for emission requirements.
And the gasoline quality is different.
No mention of the quite fantastic baby RVF?
You mean the RVF400 or the RVF750 endurance racer? The racer I mention at 2:00, the 400 I do not because this test is on the 750.
saw one being ridden yesterday!! recognised it from a mile off!
You should try the Honda NR 750!! That's also a really rare motorcycle!!
Dream bike
I owned a few 90s 400's, one being the NC30 which was more or less a scaled down RC30 for the Japanese licence requirements at the time and I say to people time and time again and it is echoed by people that rode the 90's machines that Honda today do not build their bikes anywhere near as well as they did then. Simple things like the quality of the fasteners etc. I recently did some work on a 2014 Blade and it had been well looked after yet their was corrosion all over the place and parts just felt cheap, having recently done another restoration of a VFR400 I could tell the difference is night and day...
We need these paint schemes back. Awesome vid..."Yeshua (Jesus Christ) is the way"
Jdor D amen
Still looks good even this day
I was actually just a kid when these things were out to the jenrule public and I just actually think that the 90s was really the best decade ever because I am actually a 90s kid who grew up on the liter bike wars on the streets because I just actually always remember my first ever street racing I saw two guys one on a Kawasaki Ninja and a Yamaha r1 of course I cheered for the r1 and the r1 won the race
the best bike i ever rode
4:20 manual choke on a fuel injected bike?
Nick Egan many early fuel injected bikes have a choke lever. The BMW R850R has one and the first gen Honda CB1300 also has one. I am sure many other fuel injected bikes also have a choke lever.
Yes, even though it's a fuel injected bike, early examples of this system came with a choke to warm the motor. You got to have get these old motors warm before use.
@@AndreasBOlesen My '04 Monster S4R has one too
Steve hislop piloted one at the iomtt
One thing missing are your sneakers laces....
help me understand this bike better, i am car guy so tell me: if this motorcycle would be a sport car.. wich car it would be? *McLaren* *F1* ?
Where the RC30 was the F40, this was the F50
always like the looks , 90s bikes look better with there own looks .
There is the 400 version for roads in the UK ..
👍
Beautiful, but I'd still prefer the RC 30.
me too Upunk, me too
This was a bike that had an evil handling reputation. I don't know if it was well deserved. It won IOM TTs.
Honda RC30/45
Suzuki GSXR 750 (first gen)
Yamaha FZR 400
Suzuki Gamma 500
Honda CBR900RR (Fireblade)
Yamaha RZ350
Kawasaki ZX750R
Honda NSR400
Suzuki RS250
Ducati 916
Not necessarily in that order.
Just some of my favorites... 🏁
What did I miss...?
Yamaha R1 1998, nothing had been line it on the street, it changed everything.
If you have to have racing bikes The R7 then.
Yamaha had earlier an ow01 750 yzf racer i remember same time as the RC30, well al had 750 those and some for the street, some was a little boring like ZxR 750 rr, and the suzuki gsxr 750rr as the was not as special as the others, i i knew one rhet had the Kawasaki one.
But i guess they are worth alot more today in good shape.
Love to see that bike on roads without loads of tar snakes. Those suck!
If Honda reproduced RC45, maybe i can afford to buy it now.. 😅
Rotary inertia increases as a square of the radius (I=mr^2), so a 16 inch wheel will turn easier into a corner than a 17 for the same material pedigree and construction:
i miss Honda gear driven cam v fours
916
Rc45
Dream garage
“The front end is wide”
I ride a Buell 1125, so I don’t see it 😂
Bet that has a lovely sound? me and my dad did Faro 97 and there was a buell riding close to us one day as we snaked over the pyranesse and it sounded great everytime the guy opened it up. I thought it looked great too but my dad wasn't much of a fan. But I was only 14 at the time so what would I know.
@@technomickdocumentalist2495 it’s the later Rotax designed DOHC vtwin. It’s pretty rad.
@@tokyosmash very nice, I'm quite fond of slightly off main stream designed bike styles. And as you don't see them round my area much at all, so to me they are that bit more special. Send me a picture if you can some time? Side view so then you don't have to mess about blotting out the plate etc.
@@technomickdocumentalist2495 I can do that!
Are you like a walking motorcycle racing encyclopedia or what?
I know a guy with two of these. He wants all the money for them :'(
For me the endurance racer RVF was the one. In the last hours of the Bol d'Or 24 hour race these engines still sounded sweet whilst the Yamaha's were like a bag of nails. Thanks for the ride.
That RVF was super sweet.
Fucagain leathers!? KINKY!!!
That was the take at the time it was released: overpriced, over weight, and underpowered, unless you coughed up even more coin for the race kit. I think all the Honda fans were hoping it'd be the next RC 30. It wasn't.
doo katty?
Casey stoner says it the same way. It's funny
HONDA NR 750!!.....Oval Pistons... enough said.
They really used that design on the Cbr 900r, ok this is a v4.
I like the look of Ducati 916 range, but also Hondas v-twin vtr1000rr, they raced that one too i guess because v twins could be 1000cc but fours only 750cc.
That was later changed and the japanese maker got back to the trusty straigt fours killing the twins that could not get out the same power, in the end even Ducati gave up in racing and got a v4 engine, on the street the put up bigger and bgger engines to compete.
Its a way of doing it but i like those racing class cubic sportbikes, 600, 750 and 1000cc.
I think this rc45 as the rc30 had lots and lots if Honda racing kits to mount if needed, but i guess these was bought like the honda nr750 just to stand around not meing used, i mean i have seen a rc30 many times but never this one.
Still kits was made to make them racers, could be whole oarts of the engine to change from aluminium to magnesium etc also, extremly expensive, and making more power for the track was not an issue, not like the raced it with 118hp.
All you done for nearly 23 minutes of your review of a 25-year old bike is compare a 25-year old bike against newer bikes... what you should of said is today I'm going to review the RC45 against new bikes... 😳😳 You also didn't mention about how many times it won the suzuka 8-hour???
600? That thing looks like a 250 under you.
Finger to finger. Finger to second finger. Thumb to finger. Repeat.
Holly crap, no start up? Colds start? You lost me right there
91 GSXR 1100 bad as f***
One of the most iconic attention grabbing looks on any bike in history. Facelift this thing and sharpen its tail and it would totally destroy most bikes of today with that paintjob...Don't get how Honda allowed this look to simply slide away ??
You really don't want to shut up. Let us listen the engine.
I will never forgive myself.
It was 1997 and one of these was sitting unsold on a Honda Showroom floor in Metairie, Louisiana for $9,599. And I could have bought it and I didnt.
Ouch... I wouldn't forgive myself, either.
Cycle News it sat there for a couple of years. I remember watching the price drop. That was the lowest I remember seeing it. They couldn’t sell it.
I was being a ‘responsible young father’
🤷♂️😂🤷♂️
Was habt ihr bloß für scheiss Strassen?Da ist ja mehr Granitanteil drin als Asphalt..
VTR, RVF, RVT , VFR, RC, SP. What a mess.
14 times you tapped your right hand into your left...in ONLY THE FIRST MINUTE!
I gave up counting after one minute. Man, get a grip. That’s seriously distracting.
Overrated, overpriced and underpowered.
Haters gonna hate
@Rob W ... and fanboys are going to simper but any objective comparison will determine that it was overpriced and underpowered. Anyone who still considers it a 'classic' despite these facts is simply overrating it.
@@mickgarbutt3553 It wasn't sold for the purposes of you or I buying it and using it as a road bike. 118bhp became 190+bhp as a race bike, which is why Joey Dunlop was still able to mug off the 1000cc R1s on it. It cost more than double what a CBR900RR cost, nobody who wanted a fast useable road bike bought one. It should be appreciated and "rated" for what it was, a track bike.
@@mickgarbutt3553 For example, Joey Dunlop and the Isle of Man TT, numerous other races and riders... but 'you'll know best, given that as a former RC45 owner (and doubtless master of the universe) you know... first hand... what you're talking about'.
@@rogersanders6486 I obviously know more than you with regard to the fact that the race bikes had about 40% more power and significantly less weight than the stock version.