I've always loved the stories of cars for sale, where the original owner was selling it and had documentation from the day he bought it new, to the day it had its last service.
I purchased my RC51 new, trackday'd it for 2 years, (no crashes, thank god) and have now returned it to street trim, including an order placement within the last week, of Ohlins front forks, Ohlins rear shock, Magical Racing Twill Carbon Fiber front fender and rear hugger and a warm cozy spot in the garage, next to my 31 year old (soon to be 32 year old) Suzuki GT550.
I intend on keeping this bike for as long as I possibly can. It took almost 20+ years for the RC30s to increase in value (*I think*) and was wondering what you guys thought about the RC51.
I'd like to give it to my daughter one day. She's 2 and a half now, so there's no real hurry........
I have retained my original sales slip and receipts for every item I've ever bought for the bike, including a plethora of pictures along the way. The discontinuance of the bike for 2007 makes this process that more obtainable, IMHO.
no the RC51 will never be as highly prized as the 30 or 45. if production stopped in 04 maybe, but i think there are way to many out there. the value will go up i do believe that as the parts run out in ten yrs or so. there will be some exceptions i have seen 04's with zero miles hand signed by hayden, some 02's hand signed by edwards. those might bring more
I dont really care so much about the value or having all the slips of sale, I just want my pristine RC51 around for the rest of my riding carreer. I would like to use it as a gauge of performance athstetic change in motorcycling to come.
30's went up because they were so rare, and the bones of a race bike. 10 years ago a good one was still only a few tics off the MSRP. 45's ditto, but not as hot item like the RC30 still, it was the first HRC 4-stroke that any goof could buy. This was when almost all the proper race bikes were 2-stroke except the magical once a year Suzuka 8hrs. For that the factories would roll out amazing one off's and then hide them away.
RC51, production #'s =lots (I see more of them than VTR's or VFR's around here), maybe 50-75 years and a nice one could be worth something.
Keep your tools, the reflectors, the warning stickers etc. All the stuff riders pull off if you want a retirement plan on 2 wheels.
Might as well buy a new one, and box it back up and put it into storage, with a time lock,and a note on it,"do not open till 2050". I feel its a shame to butcher up a bike, especially a LE Hayden model, but, like alot of us, the sound of Satos, was just too enticing. now its no holds barred, Just ride the hell out of it and enjoy it now, we all could die tomorrow.
No offence but i can't ever see the RC being worth anything, it's as exclusive as YZF750SP ZXR750RR maybe less so it's is after all a straight production bike with little history where as both the RC30 and RC45 were specials to allow Honda to go superbike racing.I know the SP1 was built for the same reason but like the 916SP,SPS will never be as exclusive as the 888 SP1-5.
personally i dont care if my bike is ever worth 3/4 of what i paid for it. i will own it until i can no longer ride it, then give it to my son to do with what he can.
a. the bike gets totalled or stolen
b. i die and my family sells it.
c. honda comes out with a new version and gives lots of cash off if you trade in your old RC51 for the new one..... i pray for the day.
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04 rc, Sato Banzai, mori FF, Ducts, Sato Rearsets, PCIII, Galfer Lines, and a kick ass camera from HELMETCAMERA.com.
Lets face it, our bikes are worthless to everyone else and priceless to us. That's all they'll ever be.
ya, I agree. I have my buddies GSXR1000 in my garage now. I've been doing some work to it lately. He's in the service right now and I kinda got temp controll over it. I park it next to my 51, sit on both, start and listen to both, and the gsxr just doesn't impress me. Even when I ride it, I'm not impressed. Yet he thinks he has the world by the tail because he owns one. I think that you are correct when you say worthless to everyone, and priceless to us because even though I have access to a current top shelf liter bike, I have no intrest in it.
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Friends call me FARMER
What do you get when you cross an elephant with a Rhino?
In 1976 I took delivery of a brand new RD 400. I had a set of Bassani Chambers a jet kit and a set of K&N airfilters on it before the first tank of gas was gone. It was far and away the greatest street bike I had ever ridden, I swore to hold on to it for as long as possible, then I rode a buddies KZ900. what can I say? I am a bike slut. My best friend also had a RD we had both come off of Kawi 500 triples and even though the RD was not as fast it was sure as hell more fun, it had more torque then the RD 350's we rode and it would out handle everything on the planet.
I go back and look at used RD's all the time. I even rode a perfectly restored example last year. My eyes were wide open when I returned it to its owner and told him that the thing was sure a pile of junk compared to everything made today. He knew it and shook his head pointing at the for sale sign on it.
I imagine that the RC 51 will be just as much a pile of crap in 30 years as that RD is today.
Hell in 30 years we will have 300 hp electric bikes that weigh 200 pounds and have traction control anti-highside software and will lap Barber in 40 seconds flat.
Lets face it, our bikes are worthless to everyone else and priceless to us. That's all they'll ever be.
*Ding...ding...ding* We have a winner!!!!
__________________ There is a preponderance of the evidence that proves I have gained the freedom to express how much of an asshole I am -- and what could be more beautiful than the truth?
Please be aware that I can piss further than you can think...know your place, bitch!!
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2006 Honda RC51 ( The Gorilla )
2006 Yamaha R6 ( The Monkey )
I personally don’t think vehicles become collectible/classic because they can outperform their modern day counterparts. I don’t keep a 70 Chevelle in my garage because I would rather take it to the track instead of a new Corvette. A true classic often represents a design and mentality that is in complete contrast to today’s high tech machines. While the RC does not have the charisma or prestige of the old time machines, it does have a decent amount of heritage from its time spent dominating the AMA. And even though there are a lot of them, I still think they represent something unique among sportbikes.
Is the RC a collectible? Probably not. Is the RC a bike you would be proud to have in your garage? Definitely.
Hell in 30 years we will have 300 hp electric bikes
he's totally right ya know.
right, 30 yrs ago we were supposed to have flying cars now. hopefully in 30 yrs i have my RC parked beside several others. it might be a piece of junk, but i will beable to lok at it and say i had some seriously fun times on her. and if she still runs i will still have some seriously fun rides.
Will the RC51 ever be worth anything?
and '03 was the last year
"03 RC"
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