The history of the Honda VFR750R RC30 is quite peculiar. A motorcycle that was born for competition, that was well received, that was expensive and competitive but that, over the years, became little more than a pile of iron that few wanted. But, as we have seen in other cases, little by little it rose in value again and today the few units that are operational cost tens of thousands of euros.
If we add to this that the Honda VFR750R RC30 that is going to be auctioned through Iconic Auctioneers has “pedigree”, things get even more interesting. And this RC30 is a racing motorcycle and not a street bike, with one of the most emblematic decorations in the world of competition, but there is still more, much more.
We are looking at a 1991 RC30 that, in its first moments of life, was piloted by Steve Hislop, one of the most charismatic Scottish drivers of all time: champion of several British championships and 11 Isle of Man TTs. In fact, with it he faced none other than a certain Carl Fogarty. Later, in 1992 it passed into the hands of Nick Jeffries, a member of a great saga of TT drivers. His father Allan, his son Tony and his grandson David all drove in the TT, with David being the best known of all despite his untimely death.
Joey Dunlop is the icing on the cake on this Honda VFR750R RC30
And without taking honor away from either Hislop or the Jefferies clan, it arrived in the hands of Joey Dunlop in 1993. Precisely that decoration, the number 3 and the “Joey” on the dome finish revealing this purebred RC30. It must be said that, curiously, none of them managed to win the TT with her. Jefferies’ fourth place Formula 1 TT is his best, although Dunlop managed second place in the ’93 Ulster TT.
It must be remembered that the RC30 was already a “veteran” motorcycle in 1993, but the model began to be produced in 1987 and reached Europe in 1988, and was in production until 1990. Even so, it was competitive thanks to the improvements that it received at that time with official NLOB kits, chassis modification, new carburetors, engine preparation…
And all this without giving up its emblematic single-sided swingarm, the double aluminum beam chassis and a large number of other details that can be seen with the bike naked and that demonstrate that, indeed, Honda created the VFR750R RC30 as a registered racing motorcycle. For many, the first modern Superbike.
Of course, all this history and those colors are not going to come cheap. And in the auction that will be held on Saturday, July 18 at 11:00 am local time, at Kempton Park Racecourse, it is expected to reach between 60,000 and 80,000 pounds. To which a commission on the part of the buyer of 15% plus VAT would have to be added.
