Do you think the RC30 is an iconic bike?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Back then all the manufacturers brought out bikes to win races.
They didn't care if they sold well. They had other bikes for that.

But race wins did add to road bike sales..

Definitely, though God knows how Suzuki sold as many GSXR750s as they did, I don't think they won anything from 1988 to 1996

[demographic]

Can't say I'm really a Honda fan but the RC30 is bloody iconic (far more than that bloody spam tin piston monstrosity they made) and that along with the RC45 and CR500 top my list for Hondas.

I've never ridden one mind and have no idea about value either.
I've never gave a toss about bike values as investments anyway, just got what I could afford and liked. Some have raised in value anyway.
If I wanted bikes for investment value I'd have bought as many Speedfight scooters years ago figuring there'd be ex owners getting to the point where they have a bit of spare cash about now. Think I'd rather stick a thistle in my eye.

[Bustaspoke]

I lusted after one back in the day, but wound up getting an 888 SP3 instead.

Given the choice I'd pick the 888 SP3 over the RC30

[KungFooBob]

I've said it before, but I think these are pretty iconic. I remember reading the bike mag group tests where it was pitched against the RC45, R7 and 916, I've seen them advertised for under £10k.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236647830593

I might buy one someday.

[Bustaspoke]

Back in the 90' one of my mates had a RC30,I'd say that it's a iconic bike but it's not a bike that I'd buy.
A few people have mentioned the RC45,to my eyes it's a hefty lump of a thing,certainly not iconic.

[Bustaspoke]

I've said it before, but I think these are pretty iconic. I remember reading the bike mag group tests where it was pitched against the RC45, R7 and 916, I've seen them advertised for under £10k.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236647830593

I might buy one someday.

Not sure about iconic,it's certainly Fugly!!

[KungFooBob]

I've said it before, but I think these are pretty iconic. I remember reading the bike mag group tests where it was pitched against the RC45, R7 and 916, I've seen them advertised for under £10k.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236647830593

I might buy one someday.

Not sure about iconic,it's certainly Fugly!!

How very dare you!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think they're lovely.

[Bustaspoke]

I've said it before, but I think these are pretty iconic. I remember reading the bike mag group tests where it was pitched against the RC45, R7 and 916, I've seen them advertised for under £10k.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236647830593

I might buy one someday.

Not sure about iconic,it's certainly Fugly!!

How very dare you!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think they're lovely.

TBH,The Bimota I would buy is that totally reworked aircooled Ducati DB2 that was on here the other year

[KungFooBob]

Yes, the Dutch chap iirc, it is nice.

The seller of that SB8R also has a DB6 DELIRIO listed on ebay. Now that is a bike only mother could love (and I quite like the Mantra*).



* but not this Mantra.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236607139691

[Bustaspoke]

Lordy,that thing's hideous!

[Yorick]

Back then all the manufacturers brought out bikes to win races.
They didn't care if they sold well. They had other bikes for that.

But race wins did add to road bike sales..

Definitely, though God knows how Suzuki sold as many GSXR750s as they did, I don't think they won anything from 1988 to 1996

BSB championship. Jamie Whitham
RC30 won BSB only once

The Suzuki was always there or thereabouts.

[mangocrazy]

I lusted after one back in the day, but wound up getting an 888 SP3 instead.

Given the choice I'd pick the 888 SP3 over the RC30

I would as well, but I admit there is an element of bias in there...

[Supermofo]

Happily own an RC30 or RC45. Both Iconic to me. I think the RC30 is a bit more pure looking though.

[Bigjawa]

100% an iconic bike, especially here where you could see Joey and co giving them the beans round the road circuits. They were utterly beautiful machines even if I recall reading a road test where they were said to be a not especially good road bike.

I could never afford one although I did have the equally beautiful NC30. I know someone who has ine of those in their living room as an ornament.

Definitely, though God knows how Suzuki sold as many GSXR750s as they did, I don't think they won anything from 1988 to 1996

They were cheap, quite fast enough on the road and pretty easy to run and insure. Until the Blade came along the litre plus bikes apart from the EXUP were basically sports tourers. The GSXR11 in particular just became a big, heavy lump in its post 89 form. I'm biased as a 25 year slabside owner but I always thought they were a nicer ride than a slingshot and although I think WPs are great looking bikes they're just not as nice as the older oil boilers.

Saying that, If I had ridden an SRAD when they came out, I'd have sold my firstborn to get one. They always seemed to be an RGV on roids.

[KungFooBob]

Sit Iccy on an NC30, put some 750 decals on it and no one will know the difference.

[Taipan]

Not for me they're not, but that's because they surfaced in an era when I wasn't around bikes. Even now though, I dont see the attraction; they just look like another sports bike to me? TBF sportsbikes aren't really my thing, so I may be doing it a disservice!

[JackyJoll]

“Iconic” is a hackneyed expression.

Avoid.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

100% an iconic bike, especially here where you could see Joey and co giving them the beans round the road circuits. They were utterly beautiful machines even if I recall reading a road test where they were said to be a not especially good road bike.

I could never afford one although I did have the equally beautiful NC30. I know someone who has ine of those in their living room as an ornament.

Definitely, though God knows how Suzuki sold as many GSXR750s as they did, I don't think they won anything from 1988 to 1996

They were cheap, quite fast enough on the road and pretty easy to run and insure. Until the Blade came along the litre plus bikes apart from the EXUP were basically sports tourers. The GSXR11 in particular just became a big, heavy lump in its post 89 form. I'm biased as a 25 year slabside owner but I always thought they were a nicer ride than a slingshot and although I think WPs are great looking bikes they're just not as nice as the older oil boilers.

Saying that, If I had ridden an SRAD when they came out, I'd have sold my firstborn to get one. They always seemed to be an RGV on roids.

I had the following GSXR750s in the order I owned them 1985 Slabby, 1989 Slingshot, 1997 SRAD, 2002 K2, also ridden 1991 M Slingshot and 1993 WN quite a bit, the K2 was the best, but it was the newest, my SRAD had carbs had while it didn't handle as well as the K2, the throttle response was superb, better than any injected bike I've ridden, but the GSXR750 that was the most fun was the first, the 1985 F, also the most tyre sensitive bike I've ever owned, it was horrible on Dunlop radials, maybe even dangerous, but it was superb on crossply Metzeler MeZ1 Comp Ks or Michelin Hi Sports, it required a fairly novel cornering technique of keep the bike vertical to the peel in point then throw it over to full lean as quick as possible and then the opposite on corner exit, my mates all reckoned I was mental riding it like that, but it worked.

[crust]

They are now eligible for classic endurance racing so even more are getting used up on that which will hike the price just like it has for 916s.

[The Spin Doctor]

Definitely iconic... dominated Endurance Racing for a number of years. Listening to the rise and fall of the exhaust note round Spa at night was spine-tingling.