RC-30 Build from parts. Wow!

[Jetpilot5]

What a project this guy had.  An amazing build.  To quote the builder " When you find yourself replating c-clips you know it is going to take a while before you insert the key to start it."


http://rc30.yolasite.com/project.php

[veefer800canuck]

Wow. Insane attention to detail. Amazing.

[falconati]

Wow, that was mindblowingly complex.  Well done.

[spinalator]

I looked over the website for 10 minutes, then walked over to the garage and peered inside.

I looked at the plumbing hardware holding the sportster exhaust onto my Yamaha rat bike, and I feel like a cow does, open-mouthed and gazing at the space shuttle.

[stromgal]

Magnificent Obsession.

[Mr.Black]

I looked over the website for 10 minutes, then walked over to the garage and peered inside.

I looked at the plumbing hardware holding the sportster exhaust onto my Yamaha rat bike, and I feel like a cow does, open-mouthed and gazing at the space shuttle.

+moooo

[HipGnosis]

I looked over the website for 10 minutes, then walked over to the garage and peered inside.

I looked at the plumbing hardware holding the sportster exhaust onto my Yamaha rat bike, and I feel like a cow does, open-mouthed and gazing at the space shuttle.

That's why you're on this site and he's not.
You're a rider, he's a mechanical artist (that didn't even come up with his own design...)
Totally diff 'animals'.
Btw; I've got a bit of plumbing hardware on my Ninja 650...   so...  Moo (too)

[DosEquis00]

Amazing build and the guy has a great attitude. Thanks for posting.

[Gary B.]

Way too much time and money! Way too pretty to ride.

[vfrrider]

Can you say ,"OCD." Sure you can, I thought you could.

And he's going to ride it? It might get dirty, or a rock chip, or a bird strike, and, heaven forbid, if a dumb cager makes a left in front of him.

God bless his pointy little head.

Larry
VFRrider

[Gary B.]

Can you say ,"OCD." Sure you can, I thought you could.

And he's going to ride it? It might get dirty, or a rock chip, or a bird strike, and, heaven forbid, if a dumb cager makes a left in front of him.

God bless his pointy little head.

Larry
VFRrider

 

[motormike]

OCD, too much time and money was my thought.

Whatever works for you.  At least he has a show bike.

[PointyHead]

 

As the builder/owner of the bike in question I can assure it does and will get ridden. That is what I built it for. It will never be worth anything as it isn't an original bike even though it is nicer than what HRC put together.

I only put about 700 km on it this summer for a variety of reasons (parenting, business responsibilities, other activities in my life, other bikes to ride etc) but that is enough km anyway. I will have this bike for a long time and I want to ride it till I drop.

The bike is now put away for the winter so I can get some time on the other bikes before they get tucked away also. It isn't a show bike. There are no bike shows where I live. If it gets dirty I will clean it. I can probably handle that. I do not ride it in the rain though. I have other bikes for that.

OCD? It is easy to say I guess. It is harder to understand that I have had a life of learning and skill building. I just put some of it to use here. It was a good project but I wouldn't do it again. My bike building days are over. Motorcycles are not my profession or job related in any way. Don't judge me unless you know me personally.

Thanks for the compliments from the people who can see it for what it is. A cool bike built from parts that sounds fantastic, handles like an RS250, and has enough power for most of us.

Rick

[Jetpilot5]

Thanks for joining up and sharing your comments.  I was really impressed not only that you had the skills and patience to put it all together but that you took the time to document it so the rest of could get a very small taste of what a project like that might be like.  I have decent mechanical skills but I wouldn't dream of tackling that job.  Amazing.

And I like your username.

[Gary B.]

Pointy-Definitely not flaming you, just vfrrider's comments struck me as funny. Your attention to detail is second to none. I'd never have the time, patience, or $$ to do a project like that. Thanks for sharing!

[PointyHead]

Pointy-Definitely not flaming you, just vfrrider's comments struck me as funny. Your attention to detail is second to none. I'd never have the time, patience, or $$ to do a project like that. Thanks for sharing!

I do have a fairly good amount of patience; kids help with that trait. I have done my share of things wrong and had to do them over. I didn't want this to be an example of "gotta get it done". It still needs a couple things. A 17" rear wheel is going to be a necessity as Dunlop stopped making their Roadsmart tire which I am currently happy with. I'm not Joey DUnlop and there are no tracks around here so the rubber is fine. It has a ride-height adjuster on it already so the 17" wheel isn't a problem.

Rick

[gritsngravy]

I thought I was doing something by getting new tires and washing the VFR.  Excellent skills and one nice bike.  

[veefer800canuck]

Well done Mr. Pointy.

Since it isn't worth anything, I'd be happy to take it off your hands for just that!

Hey, where did the frame come from? And does it have a serial number or did you have to apply for a VIN??

[PointyHead]

Well done Mr. Pointy.

Since it isn't worth anything, I'd be happy to take it off your hands for just that!

Hey, where did the frame come from? And does it have a serial number or did you have to apply for a VIN??

It's worth a lot to me though!

It has a serial number but because I couldn't produce any documentation (like a previous registration) it had to be registered as a current model year. Yes, a 2012 Honda RC30. The police here used to run serial numbers through their stolen vehicle database but when I spoke to the Gendarmerie they told me to get lost. So I did. No problem.

Numerous discussions (on the phone, not emails!) took place between the provincial "authority having jurisdiction" and myself. I started the discussions in 2010 so there would hopefully not be any snags when I eventually registered it for the street. I had to have it inspected locally by a motorcycle dealership that went through a very thorough checklist. It had to meet the CMVSS regulations just like a new bike does. It had to have correct reflectors, tires, mirrors, speedo, headlights, brakes, chainguard etc etc. Things like the tail light, signals and mirrors had to have a certain minimum area and that sort of thing also. They said it is very uncommon for them to allow a bike built from parts but since I in essence produced a replica of a bike they permitted it. I also directed them to the website which helped my cause once it was built. They said you wouldn't believe some of the hacked together chopper things some guys want to register. They don't let them so they don't kill themselves.

If anyone considers doing this I cannot stress enough to talk to the authorities ahead of time. You hear all kinds of stories about how bikes get registered, lots of them illegally and lots of it is plain old fifth hand bull pucky. In Canada, like the US, vehicle registration is a state/provincial thing so what some applies in one locale will not apply in another which accounts for a lot of the confusion. Both federal and provincial acts of parliament and the subsequent regulations tend to be dynamic in this area, so what applied 5 years ago may not apply now. It usually doesn't get easier either.

Rick

[veefer800canuck]

I hear ya. I've got the worlds only 2010 VFR800 also.

Replacement frames from Honda are blank and bear no VIN, so I had to apply for a VIN tag, and a nice ex-RCMP officer came to my house (!) and filled out some paperwork in order to give me a little metal plate, which he rivited to my new frame.

Mainly they are concerned about bike theft, and trying to disguise stolen parts, so I had to produce the original invoice for the replacement frame from Honda. $1142 and change.

After that, I needed a salvage inspection before I could get insurance and registration. Definetly took the long route on that deal. But, I've got the bike I want now. So it was mostly worth it.

[birdrunner]

Well done Mr. Pointy.

Since it isn't worth anything, I'd be happy to take it off your hands for just that!

Hey, where did the frame come from? And does it have a serial number or did you have to apply for a VIN??

If Pointy's in Alberta, you should meet at my place and discuss how OCD is a good thing when applied to motorcycles, then you can focus your "obsession" to gently aged CBR1100xx  .... I know one that could use a bit of love.


I hope Pointyhead  (love the name) sticks around a perhaps joins a few discussions/meets.

We've not have a RC person here since BUSYLITTLESHOP left.  


AS to the OP    What a beautiful job !

[coucours grad]

That is one beautiful bike...I'll bet theres more then one person here that would love to see your shop!


  If the CBRxx doesn't have any interest too you I know a fellow that has a Valkyrie that would love to see it lovingly rebuilt....Although I'm sure hes aware of the fact he couldn't afford it!

   

[PointyHead]

I hear ya. I've got the worlds only 2010 VFR800 also.

Replacement frames from Honda are blank and bear no VIN, so I had to apply for a VIN tag, and a nice ex-RCMP officer came to my house (!) and filled out some paperwork in order to give me a little metal plate, which he rivited to my new frame.

Mainly they are concerned about bike theft, and trying to disguise stolen parts, so I had to produce the original invoice for the replacement frame from Honda. $1142 and change.

After that, I needed a salvage inspection before I could get insurance and registration. Definitely took the long route on that deal. But, I've got the bike I want now. So it was mostly worth it.

Up until a couple years ago all used bikes over 400cc here had to have the serial/VIN and the engine numbers verified before you could register it. They have since dropped it because they didn't catch any stolen bikes or engines in all the years they did it. It is possible that was because they had the program in place? They told me all it did was inconvenience customers and tie up their resources.

If the frame does not have a serial number here you would not be able to register it. The idea is that they don't want billy-bob building a frame from god knows what. They used to have the police inspect numberless frames and attach a plate if needed like you had done, but that has been dropped. The province doesn't want to deal with such matters so they just say no.

They didn't attach any plates or anything to my frame as they accepted the original number plate as proof of an "engineered frame". It is strange that with a new frame I would have been SOL, but logic is not always the driving force in these matters.

That is cheap for a Honda frame. American Honda still has some RC30 frames and they are around $2300. Honda can be weird about selling frames, they usually want a registration and ownership info before they sell one. Nobody else does this that I know of.

[PointyHead]

That is one beautiful bike...I'll bet theres more then one person here that would love to see your shop!


  If the CBRxx doesn't have any interest too you I know a fellow that has a Valkyrie that would love to see it lovingly rebuilt....Although I'm sure hes aware of the fact he couldn't afford it!

  

It isn't much of a shop actually but I did buy myself a new Tig welder this summer. Lincoln had some deals on and I can't pass up a deal. It is nice to be able to weld a razor blade to a railroad track if you need to. Square wave AC is the cat's meow for aluminum (and magnesium). I have always had an interest in welding. My grandfather was a (real) blacksmith so he sparked the interest, showing me how to burn 7014 as a kid. My dad was a do it yourself kinda guy and taught me a lot. We took on a lot of projects when I was growing up.

I may have missed my calling but motorcycle restorations wouldn't keep the kids fed or keep shoes on their feet. If Jay Leno showed up and wanted something done I would take it on as long as he didn't steal my jokes.

[PointyHead]

If Pointy's in Alberta, you should meet at my place and discuss how OCD is a good thing when applied to motorcycles, then you can focus your "obsession" to gently aged CBR1100xx  .... I know one that could use a bit of love.


I hope Pointyhead  (love the name) sticks around a perhaps joins a few discussions/meets.

We've not have a RC person here since BUSYLITTLESHOP left.  


AS to the OP    What a beautiful job !

Good ole Larry. I sold him some top secret stuff once. I dare anyone to ask Larry what is the best engine oil to use.

[veefer800canuck]

Good ole Larry. I sold him some top secret stuff once. I dare anyone to ask Larry what is the best engine oil to use.

We already know.  

Here's me and Larry at Bubba Gumps, after Laguna Seca, I'm in the black shirt, Larry flying the Repsol colours.

[PointyHead]

We already know.  

Here's me and Larry at Bubba Gumps, after Laguna Seca, I'm in the black shirt, Larry flying the Repsol colours.

Larry is a good person. I just don't know if would want to be around him 24/7. I suppose that goes for lots of us. I think the best oil to use is motorcycle oil in the big containers or by the crate if you get a good deal.

[veefer800canuck]

Good ole Larry. I sold him some top secret stuff once.

Oh so YOU'RE the guy with the NSR500 cylinders. I see. Hmmm.

[veefer800canuck]

I wonder how Larry is making out with his ELF MotoGP spec race fuel he got after Laguna this year?

He was gonna run it in Mr. RC45 and maybe do a Dyno pull or something.


I think he had like 2 drums of the stuff.

[PointyHead]

Oh so YOU'RE the guy with the NSR500 cylinders. I see. Hmmm.

Nope, he stole that cylinder head from Honda when he was in Japan. I think they forgave him. I can't tell you what I sold him. Well, I suppose I could, but then....

[james_g]

That is amazing! Seriously great work. I mean for you not being a rider and all that.

And Larry is a good guy. Obsessed but we are all to some extent.

james