WORDS: PRETTY BOY IMAGES: MR CHAPLIN
IAN BALLS’
Ibought thebikefromExtream Tr ading, who import rare and collectable motorcycles, and I wanted to finishthe bikesoit looks 31 yearsold, andnot like new. Butthen again, this HondaVFR750RRC30 isn’t just anyold Honda. It washandmade at the Hamamatsufactory in Japan, where theymadeall theracebikes for HRC. It’s one of around34Rosso whitebikes with thepaint code nh196. These are actuallythe same as atri-colour RC30, but just in white.Imanagedtoget in touchwith KazuoHonda, the RC30 project leader, who told me thatthe white bikeswereused forracing. Also, interestingly, mostofthemweregiven away as corporate gifts forimportant race teams and riders. Thismeant Ihad to have one, but when Igot thebikeit wasinavery poor state, eventhough it wasall original. It hadsat outside in Japan for over 20 yearswithout being used, which wasinsane.