The stock braking system is more than adequate for most owners and even some track day enthusiasts, and most riders choose to leave it as is. But for those that can't leave it alone you may want to look at simply fitting HRC pads and call it a day because they are that good.
One of the strengths of the RC51 is that it is a well-built and trouble-free bike. There are no particular mechanical issues to watch out for and the mechanics we spoke to said that even during the 16,000-mile valve adjustments, they are often found to be in spec. Those that replaced their cams with aftermarket units in hopes of more power found that they were inferior to the OEM billet pieces and failed in about 20 percent of the bikes that used them.
We spoke to Garry Griffith of Southern Honda Powersports in Chattanooga, Tennessee, (the largest volume Honda dealer in the country) about the bike and he said it was a trouble free and rider friendly bike. Griffith is a former roadracer who actually won the 250cc national race at Mid Ohio in 1986 against several riders that would later become world champions. He has spent his entire life around Honda sportbikes, and said the RC51 is easy on tires and the narrow profile of the V-Twin made it a great platform for the AMA Superbike rules at the time. He also said that the relatively low rpms of the bike in race form allowed it to run longer between rebuilds than the typical inline four cylinders on the grid.
Zaki Musa of Kuala Lumpur,...
Zaki Musa of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the proud owner of this well-kept '00 RC51 and loves it. He says his friends were against his decision to buy one, but he's never regretted it, and has no intentions of selling it.
Owners of the RC51 are fiercely loyal to the bike and cling to them today even though they have been out of production for 3 years. If you overlooked this bike, it is not too late to scoop one up and enjoy one of the few purpose-built, somewhat readily available superbike platforms that ever sat on the floor of a Honda dealer.
Here is clean example of a...
Here is clean example of a European first-generation RC51 (known as the VTR1000 SP1-note the "VTR" insignia, versus the "RVT" that is used on U.S. RC51 models) belonging to Lasse Hanberg of Denmark.
Sean Lampert in Massachusetts...
Sean Lampert in Massachusetts owns this nicely-done RC51 with Hindle full exhaust using black header wrap and titanium cans, Undertail rear tailsection with molded-in turn signals, Titax shorty brake and clutch levers, along with various other internal and external mods.
Rich Lelacheur of Connecticut...
Rich Lelacheur of Connecticut owns this pristine '06 version RC51 with a multitude of trick bits, including BST carbon wheels, Sato exhaust, Gilles rearsets, and a Matris rear shock.