Like its predecessor, the RVF750R featured a DOHC liquid-cooled V4 4-stroke engine with gear driven cams and a single-sided swingarm, but unlike the RC30 it utilized electronic fuel injection, in a setup very similar to the production 1992 NR750.

In 1988, the RC30 was born, loosely based on the RVF endurance racer, and this was used to contest the newly formed Superbike World Championship.

Then, in 1994, with the RC30 showing its age and being handily beaten by the Ducatis, Honda redesigned the RC30 using more of the technology from the RVF endurance racer and released the RC45 to much fanfare.

Only 200 were manufactured worldwide and per AMA homologation rules 50 were imported into the US, with approximately 20 of them going to private race teams; it is estimated only 20 examples are left in the US.

The RC51 was released in 2000 to make use of the 250cc displacement advantage for V-twin motorcycles that allowed the Ducatis to be so competitive.

Jim Moodie from a standing start, on an RC45 Honda lapped in 18:11.4 seconds, 124.45 mph in the 1999 Isle of Man TT.

Just a short time earlier the extremely complex NR750 had been released for road use, a bike which to this day is still considered an engineering masterpiece.

This allowed higher maximum engine revolutions than the RC30, whilst maintaining equal piston speed.

A significant engine architecture difference between the RC30 and RC45 was the change from centre gear-drive mechanism to crank-camshaft drive, located on the end of the crankshaft (first seen in the NR750).

The RC45 also followed the RC30 in using titanium connecting rods in a revised format, made lighter and stronger, to help cope with the extra RPM the moving parts of a race engine were expected to see.

The exhaust valves were also larger than the RC30's in diameter The most notable change of the RC45 when released was the use of Programmed Fuel Injection.

With all of these sensors relaying information to the ECU, Honda could have quite easily incorporated the ignition control unit.

The reason that they had not came down to the supplier of parts: they had different manufacturers supplying the ecu and cdi units.

The rear brake used a 220 mm rotor and Nissin two piston sliding caliper also fitted with asbestos-free pads.

It appears that Honda set out to build an all out race bike then made a few compromises to make it road usable.