These included such items as titanium connecting rods that reduced reciprocating weight (50 g or 1.8 oz lighter and eight times the cost) and gear driven camshafts.

The engine firing configuration was very different from the road-going VFR750F from which it was derived with a 360° 'big bang' crank arrangement instead of the smoother 180°.

The rear wheel carried a brake disc to the inside and a chain sprocket to the outside of a single-sided swingarm (originally patented by ELF of France), and attached with a single castellated nut and cotter pin.

Further statements of its hand-built quality were shown in a full stainless steel 4-2-1 exhaust system, alloy fuel tank and hand laid fibreglass bodywork.

Fred Merkel won the inaugural Superbike World Championship riders and manufacturers titles in 1988, and repeated this feat in 1989.