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Honda RC30

Honda RC30 parts revival

(May 21, 2021)

 

Honda has revived some 150 parts for the legendary RC30 series, which has proved to be a massive undertaking. Much of the information and equipment used to produce the originals has disappeared over time.

Honda provides this fascinating insight into what it took to get the program established: "At the beginning of the ‘RC30 Forever’ project, an investigation through the RC30 archives undertaken in 2017 revealed that none of the original wooden models or moulds for the RC30 had been retained. It was clear that the original drawings would be needed to move the project forward.  Like all motorcycles produced at the time, the manufacture of the RC30 was based on 2D hand-drawn wireframe blueprints, from which models and moulds were created. Compared with modern methods of 3D computer modelling and digital drawings, these blueprints contain far fewer specific details, which complicated the reproduction of the new parts.

honda rc30 parts

"The blueprints available were digitised, enlarged to a 1:1 scale and compared with existing parts borrowed from the remaining RC30s within the Honda family and owners’ clubs to ensure their accuracy. Despite this, there were still clear and obvious gaps in the detailed information needed to produce the quality of parts required for the scheme. To ensure the parts met these very high standards, it was vital to involve the original team members, many of whom were in their 60s, to share their knowhow, passion and experience when the project team re-created the new wooden models and moulds from scratch.

"It is this combination of tangible elements like new digitised drawings and available parts, with longstanding unquantifiable factors like the experience of returning members of the Honda family, that ultimately led to the successful creation of the scheme in Japan."

Honda RC30

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