1/12 Honda RS1000 Endurance Racer Model Kit, LIMITED EDITION

About the RS1000 Endurance Racer

In 1980, Japan got in on endurance racing with the addition of the Suzuka 8 Hours event. Honda is synonymous with Japanese motorcycle engineering and was an early Japanese endurance pioneer. In 1976, their CB750-based RCB bike got an impressive seven wins in eight races and gave rise to the 900cc DOHC engine CB900F, its road-going replica. The CB900F in turn provided the base for the Honda RS1000, which was developed to align with the new rules put in place after the endurance series reached World Championship status in 1980. Its air-cooled DOHC 16-valve inline-four engine was bored out to 999cc and gave over 130hp, and while its relatively conventional setup saw a front telescopic fork and rear swing arm, in 1981 the front was fitted with an anti-dive system to go along with larger cowlings; throughout its career, the RS1000 was continually updated. In 1980 the Fontan/Moineau partnership brought home the riders’ championship and what was Honda’s fifth manufacturers’ title in a row; the next year, the RS1000 was an ever-present in all eight races, while they were ultimately beaten to the title by Kawasaki, the Honda RS1000 took victory in front of the home fans in the July running of the Suzuka 8 Hours.

Key Features