Introduced in 1987, this limited-production Japanese sport bike was conceived as a street-legal replica of Honda’s factory endurance and superbike racer. It was developed to give privateers and enthusiasts a machine closely aligned with the works racing effort, and it quickly became one of the most respected homologation specials of its era. The model’s hand-built character, race-focused chassis package, and unusual use of advanced materials for a production motorcycle helped set it apart from more conventional liter-class sport bikes of the late 1980s.
Its reputation was cemented by success in international racing and by its role in defining the modern “race replica” formula: a road bike with clear competition roots, limited availability, and a strong connection to factory racing technology. Production ran as a single continuous period in the late 1980s and ended by the 1990 model year, after which the lineage moved on to a successor. Today, it is widely regarded as a landmark Japanese performance motorcycle and a highly collectible icon among enthusiasts.