The birth of the Honda racing program dates back to 1954, when founder Soichiro Honda aimed to conquer the preeminent motorcycle race in the world, the Isle of Man TT. After years of development focused on producing speed from the highest rev ranges, the first Japanese team debuted in the World GP Series at the Isle of Man in 1959, with Honda works racers locking in sixth, seventh, eighth and 11th place with its RC142. The following year, Honda entered every 125cc and 250cc event on the world stage, with Tom Philips bringing home the first victory at the 1961 Spanish GP. That same landmark year, racing icon Mike Hailwood, onboard factory Honda machines, took the 125cc and 250cc Isle of Man victories, helping Honda claim the overall World Championships titles in both classes. Development then began on the RC110, an ultralight 50cc racer, to compete in the newly announced 50cc FIM’s Grand Prix Championship class for 1962. With a dry weight of just under 100 pounds, the RC110’s four-stroke, DOHC single-cylinder engine produced 9.5 HP, and a whopping 14,000 RPM had no problem moving the featherweight around the tracks. Throughout the season, Honda’s team found eight podium finishes, with Luigi Taveri capturing the best result by winning the Finnish GP at the Tampere circuit on his RC110. Honda produced 440 CB50Rs 42 years later to commemorate the mighty RC110 and its legacy in motorsports history. This beautiful 2004 Honda CB50R Dream remains in factory-original condition, with the inspection marks still visible. It comes in at a shade over 150 pounds, featuring a four-stroke, DOHC 49cc single- cylinder engine, 6-speed gearbox and adjustable Showa suspension. The motorcycle was merely started by its current owner to prove mechanical function, and the fuel was then drained for long-term, climate-controlled storage and display, prior to which the owner states it had not been driven. Its sale includes a sales tag, HRC owner’s manual and competition handbook, a setup manual, tool kit and a Honda HRC parts manual, which identifies Frame No. AR02-1000206 and Engine No. AR02E-1000219, the frame and engine numbers for this CBR50, as the first frame and engine in their respective ranges. F157 2004 HONDA CB50R DREAM
