RD03 XRV650 AFRICA TWIN Marathon HRC Homage (647cc) 1988 POA

1988 HONDA XRV650 AFRICA TWIN RD03 – MARATHON HRC HOMAGE

647cc V-Twin | RD03 | Marathon HRC Homage | POA

This is something very special.

A 1988 Honda XRV650 Africa Twin RD03, beautifully presented as a Marathon HRC homage to the legendary Honda rally machines that helped create the Africa Twin story.

It starts, runs and rides beautifully and has enormous presence.

For anyone with an interest in the Dakar Rally, Honda Racing Corporation or the history of the Africa Twin, this is a seriously evocative motorcycle.

WHERE THE AFRICA TWIN STORY REALLY BEGAN

The XRV650 RD03 arrived in 1988 and was the first production motorcycle to carry the Africa Twin name.

Its inspiration came directly from Honda’s formidable NXR rally machines, which dominated the Paris-Dakar Rally in the second half of the 1980s.

Honda won the Dakar motorcycle category four consecutive times from 1986 to 1989, and the road-going Africa Twin was designed to capture the spirit and appearance of those factory racers.

The result became one of the most important adventure motorcycles Honda has ever produced.

BUILT IN THE IMAGE OF THE NXR

At its heart is Honda’s wonderfully smooth and durable 647cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine.

But the RD03 was about considerably more than its engine.

Honda wanted the original Africa Twin to feel as close as reasonably possible to its competition inspiration, giving it features including twin radiators, protective equipment, rally-influenced instrumentation and the unmistakable HRC-inspired tricolour appearance.

Even the substantial fuel tank presented Honda’s engineers with unusual challenges, requiring a fuel pump because portions of the tank sat below the carburettors.

This was a motorcycle conceived during the golden era of the Paris-Dakar Rally, and that heritage is obvious everywhere you look.

MARATHON HRC HOMAGE

This particular RD03 has been created as a Marathon HRC homage, taking its inspiration from Honda’s competition rally machinery.

Importantly, we are describing it exactly as it is: this is an HRC Marathon homage, rather than claiming it to be an original factory Marathon race bike.

That makes it something you can actually own, ride and enjoy while retaining the extraordinary visual presence of Honda’s period rally machines.

And it looks superb.

KEY DETAILS

Year: 1988

Model: Honda XRV650 Africa Twin

Model code: RD03

Engine: 647cc liquid-cooled V-twin

Style: Marathon HRC Homage

Condition: Starts, runs and rides beautifully

Price: POA

A PIECE OF AFRICA TWIN HISTORY

Modern Africa Twins can trace their lineage back to this motorcycle.

The RD03 arrived at a time when the Paris-Dakar Rally was capturing imaginations around the world and manufacturers were building extraordinary machines to compete in it.

More than three decades later, the original 650 Africa Twin has become a hugely charismatic classic in its own right.

Add the Marathon HRC treatment and this becomes something considerably more unusual.

A fantastic motorcycle for the Honda collector, Dakar enthusiast or anyone who remembers when adventure bikes really did look like they'd just ridden out of the desert.

POA – please call us to discuss the bike or arrange a viewing.