If you follow motorcycle racing, chances are by now you’ve been made aware of the fact that long-time Repsol Honda pilot Dani Pedrosa will be hanging up his leathers for good at the end of the 2018 season. In 2005, the pint-sized Spaniard won the 250cc World Championship title, and the following year he stepped up to the premier class, riding for Repsol Honda alongside Nicky Hayden. The 2006 MotoGP season saw some world-class racing, and by the time the checkered flag was waved at the final race, Nicky Hayden was crowned World Champion.
As the last American rider to earn the title of World Champ, a lot of significance has been placed on the Kentucky Kid and the machine he won his title on: a Repsol Honda RC211V. While there are obviously some major differences between the two-wheeled rocket that is the 211V, and the CBR1000RR, the production liter bike does share a lot of DNA with the premier class prototype. So when looking to build an RC211V tribute build, the choice of donor is an obvious one.
This custom Honda is built around a 2007 CBR1000RR Repsol Edition. Built by Ric Escobedo, this example features a custom subframe that supports a one-off tail-section reminiscent of the rear end of the MotoGP machine. Interestingly, the tribute build still utilizes the stock seat, as well as the stock tank, nose, and fairing — the last of which looks strikingly similar to the bodywork on the RC211V. An oversized rear fender – done up in full Repsol livery – now hugs the rear slick, while the front fender has also received a bespoke paint job, sporting the “GAS” and “Michelin” logos seen on the MotoGP mount.
Escobedo’s CBR is more than just a bespoke tail-section and some painted fenders though. The suspension on the tribute build has been fully redone, and Beaverton, Oregon’s EDR Performance was tasked with building up and tuning the Honda engine, with the inline-four now putting down a claimed 174 horsepower. EDR is also responsible for churning out a number of trick knickknacks such as custom machined levers. The icing on the cake is this CBR’s one-off, titanium, GP-style exhaust, which almost certainly sounds as good as it looks.
After being completed, Escobedo took his creation to the 2013 San Mateo Ultimate Builder Bike Show where it took first place in the Modified Street Class. According to the seller, more than $25K was put into bringing this project to fruition, though I assume that’s including the MSRP on a (then) new 2007 Repsol Edition CBR1KRR. Either way, as a diehard fan of both MotoGP and Nicky Hayden, this one really does it for me.
You can find this award-winning custom 2007 Honda CBR1000RR RC211V tribute for sale here on Craigslist in Wenatchee, Washington with a price of $13,000.