Honda Pacific Coast

Honda PC800

1989 Honda Pacific Coast with accessory tall windshield
Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	Honda Pacific Coast
Production	1989–1998
Class	Touring
Engine	800 cc (49 cu in) 45° 3-valves per cylinder, V-twin, liquid cooled
Bore / Stroke	79.5 × 80.6 mm (3.13 × 3.17 in)
Ignition type	CDI
Transmission	Hydraulic clutch, 5-speed, shaft drive
Frame type	Steel
Suspension	Front 42 mm telescopic fork Rear 4-way adjustable spring
Brakes	Front 2x disc, 2 piston calipers Rear n/a
Tires	Front 120/80-17 140/80-15
Wheelbase	59.1 inches (1,500 mm)
Dimensions	H 1,360 mm (54 in)
Weight	584.2 lb (265.0 kg)[citation needed] (dry) 640 lb (290 kg)[citation needed] (wet)
Fuel capacity	16 L (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal)

The PC800 Pacific Coast is a touring motorcycle made in Japan by Honda between 1989 and 1998 and named after California's Pacific Coast Highway. Over 14,000 were sold in North America, Europe and Japan,^[1] with a three-year hiatus between two production runs. The bike is noted for a single integrated trunk straddling the rear wheel, full bodywork, and distinctive two-tone paint.

Like the earlier Honda Goldwing^[2] and later Rune,^[3] the Pacific Coast had been conceived and designed by Honda Research America specifically for the US market.^[4] Though subsequent Honda motorcycles would feature side-opening panniers—namely the Deauville, ST1100, Honda Gold Wing and ST1300— the company abandoned the Pacific Coast's wheel-straddling, top-opening trunk concept.

An unorthodox motorcycle

According to a 1998 Motorcycle.org article, "when the PC debuted, it was considered a radical bike."^[5] The PC800 departed convention with its integral trunk, extensive bodywork and marketing aimed at the "white-collar professional."^[6]

Marketing

In addition to naming the PC800 after an important American highway, Honda reinforced the association between the motorcycle and other notable highways of the world; advertising copy from the 1994 Pacific Coast brochure highlighted the famed Amalfi Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, along with, of course, the Pacific Coast Highway.^[7]

Similarly, the name of the lower body color for 1996 model (see table below) referred to another important road, the Karakorum Highway, the highest international highway in the world.

In contrast to motorcycling advertising that emphasized rebellion or exaggerated masculinity, a 1989 30-second introductory television commercial for the PC800 depicted a couple awakening at a stylish waterfront home. She is seen running on the beach, he is seen showering, lifting his Rolex-like wrist watch from the bedside table, fixing coffee—all with a Honda PC800 next to a grand piano in their elegant living room, the waves crashing visibly beyond. The commercial ended with a single shot of the motorcycle at a very calm (i.e., pacific) shoreline carrying the voiceover: "Introducing the Pacific Coast, from Honda. It is the beginning of a new day."

Sales averaged under 1,400 sales per year over ten years.

Trunk

Unlike other motorcycles that offer detachable side or top cases for storage, the PC800 has an integral waterproof trunk under the pillion (passenger seat). The passenger seat is attached to a single trunk lid that hinges upward to reveal two storage areas that straddle the rear wheel — with sufficient capacity to carry "two full-face helmets and two medium-sized gym bags",^[5] or "two grocery bags",^[8] or "four plastic bags full of groceries, along with a small bag of dog food."^[5] The trunk lid is held up by a hydraulic strut and is controlled by a release mechanism under the lockable fuel filler door.

Bodywork

Like other motorcycles with full bodywork such as the BMW K1200GT and Victory Vision, the PC800's plastic bodywork conceals almost the entirety of the motorcycle's mechanical underpinnings — in the manner of a scooter. While routine oil changes do not require panel removal^[8] the PC800 owners manual calls for removal and replacement of four panels (two each side) for servicing the spark plugs and seven panels for servicing the battery.

The design of the bodywork includes three vents (visible in the photo above) on each side of the bike to cool the mechanicals: a pair of forward vents on the wheel cowling, a lower vent on each side for the transmission, and two larger vents to accommodate the engine's cooling system.

In contrast to other motorcycles with full bodywork, the PC800's trunk occupies the full unbroken width of the bike's tailend while the front wheel carries an unusual cowling, which reverted to a fender in 1997-1998 model years. For the entire production run, the visual bulk of the bodywork was mitigated by a lower-body accent color.

Features

Honda outfitted the Pacific Coast as a "low-maintenance motorcycle for daily use"^[6] aimed primarily toward first-time motorcycle owners. Riding position is standard or neutral, instrumentation is "automobile-like,"^[5] switches and controls are large and clearly marked, self-canceling turn signals were included (until MY1997) along with a seat height of 30.1" and an integrated fairing and windshield. 1989 and 1990 models offered an optional AM/FM radio.

Production data

The table below outlines production figures and production notes.

The table uses serial numbers as a basis for estimating production^[1]: US production bikes carry serial number in the RC340 range, California models carry RC341 numbers, Japanese models carry RC341(J) numbers, and Canadian and European models carried RC342 serial numbers.

Model year	Production[1]	Notes
MY1989	6,602	All years: fender is upper body color
MY1989	562	Japan model S/N RC341(J)
MY1990	3,739	light blue option, France and Italy (with main light switch, speedo in km only, no side reflectors)
MY1991	--	model year not offered
MY1992	--	model year not offered
MY1993	--	model year not offered
MY1994	1,193	radio option no longer offered
MY1995	1,009	--
MY1996	1,070	MY96-98: no clearcoat above, MY97-98: no clearcoat below, lower color moulded in, not painted.
MY1997	713	Self-canceling turn signals discontinued. Front wheel cowling reverted to fender, minor cosmetic, cost-cutting changes
MY1998	510 (approx)	--

References

1. ^ ^{a b c[dubious – discuss]}"PC800 Serial Number Ranges". http://www.directcon.net/lcshepp/PC800SerialNos.html. 
2. ^^{[dead link]}"Honda The New Gold Standard: Styling". http://www.gwocni.co.uk/dev3.htm. 
3. ^^{[dubious – discuss]}"Honda Rune Timeline". http://runeusa.com/Timeline.html. 
4. ^^{[dubious – discuss]}"Die Honda Pacific Coast, ein Bike der besonderen Art (German)". http://www.honda-pacific-coast.de/Die_PC_800/die_pc_800.html. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} "First Impression: Pacific Coast 800 ~ Born To Be Mild". Motorcycle.com Mar. 05, 1998. http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/honda/first-impression-pacific-coast-800-1577.html. 
6. ^ ^{a b[dubious – discuss]}Road Test Honda Pacific Coast from Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly
7. ^ "The Great Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Coast Motorcycle Year 2008 Motorcycle Ride". http://www.directcon.net/lcshepp/TGPCHPCMY2KMR.html. 
8. ^ ^{a b[dubious – discuss]}"Road Test Honda Pacific Coast". Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly August 1998. http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/reviews/pacific8_98.htm.