In 1954, Honda declared its intention of participating in the Isle of Man TT races, which were a part of the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix at the time. Honda developed its own racing vehicles and in 1959, five years after the declaration, started competing in the Isle of Man TT races. In 1961, Honda successfully won the TT race championships in the two classes it entered. The total number of cumulative racing victories for Honda reached an unprecedented 600 wins in 2005, which rose to a cumulative 695 victories as of June 11, 2015. Since the Isle of Man TT races, Honda has positioned its racing activities in a wide variety of races as its “laboratory on wheels,” and has incorporated the feedback from the wide-ranging technologies developed for competition in these races into its commercially available production models, relying on these technologies as a way to help maintain and evolve the excellent performance and reliability of Honda motorcycles.
The new RC213V-S is not merely the result of a feedback of technologies created by Honda through its competition in races into a commercially available model, but rather represents a wholly new endeavor to make it possible for a machine developed for competition in MotoGP races to run on public roads. To win in the world championship races, it is necessary to enter a machine that runs the fastest in the world, but in Honda’s view, the rider needs to maneuver the machine well, and so Honda sees ease of use as the means necessary for winning races. In other words, Honda has a principle that the fastest machine in the world is also the machine that is the easiest to maneuver in the world. Ever since competing in the Isle of Man TT races, Honda has consistently developed machines exclusively for racing toward the goal of creating the world’s easiest machine to maneuver based on this Honda principle, racking up victory after victory in races along the way.
The RC213V-S has been developed according to this Honda principle, making it possible for the RC213V, which has won MotoGP championships for two seasons in a row in 2013 and 2014, to run on public roads. The RC213V-S has inherited the specifications of the RC213V to thoroughly ensure mass concentration and reduced friction, as well as all key aspects in manufacturing that set the RC213V apart as a MotoGP machine from ordinary mass production models, with overwhelming differences which involve light weight and precise machining of the components, plus superior expert skills required in manufacturing. In addition, the RC213V-S is equipped with control technologies used on the RC213V. The RC213V consists only of the necessary parts for winning races, based on the idea of changing specifications as necessary according to the rider and course. To achieve the specifications that make the RC213V-S eligible to run on public roads, the minimal amount of necessary changes and additions has been made compared to the RC213V.
For the RC213V-S, a machine for public roads, the regions with sales planned are Europe, the U.S., Australia and Japan. The manufacturer’s recommended prices are set at ��188,000 (tax-inclusive) in Europe (Germany*1), ¥21,900,000 (tax-inclusive) in Japan, A$244,000 (tax-inclusive) in Australia, and US$184,000 in the U.S.
* A kit exclusive for use on closed circuits is offered as an option. (This kit is not available in the U.S.)
For purchase of an RC213V-S, applications for order entry will be accepted around the world starting 0:00 (CET) on July 13, through the order entry form on the exclusive website (www.rc213v-s.com).
*1 Selling price in Europe here means the selling price in Germany. Selling prices in Europe vary by country. (Details will be posted in the order entry form on the exclusive website.)
Characteristics of the RC213V-S
As the purpose of development of the RS213V-S, rather than trying to
replicate the dynamic performance of the RC213V, the focus of the development
approach was on recreating as much as possible the complete vehicle packaging of
the RC213V and its riding feel. To enable riding in speed ranges that approach
the world of the RC213V, an optional sports kit is available exclusively for
riding only on closed courses such as racing circuits.
In this way, the RC213V-S makes it possible to experience the riding feel of the
RC213V on public roads, while also enabling riding at a higher level on closed
circuits.
The RC213V consists only of the necessary parts for winning races, based on the idea of changing specifications according to the rider and course. But given the premise of riding on public roads for the RC213V-S, minimum possible changes and additions have been made to the RC213V as requirements for running on public roads, while inheriting all other elements of the RC213V.
■Main changes and additions to the RC213V-S in comparison with the RC213V
[Changes made for maintenance aspects]
・While inheriting the camshaft gear train structure, a switch was made for
the pneumatic valve to a coil spring system.
・The seamless transmission was changed to a conventional system.
* For the changes above, the same specifications as those for the RCV1000R, an open category racing machine sold on the market, were adopted.
[Additions made for riding on ordinary public roads]
・Headlight
・Taillight
・License plate lamps
・Front and rear turn signals
・Right and left rearview mirrors
・Speedometer
・Muffler with a catalyst
・License plate holders
・Horn
・Honda Smart Key
・Self starter
・Side stand, etc.
[Changes made for riding on ordinary public roads]
・Steering angle: 15 degrees → 26 degrees
・Tires: RS10 made by Bridgestone Corporation
・Front brake disc: Made of stainless steel, manufactured by Yutaka Giken Co.,
Ltd.
・Brake pad: Made by Brembo S.p.A.
