The RC213V showcases Honda’s technological prowess and was a visual treat for the enthusiasts, but its street-legal version won’t be launched in India anytime soon.
Honda’s RevFest marks the beginning of the Japanese auto giant’s beginning of an aggressive strategy in the premium motorcycle space. At least that’s what Honda Two-Wheelers wanted to convey with the grand event that by its own admission was a way to connect with the youth of the country. The RevFest saw the arrival of the CBR650F in India along with the showcase of the CB Hornet 160R and the updated CBR150R and CBR250R models. However, gauging the enthusiast’s attention at the RevFest was a surprise showcase of the RC213V with its head turning stance.
Just to summarise how special the Honda RC213V is, the MotoGP race bike helped rider Marc Marquez win the 2013 and 2014 championship titles while also winning the Constructors Championship during the same period. A massive showcase of the automaker’s technical prowess and wizardry, the MotoGP winning bike is a track spec bike and is not street legal in any part of the world harnessing some overwhelming levels of power that are best handled in trained hands.
Power on the Honda RC213V comes from a 1000cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 16-valve, V4 engine that is capable of belting out 228 BHP of power. Weighing just 160 kgs, the bike boasts of an impressive power-to-weight ratio and uses Ohlins telescopic forks at the front and a Pro-Link arm at the rear. The bike rides on the 16.5-inch Bridgestone sourced tyres. Select markets do get a street-legal version of the RC213V but with power detuned to 159 PS (only 70 PS in Japan) and 102 Nm of torque, and gets additions like lights, license plate, turn indicators, rear view mirrors, instrument cluster, horn among other bits.
