The 2016 Honda RC213V-S has been tuned to produce only 101 HP on the US spec version while power can be increased to 215 PS courtesy of an upgrade kit on the Europe and Australian versions.
First unveiled at the EICMA last year, Honda has officially showcased the RC213V-S street-legal MotoGP replica and the bike will be going on sale in the US, Europe and Australia later this year as the automaker’s race ready offering. The RC213V is based on the machine that Marc Marquez rode to the last two MotoGP world championship title and comes complete with the ‘HRC’ tri-colour paint scheme and bar-end mirrors. The bike also gets several legal parts like lights, catalytic converters, mufflers among other bits. Honda says that the superbike is the closest road legal MotoGP machine to be offered ever for public use.
The 2016 Honda RC213V-S is built in an exclusive workshop in the Kumamoto factory and is powered by a 90-degree 999cc V4 engine with titanium connecting rods. The bike is available in different power outputs, depending upon the market. For the US spec model, Honda has restricted the power output to 101 PS at 8000 RPM and 90 Nm of torque at 8000 RPM in order to pass the country’s emission norms. In comparison, the European and Australian versions are tuned for higher power output, making 159 PS at 11,000 RPM and 102 Nm of torque at 10,500 RPM in stock guise. However in Japan, the bike produces just 70 HP.
America also does not get the optional ‘Sports Kit’ on the RC213V-S that replaces several parts on the MotoGP replica with race-spec versions. The Sports Kit includes a new ECU, upgraded front ram-air duct, new full race exhaust, quickshifter, data logger, rear cushion connecting road, thermostat set, sprocket set, harness modification set, CFRP clutch guard and much more that helps in belting out way higher power output of 215 PS at 13,000 RPM and 118 Nm of torque at 10,500 RPM. However, the upgrade does make the bike limited for track use only.
Other mechanical details on the 2016 Honda RC213V-S include the fully adjustable Öhlins TTX suspension components with a gas charged TTX25 fork up front and TTX36 shock at the back. Braking performance comes from front 320 mm dual discs with Brembo monoblock callipers and 220 mm single disc at the rear. With a compact wheelbase of 57.7-inches, the RC213V-S rides on 7-spoke forged magnesium Marchesini wheels shod with 120/70/17 front and 190/55/17 rear Bridgestone RS10 tyres. This is also the first Honda superbike to come with a ride-by-wire throttle system, selectable power modes, engine braking levels and traction control settings.
The bike weighs 170 kgs against the 158 kgs weight of the MotoGP bike. With the Sports Kit, the weight reduces to 160 kgs. Given the exclusivity and the abundance of technology onboard, Honda will be assembling only one RC213V-S every day at its plant in Japan. The company will be closing on the bike by the end of 2016 with production limited to around 400 units for global distribution. The Japanese auto giant will be opening its order books for the RC213V-S in July this year and has priced the MotoGP replica at a whopping $1,84,000 (Rs. 1,17,50,240/-).
