Honda's MotoGP-inspired sports bike is coming

Likely to be a 1000cc V-4

Posted: 21 September 2012
by Visordown News

Take one RC213V and add lights, a horn and some indicators?

TACKED onto the end of a press release about the new four-wheeled Honda Civic Type-R, came this official statement from the Honda Motor Co CEO, Takanobu Ito. It reads:

'Honda is developing a new super sports motorcycle which will feature technologies derived from Honda’s MotoGP machines. This bike will seek to deliver the same passion and excitement that the RC30 super sports bike created when first introduced in 1987.'

From what were just rumours a day or so ago, it appears those whispers are now fact. Honda have quietly been developing a 1000cc V-4 Supersport bike and it's nearly ready to justify an official statement. There's obviously no word yet on a production schedule, but we understand the intended timescale is to reveal the bike in a year's time, with production starting in early 2014.

From the description, the bike won't be a replacement for the FireBlade but a new machine sitting at the very top of Honda's range. Think Ducati Desmosedici RR. It's understood that the road bike project is linked to Honda's plans to create a customer MotoGP machine to compete against the Aprilia ART bikes in the CRT class. Far cheaper than a full-on RC213V (which satellite teams can only lease from Honda, not buy) the CRT bike will be offered as a production racer, available to any team with the money to buy it.

The road-going derivative also opens up the possibility for a similar V4 bike to compete in WSB, like its RC30 and RC45 forerunners, but only if the production volumes are suitable high to meet homologation rules.

The MotoGP technologies that Ito referred to could include ideas like a variation on the seamless-shift gearbox that Honda's works riders enjoy as well as hugely high-tech traction control, launch control, top-line suspension parts and exotic materials throughout.

If it has just a fraction of the impact that the RC30 had when it burst onto the scene in 1987, it's going to be special.

Very special.


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Discuss this story


Pagik
Does anyone else think this thing is going to be the size of a postage stamp and go like stink?

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 10:56


russ atkins
If it had the weight of the Panigale, and tech/handling of the s1000rr wrapped up in a good looking body then it'd be worth a look :P

if it takes styling cues from the rc-e prototype in any way, id be happy to hand over some ££ for one

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 11:25


Pagik
Would you be happy handing over around 40,000 ££'s? I think you can rest easy that Honda will not make this thing a fat pup of a bike.

It'll more than likely be easier to say what trick bits it WON'T have on it, than list the stuff it will.

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 12:06


Szmolo
As long as it sounds like Casey's RC213V I don't care what else it does!!!

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 12:44


Pagik
LOL.

I'm fairly certain that the noise reg's might dampen the noise somewhat...

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 12:58


russ atkins
jeez - i thought they would be replacing the fireblade with something alltogether more interesting :/ not £40k worth of toy

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 13:05


littlemonster
It would be nice if Honda went full retard and gave us a loopy v5 beast that looked as sharp as it went and that took a bit of effort to get the absolute best out of it, but sadly this is not very likely. It will still be brilliant, but a little characterless.

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 13:43


Pagik
There was talk of a road going V5, apparently it was VERY close to completion, but for some reason Honda pulled the plug on it. Suffice to say, the moment this things released to us proles, I'll want one more than my next breath..

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 14:45


PeteRR
Oh, they can use Italian electonics which fail in the wet and every month in the dry, than it has plenty of character...;-)))

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 15:10


Brian Cordell
I'll bet they don't give it a VFR name...

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 16:19


Rob M 9
I think this is going to be something extremely special. In reality, what I was after was what Russ has said - Something that 'could' feasible be in the £15k bracket. If Honda put a V4 Blade together, then I'd snap it up right away, I really would.

My issue with this one, is it's going to be in the £40k bracket, which I could buy, but I'd have to give up a LOT for it, so alas, it's unlikely to be, at best I'll get a test ride on one, but if it's this exotic, then that might even prove difficult.

It's a nice effort, and I'm glad Honda are doing it, it's cool and funky. I quite like HRC/Honda willy waving exercises, they tend to showoff interesting stuff.

But for me, please lump a not so special V4 in a Fireblade Chassis, whack a DCT clutch in, give it some basic electronics, stick a £15k sticker on it, and I'll buy it now. £40k, as special as this bike will be, it's a little bit beyond what I can do :(

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 16:38


typhon219
As soon as I saw the press release this morning I had the V4 Blade conversation. Absolutely agree with Rob M 9 if they make one for £15k or less I'll buy it straight away, what was Haslam saying about the future with Honda?

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 17:24


SodaO
I can't see how it can cost 40K. When the Desmo launched there was no RSV4. Aprilia can do what Honda (by their own admission are trying to compete with) for 15K. V4, advanced electronics and even (if you live in Australia) carbon fairings, TT36 rear shock and Akra Evo full race system.

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 20:16


Anthony DeVincenzo
This bike already exists. Its called the Aprilia RSV4.

Word to Soda

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 21:51


Szmolo
If it's not silly money, then I'll take a V4 Blade in Repsol colours please. Can't wait to bring to life my 06' Hayden and 2011 Stoner fanboy wet dreams!!

Posted: 21/09/2012 at 22:25


pyndman
...and who said nothing good would come out of the CRT movement? I see that as pretty good outcome. Casey Stoner has spat the dummy over it and will plod around in family cars from now on over it. Ooops.

Posted: 22/09/2012 at 03:41


Pagik
It deffo wreaks of the HRC CRT project. Even so, it's still gonna be silly money. I still say CRT is going to get better, 2013 the whole project has to step up though. We cannot have RdP and Espagaro constantly winnig this class. Other manufacturers HAVE to get involved. And once Honda throw their hat into the ring, Aprilia will not have it all their own way.

In which case (imo) Aprilia will do one of 2 things, make the ART (which is still a thinly disgused WSBK spec bike running on Bridgestones) work on these tyres, and a proper prototype chassis will go on it. From the likes of Suter, or FTR. Or, they'll spit their dummy, claim everything's unfair and toddle off back to WSBK.

I hope it's the former. Will be much better.

Posted: 22/09/2012 at 10:38


Marcelo suns
not to be really off-topic, but does anyone think Yamaha is going to step up to the plate and make a competitor to this Honda 213V? How about the street going Yamaha YZF M1? Yamaha has not updated the R1 since 2009 when they added the traction control.

WSBK Replica's: Aprilia RSV4 Factory ASPC, BMW S1000RR, Ducati 1199 & Kawasaki ZX10R

MotoGp Replica's: Ducati Desmosedici
in the wings??? Honda RC213v? Yamaha M1?

Posted: 22/09/2012 at 17:02


These are'nt the droids we're looking for!
Me want one...

Posted: 22/09/2012 at 18:44


BadPige
2014 can't come soon enough, I'm saving my pennies now.

Might have missed out on the Desmo but would rather have Honda any day :)

Posted: 24/09/2012 at 14:01


Pagik
SodaO and Anthony, this bike doesn't already exist. The RSV4 is going to be a fair way away from this thing. Sure the RSV4 is an amazing bit of kit. God knows I want one.

But this new Honda is going to be about as trick as they come road legal wise. Remember the NR750? Think along those lines and you'll be somewhere near what this things going to be like, only a WHOLE lot more.

Oh yeah, one other thing just quick the RSV4 Carbon Special Edition is £25,000. Not £15. And then you've gotta ship it from Oz, and re-register it. So more like £28k. Still not £40k I'll give ya, but still a whole lot more than £15k.

Posted: 24/09/2012 at 18:46


jesze
I am jizzing everywhere at the thought of this <3

Posted: 25/09/2012 at 09:39


Kenny McQuillan
Sigh !!!
An other lawn mower !
Honda's are the skoda's of the bike world . Lol
Not worth £40 !

Posted: 25/09/2012 at 16:26


Pagik
I'm wondering if it'll be in HRC colours or Repsol colours?

Posted: 25/09/2012 at 18:54


sav man
Surely 40K is not a realistic price tag for something aimed at us joe publics, unless>>.. they want a repeat of that oval piston show piece that is now adorning collectors garages or the collectable heading on e bay ..15k is out of my range ,but i am sure there are plenty of people who prefer reliability to pretty so Japanese V Italian no contest .
It sounds like it will be an awesome bit o kit, shame the sound will be toned down .
Will you need to plug in yer laptop every morning to remap for the journey to work if there are more left than right handers ,bye bye license, sorry for being cynical, but it will be so trick it will have to go to the dealers to change a headlamp bulb
I would f....g love one!!!

Posted: 25/09/2012 at 22:45


Anthony DeVincenzo
Pagik, do you have inside info or are you just hoping?

The Aprilia has some pretty trick electronics as it is. Maybe this honda will have electronics for the first time? It will probably have a DCT option or maybe at least the innovative clutch mechanism they are using on the GP bikes this year.

The Aprilia isn't priced as high here in the US. The Factory ARPC (Full blown here in the states) MSRP is $24,000. Thats 14,815 pounds about.

I hope they make the coolest bike possible regardless. I am all about technology unlike a lot of other people here in the states.

Posted: 25/09/2012 at 23:53


Pagik
Anthony, Just bits and pieces I find during my daily wanderings around the Interweb. Knowing Honda, this will be an exercise in showing exactly what they are capable of. And as I say, during my daily rambles. The Aprilia I was referring to is the Carbon one (the really trick one). Which seems to only be available in Oz there's a link on here somewhere. It's a foxy looking bike.

I should think it'll have the DCT gearbox. After all, it's gonna be as Rob says a willy waving exercise from Honda.

It'll deffo be cool. Whatever happens mate :)

Posted: 26/09/2012 at 10:15

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