2014-spec RC213V revealed

Did the best just get better?

DON’T be fooled by the fact it looks near-identical to the existing Honda GP machine – this 2014-spec RC213V is said to be almost entirely new.

While the main bodywork change is a new ‘smiley’ face for the RC-V, with a single upturned mouth instead of the twin intakes of the existing bikes (and a notable contrast to the new Suzuki’s sad-looking expression), underneath all that carbon fibre the chassis and engine have changed significantly.

At a glance it looks like the frame has been reshaped around the swingarm pivot, while the fuel tank is one litre smaller to fit the new 20-litre capacity limit that will be introduced next year.

That new fuel limit also explains why the engine will have been altered, perhaps quite significantly, as it will have to be even more efficient if it’s to meet the new rules without a reduction in performance.

While new, the parts on the 2014 bike are interchangeable with the existing machine’s, so should Pedrosa or Marquez prefer the new chassis, for instance, they could adopt it immediately instead of waiting for next year.