$184K Honda RC213V-S To Make Only 101 Horsepower

Tom Roderick
by Tom Roderick

It’s official. The street-legal version of Honda‘s prototype MotoGP racer, the RC213V-S, is coming stateside as a 2016 model. According to Honda, the U.S. market bike will retail for $184,000, but its price tag isn’t the most shocking figure, it’s the laughable 101 horsepower at 8,000 rpm to which the bike is limited. When we last strapped a gaggle of 600cc supersport bikes to a dyno the Yamaha YZF-R6 produced 107.2 hp at 13,600 rpm.

There are, in fact, different tiers of horsepower ratings depending on where the RC213V-S will be purchased. European models come stock with 157 hp at 11,000 rpm, but poor Japan gets models producing only 68 horsepower in stock form. Honda is offering race kits for the bike that cost $12,000, bringing engine output to 212 hp at 13,000 rpm and 87 lb-ft at 10,500 rpm. The kit, however, is not available stateside. Why? Because, in a case of American Honda playing by the rules, if the kit was made available here, people would install the kit in street-legal versions of the RCV-S, circumventing the whole horsepower limitation.

Honda is citing noise and emissions restrictions as the culprit for the low power outputs. Obviously, a CBR1000RR makes much more horsepower while still meeting these restrictions, but Honda says that while the CBR is designed and built as a streetbike conforming to these restrictions, the RC213V-S was designed and built as a prototype racer with emissions and noise restrictions added as a street-legalizing afterthought.

The RC213V-S is powered by a 90º V4 999cc engine with titanium connecting rods and a sand-cast aluminum crankcase. Mass on the lightweight machine is highly centralized with an under-seat fuel tank and carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic fairing. Among the components inherited or influenced directly from the race bike are the swingarm, slipper clutch, magnesium Marchesini wheels (17 inch size for the RC213V-S), pressurized Öhlins fork and adjustable footrests and foot controls, as well as most of the Brembo brake components. It also boasts throttle-by-wire, selectable power modes, engine-brake control and traction control, with position-detection technology developed through Honda’s ASIMO project.

Reservations for the RCV213V-S are being taken exclusively through the official model website: www.RC213V-S.com beginning at 3:00 p.m. PST on July 12, 2015.

Expect a full report from our man in Spain, John Burns, who’s at the official introduction.

RC213VRC213V-S (US)RC213V-S (Europe)RC213V-S
(Europe, with kit)
Overall length (mm)2,0522,1002,100【2,100】
Overall width (mm)645770790770
Overall height (mm)1,1101,1201,120【1,120】
Wheelbase (mm)1,4351,4651,465【1,465】
Minimum ground clearance (mm)115120120【120】
Seat height (mm)830830【830】
Vehicle weight348 lb.379 lb. (dry) (Curb Est. 418lbs.)375 lb. (dry)353 lb. (dry)
Maximum number of riders1 person1 person1 person1 person
Minimum turn radius (m)3.73.76.4
Engine typeLiquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-valve V4Liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-valve V4Liquid-cooled 4-stroke, DOHC 4-valve V4Liquid-cooled 4-stroke, DOHC 4-valve V4
Total displacement (cm3)999999999999
Bore × Stroke (mm)81.0 × 48.581.0 × 48.581.0 × 48.5
Compression ratio131313
Maximum powerOver 234 hp101 hp @ 8,000 rpm157 hp@ 11,000 rpm212 hp @ 13,000 rpm
Maximum torque66 lb-ft. @ 8,000 rpm75 lb-ft. @ 10,500 rpm87 lb-ft. @ 10,500 rpm
Fuel supplyPGM-FI (Programmed fuel injection system)PGM-FI (Programmed fuel injection system)PGM-FI (Programmed fuel injection system)
StarterSelfSelfSelf
IgnitionFull transistor, battery ignitionFull transistor, battery ignitionFull transistor, battery ignition
Fuel tank capacity5.28 gal.4.3 gal.4.3 gal.4.3 gal.
ClutchDry multi-plate, coil springDry multi-plate, coil springDry multi-plate, coil spring
TransmissionConstant mesh, 6-speed returnConstant mesh, 6-speed returnConstant mesh, 6-speed return
Transmission gear ratio1st2.1252.1252.125
2nd1.6471.6471.647
3rd1.3681.3681.368
4th1.2171.2171.217
5th1.11.11.1
6th1.0321.0321.032
Reduction gear ratio1.933/2.4711.933/2.4711.933/2.353~2.933
Caster angle (degrees)24.624.6【24.6】
Trail (mm)105105【105】
TireFront16.5120/70ZR17M/C120/70ZR17M/C120/70ZR17M/C
Rear16.5190/55ZR17M/C190/55ZR17M/C190/55ZR17M/C
BrakeFrontHydraulic double disc (Carbon)Hydraulic double disc (Steel)Hydraulic double discHydraulic double disc
RearHydraulic discHydraulic discHydraulic discHydraulic disc
SuspensionFrontTelescopicTelescopicTelescopic
RearPro-LinkPro-LinkPro-Link
FrameDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
Tom Roderick
Tom Roderick

A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.

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