First Look: 2016 Honda RC213V-S - Only 101 hp?

Honda finally made its big splash presentation of its long-awaited RC213V-S street-legal MotoGP replica machine at a press event prior to the Catalunya round of the MotoGP World Championship. The bike appears to identical to the machine that was shown at the EICMA show in November of last year, with the "HRC Tricolor" paint scheme and bar-end mirrors.

Big news is that the list price of the RC213V-S was announced at the event: for US customers, the price tag will be a princely $184,000. Back in November, American Honda reps weren't even sure the RCV-S was even going to be brought to these shores, but apparently that decision has been made to go ahead with the importation. Reservations for purchase of the RCV-S will be taken starting on July 12, 2015 at 3:00PM on the official RC213V-S website. According to the Chief Operating Officer of Honda Motor Japan, Tetsuo Suzuki, the bikes will be hand-assembled by HRC technicians at the rate of "one per day," and that Honda/HRC have "decided to end the production period at the end of next year (2016)." That means that around 400 or so units will likely be built for worldwide distribution.

Lost in all the hoopla, however, was the fact that the US version is significantly detuned compared to the European and Australian versions. While the European/Australian RC213V-S models will reportedly put out 159 PS (metric horsepower, or approximately 156 horsepower) in standard trim—an optional “sports kit” that includes a new ECU, different front ram-air ducting, a different exhaust (dumping the catalytic converters and mufflers for full race baffles), quickshifter, data logger, etc., boosts power to “over 215PS” (approximately 212 horsepower), but also renders the bike “for closed course only”—the US model will only put out 101 horsepower according to the US spec page (engine rpm is reportedly limited to 9400 rpm on the US model in order to pass noise emissions standards). It is also stated on the spec page that “the Sports Kit is not available for sale in the USA.”

According to the "Series – Large Project Leader" Yosuke Hasegawa, the RC213V-S is basically identical to the RCV1000R Open Class racebike that Honda introduced last year...just with lights, catalytic converters, mufflers, and other street paraphernalia for legal purposes. The 999cc V-4 engine with titanium rods sports bore/stroke measurements of 81.0 x 48.5mm with a compression ratio of 13:1, and the PGM-DSFI throttle bodies each measuring 48mm in diameter. Suspension is handled by fully adjustable Öhlins TTX components, with a gas-charged TTX25 fork up front and TTX36 shock out back; dual 320mm discs are clamped by Brembo monobloc calipers, with a single 220mm disc in the rear. Seven-spoke forged magnesium Marchesini wheels are shod with Bridgestone RS10 rubber, with the usual 120/70ZR-17 in front and 190/55ZR-17 in the back. Curb weight is specified as 418 pounds, with the wheelbase listed as 57.7 inches.

The RC213V-S is also the first Honda sportbike to be equipped with electronic rider aids, something the company has long resisted in embracing on its CBR lineup of motorcycles. The first Honda ride-by-wire throttle system is featured on the bike, in addition to selectable power modes, engine braking levels, and traction control settings.