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- The secrets behind the RC-V Series
- RC-V Series History
RC211V(2001 to 2006)
RC212V(2007 to 2011)
RC213V(From 2012)
Length
RC211V : 2050mm
RC212V : 2052mm
RC213V : 2052mm
Height
RC211V : 1130mm
RC212V : 1110mm
RC213V : 1110mm
Width
RC211V : 645mm
RC212V : 645mm
RC213V : 645mm
Wheelbase
RC211V : 1440mm
RC212V : 1435mm
RC213V : 1435mm
Road clearance
RC211V : 130mm
RC212V : 115mm
RC213V : 115mm
Weight
RC211V : Over 148kg
RC212V : Over 150kg
RC213V : To be based on FIM
regulations
Engine type
RC211V : Water-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC
V-5, 4-valves per cyl.
RC212V : Water-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC
V-4, 4-valves per cyl.
RC213V : Water-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC
V-4, 4-valves per cyl.
Displacement
RC211V : 990cc
RC212V : 800cc
RC213V : 1000cc
Max. power
RC211V : Over 240 hp
RC212V : Over 210 hp
RC213V : Over 230 hp
Frame
RC211V : Twin tube
RC212V : Twin tube
RC213V : Twin tube
Front tire
RC211V : 16.5-inch
RC212V : 16.5-inch
RC213V : 16.5-inch
Rear tire
RC211V : 16.5-inch
RC212V : 16.5-inch
RC213V : 16.5-inch
Front suspension
RC211V : Telescopic
RC212V : Telescopic
RC213V : Telescopic
Rear suspension
RC211V : New Unit Pro-Link
RC212V : Pro-Link
RC213V : Pro-Link
Fuel tank
RC211V : 22L
RC212V : 21L
RC213V : 21L
Q: Is riding these bike different than road bikes?
I hear that racing cars are driven in a completely different way than road cars. Is it the same for MotoGP racing bikes?
A: Essentially, they are ridden in exactly the same way.
The throttle and front brake are operated by the right hand, and the right foot works the rear brake. You use the clutch with your left hand and shift gears with your left foot. It's just the same as most road bikes. You could say that an RC-V racing bike is the ultimate version of the Honda road bike you ride.
Q: How fast do they go?
What top speeds do these MotoGP bikes reach?
A: Depending on the course, they can do about 350 km/h.
Some circuits are faster than others, but we are looking at a bike with an 800cc engine capable of over 220 hp, but weighing only 150kg or so – that's less than a 400cc road bike. This setup allows them to reach top speeds of around 350 km/h. The fastest speed reached in the 2011 season was by Dani Pedrosa in Round 8, the Italian GP, where he clocked 349.3 km/h.
Q: What's their fuel consumption like?
These bikes put out 220 hp, so I guess fuel consumption must be pretty poor?
A: It's not bad, considering the horsepower.
Taking the Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi Circuit as an example, it required less than 21 liters of fuel to cover the full 115 km distance. That comes to about 5.5 km/l. You wouldn't call that very good for a road bike, but when you consider that Casey Stoner won this race riding at an average speed of 164.2 km/h, it certainly isn't bad. Today's MotoGP regulations specify fuel tank capacity, so races aren't simply about the bike's power – if we don't ensure good fuel consumption, there's always a danger of running out before completing the course.
