[Kenny Sagawa, Webike News Chief Editor]
The other day, I tried out RC213V-S in a circuit event conducted by a two-wheels magazine.
The head of RS Taichi, Matsubara, brought in the vehicle to offer test rides for limited participants in a circuit. That event excited the venue very much. I luckily tried out the machine several laps in the Motegi short course.
What is great?
As you may know, RC213V-S is a partly modified machine of RC213V that won the championship in 2013 and 2014 in a row in MotoGP, the world’s top level road race, so as to run on public roads.
To make it short, RC213V-S is like a machine putting lighting fixtures and a number plate on the MotoGP machine.
 |
 |
As Honda said in its announcement, RC213V-S takes a different stance from the ordinary racer replicas: not applying technologies gained through races to the production vehicle, but aiming to run the machine developed to win in MotoGP on public roads; RC213V-S is not a replica having a similar image but a machine having same contents as the real one.
To achieve the goal, like the MotoGP machine, the mass is intensively centralized and friction is reduced. Further, RC213V-S is equipped with control technologies. The biggest differences from production vehicles are the lightweight components, processing accuracy, and high technologies on production.
Production vehicle using components “to win”
In the announcement, Honda said “RC213V consists of only components necessary for a victory.” There is a story that supports this. A Honda developer told me before that she/he would not mind spending a hundred million Yen if necessary to develop a part for a victory in MotoGP.
The machine that the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world having cutting-edge technologies puts all the efforts into creating, to win a victory in the world’s top level road race. If you know that the RC213V-S is the second twin, you may realize how great it is.
 |
 |
How is the ride quality?
I feel just “normal” with a test ride. Adrenaline rushed through my system before the test ride and I was all fired up with “come, any monsters.” I was surprised that I could ride unexpectedly naturally.
The engine is calm, the clutch shifts smoothly, the sound is quiet. The riding position is unexpectedly relaxed not so deeply leaning forward. The vehicle is like a bit larger than CBR1000RR. The steering angle is regulated to 26 degrees, but the torque at low speed is so satisfied that U-turn is normally made with a large turn.
“The design and sound do not exhibit how great they are at all. Conversely, this is great. Even a beginner who has recently obtained a driving license would ride this motorcycle.”
Acceleration like flying up with the wind
You can see an extraordinary aspect when riding in a circuit. First of all, the engine responds quickly. When you open the throttle in a straight line, you hit the rev limiter in a short time. This may be because the rev limiter is set lower in Japan spec. There is no time to enjoy revving up the engine.
“You will fully realize the high accuracy of each small part composing the engine, little friction loss
and little vibration through the feeling of the engine rotation. Acceleration is like flying up lightly with the wind rather than kicking a road surface.”
The handling is lighter than any other machines that I have ever ridden and has such a nimble feeling that you don’t feel the mass of heavyweight things such as the engine. Especially in a s-shaped line, I had a feeling that I could shift weight instantly right and left with maximum leaning angle, familiar scenes in MotoGP. Of course, the RC213V-S was not mine and thinking of the price held me back, needless to say.
A safe and stable feeling on turning a corner is superb. I have never been able to take a tight corner so accurately with any other production super sports vehicles. Unfortunately, I didn’t ride so that I could have benefit of the electric control.
What is the value?
Honda believes that it is a rider to handle a machine and that “handling” is “a means necessary to win.” In a way, RC213V-S can be a machine that embodies Honda’s belief “the fastest machine is the easiest machine to handle.”
On the day, RS Taichi owner Matsubara rode the RC213V-S to Twin Ring Motegi from Osaka. He and lucky participants who took test rides would feel the Honda’s belief.
The price was 21.9 million Yen when RC213V-S was released. The out-of-the-box price gathered attentions and only the price became a center of focus. After the test ride, I came to think that the price would be reasonable for those who understood the background and experienced the irregular ride.
Imagine that you would enjoy touring on public roads with a machine like a factory machine that is said to be hundreds of millions of yen. It may be easier to understand if you put it into a four-wheel F1 machine.
Of course, only limited people may own RC213V-S and values vary among individuals. It seems to me the value of RC213V-S is huge considering that the machine is a compilation of motorcycle history and technologies that human beings have accumulated over one hundred years. I hope you will have an opportunity to take a test ride!
