Honda to Produce MotoGP-Derived V4 Superbike

Honda Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito announced plans to produce a new super sports bike derived from its RC213V MotoGP race bike.

A V4 Honda sportsbike has long been rumored to be in development but it finally appears the project is getting the green light. Speaking about Honda’s plans for the next five years, Ito confirmed the sportbike is on its way, using technology from the company’s successful MotoGP program.

“Since its market introduction in 1987, the RC30 (VFR750R) super sports bike has been loved by a large number of fans,” says Ito. “With a goal to create a new history, passionate Honda engineers have gotten together and have begun development of a new super sports bike to which new technologies from MotoGP machines will be applied.”

Ito did not go into specifics about the new sportbike or what it may mean for the venerable CBR1000RR. The new sportbike will most assuredly use a V4 engine however. The Honda RC213V MotoGP prototype uses a V4, and it’s no coincidence Ito referenced the RC30 which is powered by a 748cc V4 engine. Honda has recently begun introducing new V4 production models such as the VFR1200F and the Crossrunner, but the new model is likely to be a literbike.

Honda has also previously announced plans to develop a lower-spec version of the RC213V to be sold to prospective race teams. This production racer and the newly announced production model will likely share a lot of the same DNA as well.

Ito did not provide a timeline for when the new sportbike will enter production but Honda will likely show some form of a prototype at the upcoming Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, or the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, in November.

[Source: Honda; Photo by GEPA Pictures]

By Dennis Chung