Honda RC211V

Infobox Motorcycle
name = Honda RC211V


aka =
manufacturer = Honda Racing Corporation
production = 2002-2006
predecessor = Honda NSR500
successor = Honda RC212V
parent_company =
class =
platform =
engine = convert|990|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on four-stroke V5
transmission =
rake =
trail =
wheelbase =
length =
width =
seat_height =
dry_weight =
wet_weight =
fuel_economy =
fuel_capacity =
related = Honda CBR600RR
Honda CBR1000RR
similar = Aprilia RS3 Cube
Ducati Desmosedici GP6
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR
Team Roberts KR211V
Suzuki GSV-R
Yamaha YZR-M1The Honda RC211V was developed in 2001 by HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) to replace the Honda NSR500 because regulations for the World Championship motorcycle road racing convert|500|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on class were changed drastically for the 2002 season. The regulations changed, two-stroke engines were as before limited to convert|500|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on and 4 cylinders, but four-stroke engines were allowed to grow up to convert|990|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on and from three to six cylinders. The name of the class was modified to "MotoGP", and is limited to race prototypes only.

The model name designates the following:cite web |url=http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/honda_rc211v_gp/ |title=We Ride Honda's RC211V GP bike! |accessdate=2007-02-01 |format=HTML |publisher=Motorcyclist ]
* RC = Honda's traditional racing prefix
* 211 = first works bike of the 21st century
* V = V engine

2002

In 2002, the debut year of the RC211V, Honda and Valentino Rossi dominated by winning the constructor's championship by more than 100 points over their nearest rival. It underwent small modifications over the season, but it did not as yet have traction control so much as a handlebar-mounted power management system with 3 settings for different needs during a race. [ Scott, M. "Different Strokes," page 26. "Motocourse 2002-2003". Richmond, Hazleton Publishing Ltd., 2002.]

:Factory riders: Valentino Rossi, Tohru Ukawa:Satellite riders (in the latter part of the season): Alex Barros, Daijiro Kato

2003

Among other changes in 2003, power was increased from about 200 to 240 bhp. Traction control was also added. [ Spalding, N. "Better By Design," page 24. "Motocourse 2003-2004". Richmond, Hazleton Publishing Ltd., 2003.]

:Factory riders: Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Daijiro Kato, Sete Gibernau (after Kato's death):Satellite riders: Max Biaggi, Tohru Ukawa, Makoto Tamada, Ryuichi Kiyonari

2004

For 2004, a new, inverted rear suspension link was added, and a new exhaust was introduced at the Sachsenring round. [ [http://world.honda.com/WGP/2004/0718.html Honda Worldwide | WGP 2004 German Grand Prix, Sachsenring] World.honda.com, 2004-07-18.] The RC211V riders were unable to keep Rossi from winning his fourth premier-class championship, and no clear candidate appeared to take over Rossi's role of lead development rider for Honda.

:Factory riders: Alex Barros, Nicky Hayden, Sete Gibernau:Satellite riders: Max Biaggi, Colin Edwards, Makoto Tamada

2005

2005 would be the first time in 4 years Honda lost the constructor's championship in the premier class. The RC211V chassis underwent frequent revision and rewelding, with reversions to the 2003 design [Ryder, J.: "MotoGP Season Review 2005". Page 37. Sparkford, Haynes Publishing, 2005.] . After the race at Brno, Honda tested a new bike which both Hayden and Biaggi said was an improvement, and was thereafter known as the "Brno bike". [ [http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/19322/ Honda Racing Corporation Brno Test] "Speedtv.com," 2005-09-02.]

:Factory riders: Max Biaggi, Nicky Hayden, Sete Gibernau:Satellite riders: Alex Barros, Makoto Tamada, Marco Melandri, Troy Bayliss

2006

In 2006, the RC211V came in 3 flavors: the "Brno bike" to be ridden by Hayden, a 2006 bike with a special chassis for Pedrosa, and a 2006 bike to be ridden by Melandri, Elías, Stoner and Tamada; Melandri and Stoner eventually got the special Pedrosa chassis [Ryder, J.: "MotoGP Season Review 2006". Page 35. Sparkford, Haynes Publishing, 2006.] . Hayden's RC211V was modified to put the crankshaft higher, the clutch and gearbox lower, and to lengthen the swing arm; the goal was to centralize mass and improve stability. After the Jerez round, Hayden was the fastest Honda rider in testing [ [http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=9034 Hayden Leads Jerez Test] "Cyclenews.com", 2006-03-28.] . At the British GP, HRC gave Hayden a new chassis, but Hayden complained that he didn't have enough time to test it. Hayden had started the year with the same clutch as Pedrosa, but 4 rounds later it was shelved in favor of a clutch Hayden had used in previous years; at the Brno round, he had a problem with the clutch that contributed to a 9th-place finish. Honda and Hayden had difficulty finding a clutch that would allow a good launch at the start but also work well throughout the race. Hayden eventually won the rider championship and Honda reclaimed the constructor's championship. [Spalding, N.: "The Ghost Bike". "MotoGP Season Review 2006". Pages 26-29. Sparkford, Haynes Publishing, 2006.]

:Factory riders: Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa:Satellite riders: Makoto Tamada, Marco Melandri, Toni Elías, Casey Stoner

The RC211V was retired when rules dictated a switch to convert|800|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on capacity; Honda's bike for 2007 is the RC212V.

pecifications

Specifications as per manufacturer:cite web |url=http://world.honda.com/WGP/spec/ |title=Honda RC211V specifications |accessdate=2007-03-03 |format=HTML |publisher=Honda Racing ]

Notes

External links

* [http://world.honda.com/WGP/ Honda Worldwide | MotoGP] - official Honda MotoGP site