honda SP3

Gothy · 01-29-2008, 6:44 PM

Is this machine really being built?

Honda vtr1200 SP3

Its a 1200 V twin, to race in world superbikes, to fight ducati's new 1098R (which is a 1198 ? ).
Aparntly they want to see what the new blade is like up against it.

If the blade fails, they may build the SP3 because of the success they had with the SP1 and SP2!

rokitt51 · 01-29-2008, 7:15 PM

Honda isnt going to build a bike and call it an SP3 and think that they will have success just because of the SP1 and SP2. that dont make much sense. They would have to do the R&D, build the bike, test the bike, and homologate the bike for the race series. I mean hell its honda, it can be done but why. they have the new 1000 to compete with. If they were going to do anything with a twin, i dont think that the development of the RC would have stopped.

Gothy · 01-29-2008, 7:29 PM

thats true,
so if they no longer use the sp2 in racing
Why keep it in production? - (other than the fact its a good sellling bike)
maybe they have an alteria motive.

Its been rumored a while ago in MCN - motorcycle news, (a great publication for bikers, every wednesday) in the UK. "the mole", discovered a bit of leaked info from honda.
That Honda may be thinking about a 1200cc V2 to go up agianst the 1098R.
People are calling it the SP3, that may not be its real name.
However like i said before, it could be a 2009 bike, maybe they are waiting to see how the new blade fairs against the 1098R in 2008.

Bobcat Sig · 01-30-2008, 12:15 AM

I too have heard of this, though not as the "SP3", but instead as the RC61, being the successor to the RC51 here state side. Though its the same bike - just different names.

But whatever the case may be, it would sure be sweet to see Honda run a bike like that or even run that AND the new 'Blade ... two different bikes running in WSBK would be way rad!

ChrisR1982Edin · 01-30-2008, 5:33 AM

And if they did.. then my next bike would be the new RC. I HATE the look of the new blade!!! It is one of the ugliest bikes I have ever seen! It looks like a bunch of guys took several different bikes, cut them up and picked which bits they liked and stuck them all together to create one bike.. it looks horrid!!

Bike comparison image
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1888/86591100ha9.jpg

Front end... Ducati
side exhaust... Suzuki GSXR
rear end... Yamaha R1

Now im sure if I had a closer look at it I would be able to pick other similarities....

The RC doesn't look like a bike from other manufacturers.

I have already decided that my next bike is going to be the Suzuki GSXR1000 because I dont like the look of any of the new sports 1000s except the GSXR1000.. and even at that... I hate the exhausts! But aftermarket parts can sort that!

Ninja 10R - headlights... YUCH!!!! Exhausts... LOW MOUNT!?! WHY!?! It looked great with dual high mounts!!!! That was one of the main reasons I have allways loved the Ninja 10R.. and they get rid of them!?!

Fireblade... see above.. YUCH!!!

R1... VERY nice looking bike... side indicators... come on!! Its 2008!!! Stick them either into the fairing or add them to the mirrors! But I sat on one.... it feels really small... kinda like a toy...

Personally I think the only decent bike is the GSXR... Honda really need to go back to basics... Take the RC51 and use modern tech on it to bring it more up-to-date. Lighter rims, lighter frame, lighter exhausts, squeeze more power from it... indicators mounted in the mirrors.. carbon fibre aftermarket optional parts etc etc etc... If they did.. that would be my next bike.

KDA · 01-30-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokitt51

Honda isnt going to build a bike and call it an SP3 and think that they will have success just because of the SP1 and SP2. that dont make much sense. They would have to do the R&D, build the bike, test the bike, and homologate the bike for the race series. I mean hell its honda, it can be done but why. they have the new 1000 to compete with. If they were going to do anything with a twin, i dont think that the development of the RC would have stopped.

If I remember correctly, they stopped developing the RC once they were allowed to run 1000 4s against 1000 V2's. Now the rules have changed again to allow 1200 v2s. against the 1000 4s. They would be stupid if they are not at least conceptually considering building a 1200 v2. That was really the only reason the RC ever came about. Twins had a 250cc advantage over 4's back then and they were tired of getting their butt kicked by the twins aka ducatis.

skwyd · 02-05-2008, 4:17 PM

Check this link:

Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - The 2008 CBR1000RR and RC61 rumors

skwyd · 02-05-2008, 4:20 PM

and this one:

http://www.pitstop.gr/image.php?u=25...ine=1187436458

nedro · 02-05-2008, 4:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gothy

Is this machine really being built?

Honda vtr1200 SP3

Its a 1200 V twin, to race in world superbikes, to fight ducati's new 1098R (which is a 1198 ? ).
Aparntly they want to see what the new blade is like up against it.

If the blade fails, they may build the SP3 because of the success they had with the SP1 and SP2!

How quickly they forget Ten Kate...

I'm hoping Ducati comes up with something to compete with, But I'm far from worried.

fc3s driver · 02-05-2008, 9:09 PM

I too have heard about this all new rc61, but I heard it from a person not a magazine. there's a gentelman that I do track days with that raced a rc51, he always had some cool hrc parts on it but his answer's to were he got them was always "I've got my people". then one day he showed up with no 51, I asked what's the deal, he answerd, I needed the extra money for another project that is in devolpment. after further noiesing around and asking him questions he finally broke down and told me that he gets his parts from his friend in japan, and that the friend works for HRC. he sold the 51 because this "friend" told him that there was a huge project in the works at HRC and that he better start saving his money. this project is the RC61, I tried to dig further but he was pretty tight lip about it. not sure if knows more and is not talking or is just full of ****, but he has never steered me wrong before, very straight up guy. it was about a month later that all the RC61 stuff started hitting the net.

J-Pip · 02-13-2008, 2:22 AM

I would guess that Honda is working on a 1200cc twin. WSBK is getting more popular and the Bayliss on 999R was already competitive without the extra 200cc's. After all, arn't these the same circumstances that Honda faced when they designed the RC51?
I wouldn't count the new Fireblade out though.

jkobflys · 02-13-2008, 2:37 AM

i wouldent doubt it as ducati has the 1198 and ktm has the rc8 1145 cc. i dont think honda is far behind i'm going to wait and see what hapens, allready started saving for the rc8 unless honda does release a new rc then it shall be the ktm.

Maholli · 02-13-2008, 2:49 AM

Im pretty sure Honda will come out with a new updated twin.. The advantages of a twin over an inline would make it a much better bike than any of the inlines..

MelScrilla · 03-31-2008, 1:49 AM

I have a quick question if the WSBK keeps changing the rules it seems like we will see 1500 cc I4's on the track in about ten years. Im not clear on the production rules but wont that also bring those bikes to the street. After that what seperates that from an open class bike it would be like a hayabusa powered Supersport.

It seems like it would be more productive for WSBK to settle at a common ground like 1000cc's and let the manufacturers squeeze as much out of them as they can. If Ducati cant compete with a 1098 i think it would be interesting to see them produce there first racing I4 and move out of their comfort zone like they make honda and suzuki do with the RC and TL1000R. Why does it seem like they can say we cant compete and get a rule change and make people adjust to them when they're in the minority instead of them adjusting to the majority.

I guess that got kinda long huh. BUt I was just wondering.

lanbrown · 03-31-2008, 2:03 AM

They won't keep allowing the displacement to increase. Look at Moto GP, why do you think they reduced the displacement? If you think the manufacturers want bigger and bigger engines, think again. Ducati needed a competitive advantage so they wanted more displacement again. Honda might make a V-twin with 1200cc. They could also just try a different engine config to get similar results. Nothing is keeping Honda from a V4 1000cc bike or even a V5.

The last reason why you won't see 1400 or 1500cc bikes, the tries. A tire can only take so much abuse before it lets go. While tire technology is increasing, they wouldn't be able to use soft compounds and 1500cc bikes and have them last the length of a race.

To answer your last question, Ducati is mainly a V-twin company. That is what their customers want and WSBK wants as many manufacturers to compete as they can. The Japanese wanted 1000cc bikes for WSBK. This has allowed most of them to save development money going into a niche bike; RC45, R7, etc. That now meant Dicati has a disadvantage and that has no bee corrected.

rokitt51 · 04-01-2008, 3:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDA

If I remember correctly, they stopped developing the RC once they were allowed to run 1000 4s against 1000 V2's. Now the rules have changed again to allow 1200 v2s. against the 1000 4s. They would be stupid if they are not at least conceptually considering building a 1200 v2. That was really the only reason the RC ever came about. Twins had a 250cc advantage over 4's back then and they were tired of getting their butt kicked by the twins aka ducatis.