Honda RC series

Honda RC series

RC is the prefix adopted for the large majority of works racing motorcycles manufactured by the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), a subsidiary of Honda of Japan.

Contents

History of the RC name

Use of the RC name stretches from Honda's entry onto the international motorcycle Grand Prix stage in 1959 to the present day. In recent years the prefix has also been applied to a few production motorcycles, which have been created for homologation purposes. For works Motocross bikes, there was an additional M suffix.

In the late 1980s, Honda began to enter its production motorcycles in Superbike, or production-based, racing series, such as the new FIM Superbike World Championship. The most successful of these was the VFR750R, which eventually became better known by its model number, RC30.

Honda naming convention

Since at least the late 1970s production Honda motorcycles have been given model numbers corresponding to the displacement category into which their engines fell, and the VFR750R was the 30th production Honda motorcycle model with an engine displacement between 650 cc and 899 cc. Similarly, the Honda RVF750R is also known by the designation RC45. The RC45's replacement, the VTR1000 SP-1 (model number SC45) was marketed under the name RC51 only in the United States.

List of RC motorcycles

Honda Racing Motorcycles
Model Model years Engine Configuration Bore x Stroke Engine Displacement Transmission Other information
RC71 1958 Twin 247.33 cc (15 cu in) 4 Speed
RC110 1962 Single 40 × 39 mm 49.00 cc 4 valves per cylinder
RC111 1962 Single 40 × 39 mm 49.00 cc 4 valves per cylinder
RC112 1962 Twin 49.61 cc (3 cu in) 9 Speed
RC113 1963 Twin 33 × 29 mm 49.61 cc (3 cu in) 9 Speed 4 valves per cylinder
RC114 1964 Twin 49.61 cc
2RC114 1964 ??? cc
RC115 1965 Twin 49.8 cc (3 cu in) 9 Speed
RC116 1966 Twin 49.8 cc (3 cu in) 9 Speed
RC125M 1981-1984 Single 124 cc (8 cu in) 6 Speed
RC141 1959 Twin 44 × 41 mm 124.68 cc (8 cu in) 6 Speed 2 valves per cylinder
RC142 1959 Twin 44 × 41 mm 124.68 cc (8 cu in) 6 Speed 4 valves per cylinder
RC143 1960 Twin 44 × 41 mm 124.68 cc (8 cu in) 6 Speed
2RC143 1961 Twin 44 × 41 mm 124.68 cc (8 cu in) 6 Speed
RC144 1961 Twin 42 × 45 mm 124.69cc
RC145 1962 Twin 124.68 cc (8 cu in) 6 Speed
RC146 1963 Inline-4 35 × 32 mm 123.15 cc 7 Speed
2RC146 1964 Inline-4 35 × 32 mm 123.15 cc (8 cu in) 7 Speed
4RC146 1965 Inline-4 123.15 cc
RC148 1965 Inline-5 124.02 cc
RC149 1966 Inline-5 124.42 cc (8 cu in) 8 Speed
RC160 1959 Inline-4 44 × 41 mm 249.37 cc (15 cu in) 5 Speed
RC161 1960 Inline-4 44 × 41 mm 249.37 cc (15 cu in) 6 Speed
RC162 1961 Inline-4 249.37 cc (15 cu in) 6 Speed 4 valves per cylinder
RC163 1962 Inline-4 249.37 cc (15 cu in) 6 Speed
RC164 1963 Inline-4 249.3 cc (15 cu in) 6 Speed
2RC164 1964 Inline-4 249.3 cc (15 cu in)
3RC164 1964 Inline-6 247.43 cc
3RC164 1965 Inline-6 247.28 cc
RC165 1965 Inline-6 247.28 cc
RC166 1966 Inline-6 249.42 cc (15 cu in) 7 Speed
RC170 1962 Inline-4 47 × 41 mm 284.53 cc (17 cu in)
RC171 1962 Inline-4 339.43 cc (21 cu in) 6 Speed
RC172 1964 Inline-4 50 × 44.5 mm 349.50 cc (21 cu in)
RC174 1967 Inline-6 297.06 cc (18 cu in) 7 Speed
RC181 1967 Inline-4 499.6 cc (30 cu in) 6 Speed
RC250M 1980-1982 Single 248 cc (15 cu in) 5 Speed
RC250MA 1991 Single 249 cc (15 cu in) Automatic
RC500M 1984 Single 491.5 cc (30 cu in) 5 Speed
RC1000 1981 Inline-4 999.36 cc (61 cu in) 5 Speed
RCB1000 1976 Inline-4 997.48 cc
RC51 2000-2006 V-Twin 100 × 63.6 mm 999 cc (61 cu in) 6 Speed 4 valves per cylinder
RC211V 2001-2006 V-5 990 cc (60 cu in)
RC212V 2007-Current V-4 800 cc

  1. ^ Oxley, Mat (2001). The Challenge & Dream of Honda - 500 Grand Prix Motor Cycle Wins (1 ed.). Richmond: Hazleton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1903435036. 
  2. ^ "Honda RC51". American Motorcyclist. American Motorcyclist Association. July 2000. p. 16. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NPsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=%22Honda+RC51%22&hl=en&ei=yEzTTOP4FNCwhAfDpuTKBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Honda%20RC51%22&f=false. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  3. ^ "HONDA RC71" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/?action_english_detail=1&productid=246&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  4. ^ "HONDA RC112" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=199&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  5. ^ "HONDA RC113" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=201&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  6. ^ "HONDA RC115" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=202&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  7. ^ "HONDA RC116" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=204&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  8. ^ "HONDA RC125M" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=206&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  9. ^ a b c d e Falloon, Ian (2005). The Honda Story (1 ed.). Sparkford, Yeovil: Haynes Publishing. ISBN 185960966X. 
  10. ^ "HONDA RC142" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/?action_english_detail=1&productid=736&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  11. ^ "HONDA RC143" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/?action_english_detail=1&productid=211&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  12. ^ "HONDA 2RC143" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=459&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  13. ^ "HONDA RC145" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=213&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  14. ^ "HONDA 2RC146" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=38&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  15. ^ "HONDA RC149" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=215&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  16. ^ "HONDA RC160" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/?action_english_detail=1&productid=217&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  17. ^ "HONDA RC161" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=221&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  18. ^ "HONDA RC162" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=223&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  19. ^ "HONDA RC163" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=555&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  20. ^ "HONDA RC164" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=227&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  21. ^ "HONDA RC166" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=229&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  22. ^ "HONDA RC171" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=231&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  23. ^ "HONDA RC174" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=234&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  24. ^ "HONDA RC181" (in English). Honda at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005. Honda Worldwide. http://world.honda.com/goodwood/machines/rc181/. Retrieved 12 November 2010. 
  25. ^ "HONDA RC250M" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=239&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  26. ^ "HONDA RC250MA" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=241&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  27. ^ "HONDA RC500M" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=244&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  28. ^ "HONDA RC1000" (in English). Honda collection Hall - Collection Search. Honda Worldwide. http://app.mobilityland.co.jp/hch/search/english/index.php?action_english_detail=1&productid=248&type=age&genreid=10&modelid=1. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
  29. ^ "2004 Honda RC51 Base". Motorcycle.com. 2004. http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/honda/sport/2004/rc51/base/detail.html. Retrieved 20 November 2010. 
  30. ^ "HONDA RC211V" (in English). Honda at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005. Honda Worldwide. http://world.honda.com/goodwood/machines/rc211v/. Retrieved 12 November 2010. 
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