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Honda VTR 1000 RC51 SP2

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Make Model

Honda VTR 1000 RC51 SP2

Year

2003

Engine

Four stroke, 90°V-twin cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder

Capacity

996 cc / 60.8 cu-in

Bore x Stroke 100 x 63.6 mm
Compression Ratio 10.8:1
Cooling System Liquid cooled
Lubrication Wet sump

Induction

Electronic fuel injection PGM-FI with two injectors per cylinder

Ignition 

Computer-controlled digital transistorized 

Starting Electric

Max Power

136 hp / 100 kW @ 9500 rpm 

Max Torque

10.7 kgf-m / 105 Nm @ 8000 rpm

Clutch Hydraulic clutch

Transmission 

6 Speed 

Final Drive Chain
Frame Aluminium, twin spar

Front Suspension

43mm inverted cartridge-type fork with adjustable spring preload, and compression and rebound damping,

Front Wheel Travel 130 mm / 5.1 in

Rear Suspension

Pro-Link with gas-charged integrated remote reservoir damper offering adjustable preload, and compression and rebound damping,

Rear Wheel Travel 120 mm / 4.7 in

Front Brakes

2x 320mm discs 4 piston calipers

Rear Brakes

Single 220mm disc 1 piston caliper

Front Tyre

120/70 ZR17

Rear Tyre

190/50 ZR17

Dimensions Length 2040 mm / 80.3 in
Width  725 mm / 28.5 in
Height 1145 mm / 45.0 in
Wheelbase 1420 mm / 55.9 in
Seat Height 813 mm / 32.0 in
Ground Clearance 130 mm / 5.1 in

Dry Weight

194 kg / 430 lbs

Fuel Capacity

18 Liters / 3.8 US gal

Consumption Average

19.5 km/lit

Standing ¼ Mile  

10.9 sec / 209 mph

Top Speed

271.3 km/h / 168.5 mph

Road Test

BIKE 2002

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The RC51 was designed as the motorcycle to be used by Honda's racing teams in the Superbike World Championship.The 2000–2001 models are designated SP1, while the 2002–2006 models are designated SP2 (the latter having updated fuel injection and suspension systems).
1988–2002 In 1988, new rules in superbike racing allowed V-twin engines up to 999 cc to compete. Prior to the rules change, 750 cc four-cylinder motorcycles were the dominant force in production based competition. During the first two years of the World Superbike championship, Honda won the series with their RC30, powered by a 750 cc V-4. In 1990, however, Raymond Roche secured Ducati's first world title aboard the Ducati 851. Throughout the next 11 years, Ducati would go on to win 8 World Superbike Championships with their V-twins (Honda won two and Kawasaki just one).

Honda was unable to win consistently, particularly because of rival V-twins' displacement advantage over Honda's V-4. In 2000 Honda released the RC51, powered by a 999 cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine. That year, it won the World Superbike Championship with Colin Edwards riding for the Castrol team. In 2001, Ducati regained the title but the RC51 was still a contender boasting superior reliability with comparable speed and power. The RC51 won again in its final year of factory-supported racing in World Superbike in 2002 after Edwards' tremendous title fight with Troy Bayliss and that same year also captured the AMA Superbike title with Nicky Hayden. Honda had taken the lessons learned in the SP-1's first season, producing the SP-2 for 2002. A stronger, more rigid frame and swingarm were identical to the WSB race bike parts and engine modifications boosted peak power by 3 kW (4 bhp) and cut weight by 5 kg (11 lb).

Factory specifications for road going SP-2s (sourced from Honda) were 133 bhp with a top speed of 168 mph.
Wim Motors won the 2001 Endurance FIM World Championship.

2003–present Honda stopped official support for superbike racing in 2003 (though some teams have had factory support) and as superbike rules changed to allow 1000 cc 4-cylinder bikes the RC51 was replaced by the CBR1000RR Fireblade as the Honda superbike racer.

 In 2004, Honda released the Nicky Hayden special edition, which differed from previous models in that it had a brushed aluminum frame and swing arm, a sticker kit, and white number plates on the front upper fairing and tail fairing.

Honda's RC51 won the 2002 AMA Superbike championship as well as dethroning Ducati as World Superbike champion. The 2003 RC51 offers incredible superbike performance for enthusiasts seeking the most powerful, best handling V-twin sport bike.

Unique Features
· Prodigious power is produced across a broad rpm band, peaking with 133 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 71 lb./ft.of torque at 8000 rpm in street-legal trim.
· Large 62mm fuel injection throttle bodies inspired by HRC's championship works racers.
· Two fuel injectors for each cylinder feature 12 laser-drilled jet holes in each injector tip for finer fuel atomization, resulting in more responsive throttle performance and faster, more efficient combustion for stronger power output.
· Twin side-mounted radiators each have electric cooling fans to improve engine cooling.
· Cone-shaped clutch spring plate quiets and smoothes clutch engagement. .
· HRC-designed press-forged aluminum swingarm.
· HRC-designed integrated remote rear shock reservoir is positioned for easy fitment of center-up high-performance competition exhaust.
· Five-spoke wheels feature aerodynamic forward-facing V-shaped spokes and next-generation Dunlop D208 tires.
· Windscreen shape is derived from Colin Edwards' championship World Superbike HRC racer.

Engine/Drivetrain
· 999cc DOHC eight-valve 90-degree V-twin engine is specially designed to withstand the rigors of superbike competition.
· Centrally-mounted ram-air intake duct routes cool, pressurized air directly through the frame's steering head structure to the 9.0-litre airbox, improving intake efficiency while slimming the aerodynamic profile. The ram-air duct doubles as a front cowl stay, shaving 0.34 kg. off of a conventional mounting system.
· Each cylinder head features large, 40mm intake and 34mm exhaust valves with a 24 degree included valve angle. This provides a short, direct path for the air/fuel charge entering the combustion chamber and results in high poweroutput.
· Gear-driven camshafts utilize three-axis drive gears to maintain accurate valve timing and durability at sustained high engine speeds.
· Innovative head gaskets minimize distortion caused by head bolt tightening, improving sealing performance and maintaining combustion pressure for consistent high poweroutput in competition conditions.
· Direct shim-under-bucket valve actuation system ensures high-rpm durability, and allows 25,600-km valve maintenance intervals.
· High-pressure programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) delivers fuel at 50 psi to two injectors per cylinder, mounted opposite each other in huge 62mm throttle bodies. Fuel is delivered through 12 nozzle holes in each injector, producing a very fine spray and a highly combustible air/fuel charge for maximum combustion efficiency and poweroutput.
· Cast aluminum pistons are screen-printed with solid LUB-Coat finish to minimize friction between the piston and cylinder wall.
· Aluminum composite cylinder sleeves are high-pressure-formed from sintered aluminum powder impregnated with ceramic and graphite. The lightweight composite sleeves provide better wear resistance and superior heat dissipation compared to conventional sleeves.
 

 Nutless connecting rods feature bolts threaded directly into tapped holes in rods. Design is lighter than conventional bolt-and-nut combination. Carburized rods provide strength and durability under high loads.
· Crankshaft center lubrication system carries oil to main and connecting rod bearings through passages in the crankshaft as well as conventional journals, allowing lower main-gallery oil pressure and a smaller oil pump design, consuming less horsepower at high engine speeds.
· Electronic Control Unit (ECU) provides digital 3-D fuel injection and ignition maps for each cylinder, creating ideal fuel mixture and spark advance settings for maximum power and throttle response.
· Iridium-tip spark plugs require less voltage and maintain ignition performance in demanding conditions.
· At operating speed, side-mounted dual radiators utilize low pressure of airflow passing over outer surface of cowling to draw air through from the inside. Side positioning allows optimal placementof engine for a low center of gravity and superb handling and permits flow of air to reach cylinders and exhaust pipes for enhanced cooling efficiency.
· Aluminum water pump housing.
· Air-cooled aluminum oil cooler.
· Magnesium head cover, clutch cover and left-rear sprocket cover.
· All-stainless two-into-one-into-two exhaust system with two 5.3-litre canister-style mufflers with a buffed finish.
· Seven-plate clutch design is compact and tough, featuring durable friction plate material.
· Smooth-shifting close-ratio six-speed transmission features ratios carefully matched to the engine's powerband.

SUSPENSION
· Twin-spar extruded aluminum frame features a modified Pro Frame(r) design utilizing a swingarm pivot that incorporates both engine-crankcase- and frame-mounted pivot points. The frame sideplates extend underneath the swingarm and join to form a D-shape swingarm mounting enclosure. This combination provides an extremely rigid chassis whileoffering excellent road feel.
· Tapered and braced box-section swingarm provides exceptional lateral and torsional rigidity.
· 43mm inverted aluminum-slider Honda Multi-Action System(tm) (HMAS(tm)) cartridge fork with 130mm of travel features spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability, and offers precise action and superb rigidity.
· Pro-Link(r) rear suspension features 120mm of travel and a high-quality 40mm HMAS shock with integrally cast damper reservoir. Spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability produces superior rear wheel control.
· Braking system features 320mm front discs floating on seven stainless steel pins with four-piston calipers, and a 220mm rear disc with a single-piston caliper for exceptional stopping power.

Additional Features
· Distinctive bodywork features a dual-headlight design with a centrally located ram-air duct, a narrow-profile fuel tank and a single-piece tail section.
· Fuel tank designed with sculpted indents for knees, arms and handlebars.
· Unique bank-angle sensor shutsoff fuel supply to PGM-FI system if the motorcycle tips over, but is unaffected by bumps and vibration during normal operation.
· High-output, 335-watt AC generator.
· Electrically quiet regulator/rectifier eliminates interference with sophisticated PGM-FI and ignition circuitry.
· Dual headlights feature asymmetric low/high beam operation; computer-designed multi-reflectors and two 55W H7 bulbs behind clear plastic lenses provide a broad lighting pattern and superb illumination.
· Lightweight instrument display includes electronic LCD tachometer and speedometer, fuel indicator,odometer, tripmeter and temperature gauge.
· Convenient ignition switch/fork lock for added security.
· Lightweight, recyclable oil filter cartridge.
· Transferable one-year, unlimited-mileage limited warranty.