The 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 500 cc (30.5 cu in) class were changed drastically for the 2002 season. The regulations changed, two-stroke engines were as before limited to 500 cc (30.5 cu in) and 4 cylinders, but four-stroke engines were allowed to grow up to 990 cc (60 cu in) 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:[1]
RC = Honda's traditional racing prefix
211 = first works bike of the 21st century
V = V engine
