Dallara
01-19-2006, 12:16 PM
Word in the rumor mill is that Honda is privately testing their new 800cc MotoGP V-Three, and will be presenting it to the FIM for homologation sometime this season. Though the 800cc engine displacement reduction will not go into effect until 2007, Honda is already preparing so they will be fully ready.
Lot's of neat rumors surround this new engine, though oval-pistons isn't one of them (as they have been outlawed). Supposedly, Honda has designed inline threes as well as the V-3. Some of the rumors say it has pneumatic valves (ala Formula One) while others suggest it may actually have desmodromic valves (ala Ducati). There is even talk that there is no conventional poppet valve layout, with sleeve and rotary valve configurations mentioned, though this is highly unlikely.
It is said it is substantially lighter and more compact than the current V-5 RCV-211, and that the cylinder configuration will reverse from the V-5 - i.e. on the RCV-211 V-5 there are three cylinders forward with two cylinders rearward, while the new V-3 reportedly has only one cylinder forward and two to the rear, much like the original NS-500 V-3 two-stroke. It is also said it revs considerably higher than the V-5.
Another rumor associated with the bike is that it may revive Honda's previous fascination with "surface cooling", or in essence a far different radiator arrangement to lessen aerodynamic drag. Personally I doubt this one, too, as the heat generated by today's MotoGP bikes is pretty fierce, and they need the relatively huge radiators they have, and even then they are on the borderline.
A entirely new engine management system has been developed for the new engine, and essentially all "fly-by-wire", with the rider having no direct connection not only to the throttle, but also no direct connect with the clutch. This system may be seen this season on the RCV-211 in selected races. Since the bikes already have a form of traction control, this would be the next logical step, and will also open the door to "launch control" whether the ruling body likes it or not.
Honda's suspension arm, Showa, is said to have developed some interesting new ideas, and that some of those will be seen this season in 2006. Rumors about this suggest a "linked" system between the front forks and rear shock to combat front end dive and rear end squat. Apparently this has been in testing for a number of years now, and is only now ready for prime-time.
Honda also has some new braking technology up their sleeve, and will be using it sometime this season. Apparently heat related "pump up" has surfaced in MotoGP, lessening brake feel and increasing lever effort, and the new system is said to eliminate this. There is also talk of the rear brake being somehow interfaced with the anti-lock-up clutch, and it will allow the riders to even be more aggressive on corner entry with the rear brake for "setting up" the bike into the corner - i.e. "backing 'em in"...
Look for another exhaust system change on this year's RCV-211 V-5's (Honda had no less than three entirely different exhaust systems last year), as well as an airbox and inlet change to lessen intake volume variance from ram effect.
There's some Honda info to come, but this is all pretty interesting so far.
But then again, it is still "silly season" and who knows what we will actually see this year, or next...
Cheers!
Allan (Dallara - "Banned, Banned, Banned Like a Red-Headed Stepchild")
Lot's of neat rumors surround this new engine, though oval-pistons isn't one of them (as they have been outlawed). Supposedly, Honda has designed inline threes as well as the V-3. Some of the rumors say it has pneumatic valves (ala Formula One) while others suggest it may actually have desmodromic valves (ala Ducati). There is even talk that there is no conventional poppet valve layout, with sleeve and rotary valve configurations mentioned, though this is highly unlikely.
It is said it is substantially lighter and more compact than the current V-5 RCV-211, and that the cylinder configuration will reverse from the V-5 - i.e. on the RCV-211 V-5 there are three cylinders forward with two cylinders rearward, while the new V-3 reportedly has only one cylinder forward and two to the rear, much like the original NS-500 V-3 two-stroke. It is also said it revs considerably higher than the V-5.
Another rumor associated with the bike is that it may revive Honda's previous fascination with "surface cooling", or in essence a far different radiator arrangement to lessen aerodynamic drag. Personally I doubt this one, too, as the heat generated by today's MotoGP bikes is pretty fierce, and they need the relatively huge radiators they have, and even then they are on the borderline.
A entirely new engine management system has been developed for the new engine, and essentially all "fly-by-wire", with the rider having no direct connection not only to the throttle, but also no direct connect with the clutch. This system may be seen this season on the RCV-211 in selected races. Since the bikes already have a form of traction control, this would be the next logical step, and will also open the door to "launch control" whether the ruling body likes it or not.
Honda's suspension arm, Showa, is said to have developed some interesting new ideas, and that some of those will be seen this season in 2006. Rumors about this suggest a "linked" system between the front forks and rear shock to combat front end dive and rear end squat. Apparently this has been in testing for a number of years now, and is only now ready for prime-time.
Honda also has some new braking technology up their sleeve, and will be using it sometime this season. Apparently heat related "pump up" has surfaced in MotoGP, lessening brake feel and increasing lever effort, and the new system is said to eliminate this. There is also talk of the rear brake being somehow interfaced with the anti-lock-up clutch, and it will allow the riders to even be more aggressive on corner entry with the rear brake for "setting up" the bike into the corner - i.e. "backing 'em in"...
Look for another exhaust system change on this year's RCV-211 V-5's (Honda had no less than three entirely different exhaust systems last year), as well as an airbox and inlet change to lessen intake volume variance from ram effect.
There's some Honda info to come, but this is all pretty interesting so far.
But then again, it is still "silly season" and who knows what we will actually see this year, or next...
Cheers!
Allan (Dallara - "Banned, Banned, Banned Like a Red-Headed Stepchild")