Hi All - Got this from a buddy of mine who's a hard core Aprilia rider. Don't know how true it all is but worth a read.
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I snagged this off an Aprilia forum - I don't know about the credibility of
the author, but it does seem plausible. It would only make sense to sell
the RCV streetbike after they are done with it in MotoGP, because the rules
state that they CAN'T base it on a production machine.
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READ ON........
"I'll let you in on some rumors (closer to reality than you may think).
1. The CBR1000RR is 100% for sure.
2. The Honda factory GP squad will be on a V6 next year (98%). Privateer
teams getting this years V5. Honda has been testing the V6 in Motegi since
early this year.
3. The RCV will be produced and sold as a road machine (98%). It will be
similar to the NR750 in that it will be in very limited numbers (probably
300 or less units) and it will most likely have a price tag of
£40,000-£50,000.
4. Kenny Roberts Sr. (from his mouth to my ears) told me this, "We will most
likely be producing a road going replica of our V5 GP machine in the near
future". What does "near future" mean? I don't know. Maybe 2005?
Most people in the GP paddock believe this will be common place now that
MotoGP has gone 4-Stroke.
One more thing about Honda's R&D. Honda's R&D department is more like a huge
think tank for their top engineers. Instead of having a target application
and then creating a motor to fit, they actually design, build, and test
motors and then find the niche to put them in. The V5 motor in Rossi's bike
was designed and first built in the late '80's.
One of the things they are currently working on is a hybrid
2-Stroke/4-Stroke V3 combination motor with a single 2-Stroke cylinder on
one side and two 4-Stroke cylinders on the other side of the V. INSANE???
Yes, very.