It’s out with the old Blade’s 999cc, 76 x 55mm inline four and in with a more compact, over-square 999.9cc motor with a 81 x 48.5mm bore x stroke – that’s the same as the RC213V-S and almost identical to a V4 R Panigale.
Power and revs are all up, maxing out at 214bhp@14,500rpm and torque is a foot pound less (83ftlb) and 1500rpm higher up the tacho (12,500rpm). Suffice to say the Honda is a screamer.
To achieve this dizzying performance the motor is packed with all the tech, exotic metals and low friction trickery you’d expect, so, deep breath: DLCcoated camshaft and lobes, finger follower arms, bigger inlet and exhaust valves, titanium conrods, forged alloy pistons with Teflon-coated skirts, beryllium-coated small ends, more effective oil and water-cooling, a…
