The Honda CBR1000RR-R was apparently named after a run-in with Lefty the Letter Salesman, who was running a discount on Rs, after running out of Os. Or maybe Honda spent all its money on engineering, with nothing left in the budget for a naming committee? Either way, it’s an impressive bike, even if the name does look a bit rrrridiculous.
Honda’s not shy about describing this bike’s purpose; its marketeers make it clear that this machine is aimed at track usage. Its engine has the same bore and stroke as the RC213V-S MotoGP replica, with plenty of other internal design drawn from that bike (friction reduction technology and other efficiency tweaks). It’s got finger-follower rocker arms for the semi-cam gear train. Con rods are made of pricey titanium. The pistons are forged aluminum. Supposedly, the inline four makes  215 hp at 14,500 rpm, and 83 lb-ft of torque at 12,500 rpm.
There’s a ram air induction system, and 4-2-1 exhaust, with Akrapovic-designed titanium muffler. The R model comes with three riding modes in stock trim, allowing you to also tweak output, engine braking, wheele control and Honda Selectable Torque Control. The bike’s electronics are controlled by a six-axis IMU, which also governs the electronic steering damper.
Moving on to the chassis, the aluminum frame is all-new, designed to carry weight lower. The swingarm is modeled after the RC213V-S, and the bike’s motor serves as an upper chassis member, allowing Honda to ditch one of the frame’s crosspieces.
The CBR1000RR-R has Nissin four-piston brake calipers up front, with adjustable ABS standard.
The new superbike has had plenty of thought put into the aerodynamics, with winglets to provide downforce (designed off the units on Honda’s MotoGP bike).
Wet weight for the CBR1000RR-R is 201 kg.
No Canadian pricing or availability has been announced for the new superbike, nor has anything been said about the previous-gen models being continued or not. There’s also a new upscale CBR1000 RR-R SP model, which Marc Marquez can be seen riding in the video above; more details here.
Maybe the current models sitting on the showroom floor will be discounted 50% in reflection of their WSBK success.
Arrr laddies, shiver me timbers !!!
“If you can tell me how many Rs are in that, I’ll call you a lucky man.”
“It’s grrrreat!”