EICMA 2016: Honda unveils the standard CBR1000RR Fireblade
Honda has just taken the wraps off the standard 2017 CBR 1000RR Fireblade at EICMA in Milan, Italy. The entry-level litre-class CBR sits below the CBR1000RR SP and SP2 which were revealed at Intermot, last month.
The body panels look similar to the SPs, and the bike also gets the same twin LED headlights with high and low beam on both sides.
The Fireblade will also be available in standard, SP and SP2 trims
Differences to the SPs include a new victory red paint work and black Y-spoke alloy wheels. Also, the bike does not get the semi-active suspension that you get on the SP and SP2.
The Honda Fireblade sheds 16kg over the previous model and weighs only 195kg now. Power is up by 10.7PS and total output has risen to 189PS at 13,000rpm and 116Nm. The changes have resulted in an increase in power to weight ratio by 14 per cent.
Honda adds that the frame thickness has been reduced over the predecessor which saves around 300gm. Also the frame is 10 per cent more flexible which means the chassis is reacting faster than before. Honda adds that the bike is much more flickable than previous Fireblades.
Upfront the bike gets Showa 43mm BPFs, and a Showa Balance Free Rear Cushion shock absorber at the rear. There's full adjustment for compression, rebound damping and preload on both units.
Braking duties are handled by new twin Tokico four-piston opposed radial-mounted calipers instead of Brembos on the SP variants.
There are a host of electronics on the motorcycle which finally gives the Fireblade the teeth to fight today's competition. There's a 5-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that guides the 9-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) traction control system. This system works with the Throttle By Wire (TBW) and FI-ECU to manage rear-wheel traction. There's Engine Brake Control (EBC) too.
The IMU also manages the Bosch ABS system which also offers Rear Lift Control (RLC) under hard braking. Additionally, Wheelie Control makes it easier and safer to whack the throttle open. There are 5 levels of power delivery and 3 levels of Engine Brake Control that a rider can choose, based on his skills and road conditions. The new Fireblade also gets three riding modes - Track, Winding and Street. The Track Mode, as the name suggests, is the full-blown mode that gives you maximum power, linear acceleration and minimum intervention from the traction control and EBC systems.
In Winding Road mode, power output in the first, second and third gear is governed by the system. The traction control system operates at medium intervention while the EBC is at the maximum setting.
The Street mode controls the power output from the first to fourth gear. The traction control and EBC operate at maximum intervention should you overcook a corner. In addition to this, there are two user modes that allow one to set these systems to individual preferences.
All these settings, along with the speed and tacho readouts, are displayed by the new TFT LCD instrument cluster, just like the one on the RC213V-S, the road-going version of the RC213V MotoGP machine. It adjusts to ambient light and features three display modes - Circuit, Street and Mechanic.
Although there is no formal announcement yet, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) may get the new Fireblade to our shores sometime next year. It will go up against the Yamaha YZF-R1 and the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R which are currently on sale in the country.
For more stories from OVERDRIVE on the 2016 EICMA, click here.
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