2017 Honda CBR 1000 RR

There’s a lot to go at, even in this more standard form – with 90% of the 2017 model being brand new. Power to weight ratio is improved by 14% – reaching the best level ever for the Fireblade thanks to a 15kg weight reduction and 10.7bhp power boost. It’s also equipped with a plethora of electronics that were so obviously missing from previous Blades. Central to the system is the 5-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which measures exactly what the machine is doing, in every plane. It works the 9-level Honda Selectable Torque Control traction control (HSTC) that precisely manages rear wheel traction via the FI-ECU and Throttle By Wire (TBW). The new Bosch ABS braking (also managed by the IMU) offers Rear Lift Control (RLC) and Wheelie Control – all dragging the Blade into this decade.

And that’s not all. There’s a frankly dazzling amount of settings to choose from, with three rider modes, five levels of power delivery, three levels of wheelie control, and three levels of engine braking control. Thankfully you can make simple selections that allow you to ride away in under 15 minutes, too.

Like the RC213V-S the Fireblade uses a full-colour TFT liquid crystal dash to clearly communicate information to the rider. It automatically adjusts to ambient light, and features three modes: Street, Circuit and Mechanic, each with the information most relevant for that particular usage.

There are three preset riding Modes, Track, Winding, and Street that offer different combinations of HSTC, Engine Power and Engine Braking level. Track mode gives full power, with linear throttle response, and low HSTC and EB intervention. Winding mode controls output through first to third gear, with fairly moderate power increase, medium HSTC and strong EB. Street mode controls output through first to fourth gear, with moderate power increase, high HSTC and strong EB. In the two USER modes all parameters can be combined and adjusted to the rider’s preferences.

Chassis-wise, thinned frame walls save 300g, and while transverse rigidity is unchanged, the frame is 10% more flexible in the torsional plane, which is claimed to give a faster-reacting chassis. Yaw moment of inertia has been reduced by 15%, and roll moment of inertia by10%. In other words, it’s more flickable – while the Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD) makes sure it never gets too lively at the bars.

It may be devoid of the SP and SP2’s top-end suspenders, but there’s nothing to bemoan about the Showa 43mm Big Piston Fork or Balance Free Rear Cushion shock on this base model Blade. Both offer fully adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping, and we know from experience that both are highly capable units.

There’s no Brembo here, but the front end hosts a pair of new Tokico four-piston opposed radial mounted brake calipers, and the aluminium wheels are a new five Y-shape design, being 120/70 R17 up front, and 190/50 R17 at the rear.

Peak power is 189bhp at 13,000rpm, with peak torque of 85.6ftlb. All lighting is LED, with the twin front headlights offering high/low beam on both sides.

Features

Power to weight ratio is improved by 14% – reaching the best level ever for the Fireblade – thanks to a 16kg weight reduction and 8kW power boost. Honda Selectable Torque Control, Selectable Engine Brake, New ABS, Riding Mode Select System and Power Selector, Full Showa suspension and RC213V-S MotoGP derived technology.

Power up, weight down

Lighter, more powerful, easier to control. The CBR1000RR’s 16-valve DOHC engine has received an impressive array of improvements for 2017, resulting in a 10 horsepower increase and contributing to a significant overall weight reduction. Yet even with a 14 percent improvement in power-to-weight ratio (between comparable ABS models), the new CBR maintains its user-friendly character, due in large part to its cutting-edge electronics package that’s a key feature of the bike’s Next Stage Total Control design concept.

High-tech upgrades

The engine revs harder and higher, thanks to an increase in compression ratio to 13:1 from 12.3:1, revised cam timing and valve lift, and a higher 13,000 rpm rev limit. The pistons feature an optimized wall thickness and a new crown design, while the piston rings have Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating that improves sealing. Polished inlet and exhaust ports in the cylinder head and “gas-flowed” combustion chambers improve efficiency, and the intake funnels are “slash cut”, a design used in World Superbike.

Magnesium covers

A magnesium oil pan and ignition cover, a lighter Assist Slipper Clutch (with a 17 percent easier pull at the lever), lighter but stronger transmission gears, even a careful analysis of the shape and length of bolts, hoses and clamps, all contribute to an engine that’s 2 kg (4.4 lbs) lighter for 2017.

Lightweight titanium muffler

The new titanium irregular-cross-section muffler shaves a full 2.8 kg (6.2 lbs) from the CBR’s overall weight, while also creating an unmistakable sound at open throttle. The exhaust supplier to the Repsol Honda MotoGP team was asked to develop the prototype and produced an exquisite design with the 4-2-1 double-layer downpipes incorporating the exhaust valve within the first main pipe.

Cutting-edge electronics

The CBR1000RR’s new cutting-edge electronic control system allows you to tailor the bike’s performance exactly the way you like it. Central to the system is the 5-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) gyro, which precisely measures what the machine is doing, in every plane. It works with the fuel-injection ECU, the new Throttle By Wire system – the first on an inline-four Honda – and even the ABS system to provide unparalleled ride control right at your fingertips.

Choose your Riding Mode

Riding full-out on the track on Saturday, then taking a leisurely spin on your favourite twisty road on Sunday? The Riding Mode Select System makes it easy to program the CBR’s electronic controls for various types of riding situations. Accessed via the instrument panel and switches beside the left handgrip, RMSS lets you choose – on the fly – between five different combinations of electronic control: three modes offer preset combinations of engine power level, rear-wheel traction and wheelie control, and engine braking strength, while two additional user settings allow you to customize combinations to your exact preferences.

Full rider control

Here’s what the Riding Mode Select System allows you to control. Power Selector (5 levels), which regulates engine power from peak output in all six gears at Level 1 to gentler power increase at Level 5 (all levels have the same throttle response on initial opening). Honda Selectable Torque Control (9 levels and off), which manages rear-wheel traction and front-wheel lift under acceleration. Selectable Engine Brake Control (3 levels), which regulates the amount of engine-braking force when you roll off the throttle.

Larger EFI throttle bodies

The CBR’s Dual-Stage Fuel Injection system features two sets of injectors per cylinder for instantaneous high-rpm response, great low-rpm fuel metering, and clean running. Refined EFI settings and larger throttle bodies (48 mm vs 46 mm) make the engine even more manageable, with smoother throttle response particularly at smaller throttle openings.

Superb handling

The 43 mm fork incorporates Showa’s latest Big Piston technology with a larger damping-oil volume to effectively reduce the hydraulic pressure generated as the fork legs compress and extend. The result is more precise action during the initial stroke and smoother overall damping action for improved handling, enhanced front-end feedback, and a more solid feel during hard braking. At the back, the Unit Pro-Link® rear suspension features a patented Balance Free Rear Shock from Showa that incorporates a unique double-tube design featuring a damper case plus an internal cylinder for more-responsive, smoother damping action and a smoother transition between compression and rebound, resulting in improved traction and road holding.

Advanced ABS

The CBR1000RR’s new gyro-assisted ABS takes anti-lock braking technology to an even higher level. Using lean-angle data from the IMU and both front- and rear-wheel speed sensors, the system allows hard trail braking into corners and limits rear-wheel lift – preventing the rear of the machine from elevating or “backing in” around the front. Radial-mount front brake calipers use newly developed brake pads with a high coefficient of friction that perform better at the elevated temperatures created during aggressive riding.

Even better handling

The hollow die-cast twin-spar aluminum frame’s rigidity balance has been significantly adjusted to give even sweeter handling with outstanding steering response, feel and stability. And it’s even lighter than ever – by about 800 grams – thanks to a thinning of the frame walls in particular sections. Same thing with the Unit Pro-Link swingarm, which has had the thickness of each section adjusted to save approximately 100 grams while maintaining transverse rigidity and increasing torsional rigidity.

Steering control

Most steering dampers only sense handlebar-deflection speed. The Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD) is way more sophisticated. It also detects vehicle speed, and adjusts damping proportionally. This helps maintain low-speed maneuverability while providing predictable high-speed handling.

Lightweight wheels

New Y-shape aluminum wheels have five spokes instead of six for improved aerodynamic stability, while thickness has been reduced to cut weight by approximately 100 grams.

Multi-function display

Like the exotic RC213V-S, the CBR1000RR uses a full-colour TFT liquid-crystal instrument panel that automatically adjusts to ambient light. It includes a speedometer, tachometer and odometers, plus indicators for gear position, shift-up point (rider adjustable), fuel economy, distance to empty, and more. And by choosing one of three modes – Street, Circuit or Mechanic – the panel also reveals a wealth of additional data. Street shows you the Riding Mode you’re in plus the settings for each parameter: P (Power Selector), T (Honda Selectable Torque Control), and EB (Selectable Engine Brake). Circuit adds to these the lap time, number of laps, and difference from the best lap. Mechanic displays such info as grip angle, coolant temperature and battery voltage.

Wind-cutting shape

The CBR’s sleek, lightweight new bodywork wraps around the chassis and engine tightly, adding to the bike’s compact proportions and aerodynamic efficiency. The upper fairing has been narrowed by 24 mm, and the surface angle of the headlights and the contouring of the side slits support stability at speed. In a racing crouch the rider is tucked well out of the airstream, and in normal riding situations air pressure is evenly distributed on the rider’s shoulders, back and sides.

Bright LED lighting

All lighting is crisp LED, with the twin front headlights offering high/low beam on both sides. The new headlights also save a full half-kilogram of high-mounted weight, further improving the CBR1000RR’s mass centralization.

Improved security

A compact car-style wave-design ignition key offers improved security and greatly reduces the chance of breakage.