The Honda CB1000R You Won’t See in America

Take a good look at the Honda CB1000R, because you won’t see it here stateside. That’s right, its de-tuned CBR1000RR motor, single-side swingarm, and streetfighter looks will be staying on the other side of the pond, and we think we’re the lesser for it.

Honda might be the lesser for it as well. With no fairing-less sportbike in its arsenal, we have to wonder what the folks in Japan were thinking on not making the CB available in the US. The only conclusion we can come to is that they just don’t like being competitve in the largest motorcycle market in the world worried that the CB would cannibalize on VFR sales.

But, seeing as how we all know the Interceptor as we know it won’t exist in 2010 (and is slated to fill a different hole in Honda’s line-up), we still have a hard time wrapping our heads around this strategy. Apparently at Honda, sportbikes must still have fairings in order to his US soil. We guess us American riders will have to somehow manage with the Tuono, Streetfighter, Z1000, FZ1, & B-King’s available to us…or move to Europe.

None-the-less, with its Fireblade heritage the CB1000R has impressive performance characteristics and go-fast parts. Stopping its 123hp/73lbs•ft motor, are radial brakes up front, that with the optional C-ABS package, are linked to the rear brakes for maximum applied stopping power. We imagine with some modest modifications, CB owners will be able to get the full CBR pep out of the engine bay, and create a real street-scorcher that looks great too.

If the bike looks familiar, then you have a good eye. Borrowing from the concepts of the VFR1200 we’ve seen, the 2010 CB1000R has the same exhaust and swingarm aesthetics. Setting it apart from the VFR though is the bikes color palette, which includes paint schemes in:  Pearl Nightstar Black, Matt Vanguard Beige, Metallic Pearl Siena Red/Pearl Nightstar Black, and Pearl Cool White, all of which are available on both the standard and C-ABS model.

We’ll see the CB1000R at this year’s EICMA convention, expect more photos then. Until then, watch the drool.

Technical Specifications of the 2010 Honda CB1000R: