Of course, when we see updates coming to the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade for next year, we can expect a similar treatment of the 2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP (say that three times fast).
Like its sibling, the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP sees its inline-four engine massaged for better mid-range grunt, while maintaining its 214hp (160 kW) peak power figure.
The EICMA show is underway, in proper, and the first bike we get to see is the 2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, which is getting a bevy of updates for next year.
While the majority of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade remains the same for 2022, the engineers at Big Red have refined the motor further to make more mid-range acceleration.
We imagine that A&R readers have some extra time on their hands during this COVID Christmas season. So, if you are wondering how you are going to fill that void of time, might we suggest that you let Honda help?
This is because the folks at Big Red have no shortage of craft projects that are aimed at petrol heads, with the latest being a papercraft version of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade superbike.
When you talk about the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, the conversation starts with several predictable openers.
First, there is the name, which is like some sort of crazy Gilbert & Sullivan routine about majors who are generals or some other thing. The term “Triple R” was floated at our launch, and I hope it catches on – I’m starting to get a TMJ disorder from saying the full name from Honda.
Then, there is the incredible duration of time that has passed since Honda last debuted a truly new sport bike model (the year was 2008, for those keeping count). For comparison, it took J. K. Rowling less time to make the entire Harry Potter movie franchise than Honda could come out with a proper new Fireblade.
Throw in a quick repartee about the addition of winglets on modern superbikes, and you have your basic bike night bro-dude conversation about the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP all figured out.
The conversation should turn around a different narrative though – one that focuses on how Honda has come back to the superbike market with an absolute beast of an offering.
If you don’t mind, I would like to have that conversation about the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP with you now, as this machine is not only a landmark for the Japanese brand, but also now the new reference point in the superbike segment.
Two months ago, we showed you the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP in its British Superbike spec, as Honda Motor UK was gearing up for the 2020 season (which we should point out, starts this coming weekend).
Now, the squad has begun a YouTube series about how the new liter bike was readied for the 2020 BSB Championship, and so far it is actually a pretty interesting process to watch.
More delays are coming to the Honda CBR1000RR-R superbike, this time for the SP models that are coming to the US market.
While Europeans will have to wait a couple weeks longer because of a con-rod recall affecting the new Fireblade in their markets, would-be owners in the United States will have to show some patience as well, as deliveries to the United States have been pushed back by over one month.
If you are a European reader, expecting the soon arrival of your brand new Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, you might have to wait a little longer, as certain markets in the EU will be issuing a recall on the new superbike.
The recall comes from concerns from the Honda factory over the connecting rods found in the CBR1000RR-R’s four-cylinder engine, which may have a metallurgical defect and fail during use.
Honda tells us that in total about 300 units are affected by the pending recall, which is roughly a tenth of the total bikes expected to ship to European countries.
There are many tragedies to the disruptions coming from the worldwide coronavirus outbreak, the loss of motorcycle being one of them (though certainly at a much lesser scale of importance to many of the losses we are suffering right now).
But for the purposes of being a daily motorcycle publication, not being able to see the new Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP on the WorldSBK stage is certainly a disappointment for us though.
This is because theHonda CBR1000RR-R represents HRC’s great inline-four hope for a production-class world championship title, most notably because the Japanese racing outfit has finally built an all-new racing platform for the superbike market.
We take a break from today’s chicanery to bring you a quick distraction: Marc Marquez riding the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP around the Catalunya track, in a 360° video format.
The video comes from Honda’s initial photo and video shoot for the unveiling of the new CBR1000RR-R, but that doesn’t make it any less cool.
For the maximum experience, watch the video on your phone. The IMU on your smartphone should pick up your movements, and change your field of view as you “look” around the bike as its on track.
Trying to bring you as many breaks from the coronavirus news as possible, today’s installment features the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. A new superbike for the 2020 model year, the venerable Blade earns its extra “R” by being the most potent liter-bike ever produced by the Japanese brand.
Already showing itself to be capable on the race track, we have high hopes for the machine when it finally comes to the USA later this summer.
Until then, we will mostly have to suffice ourselves on spec-sheet items, like the 215hp (160 kW) inline four-cylinder engine, which makes 83 lbs•ft of peak torque; the pod of aerodynamic winglets on each side of the fairing; and the wet weight of 443 lbs (201 kg) .
The 2020 WorldSBK Championship has the promises to be one of the best in recent history, as there are more than a few contenders for the throne lining up on the grid this season.
Of course, there is five-time champion Jonathan Rea, who has been a juggernaut onboard the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR.
Rea will have the target on his back for 2020, that much is for certain, and the Kawasaki Racing Team has shown that they are well-honed operation, and certainly capable of adding metal to Rea’s trophy room.