Motorcycles 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP

2020 Fox Raceway National Motocross 250 Class Race Report

Jett Lawrence wins first moto and overall; Ferrandis secures championship.“It was good to race in California close to home,” Ferrandis said. “Unfortunately, the track was really tough to ride. I felt strong in moto 1 and got [second place] to put myself in a safe position for the championship. In the second moto, I had a small tip-over and was ninth. I came back then rode easy at the end to enjoy those last laps in my 250 career. Winning this US motocross championship is another dream goal accomplished. I really put a lot of work to get it, and it was not easy at all.

Ups

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“Take-it-to-a-new-level” hardware

Trickle-down tech from MotoGP RCV

Impressive handling and feedback

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Downs

Handlebar positioning causes wrist pressure

Limited-production-only model in US market

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Verdict

The Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP challenges the likes of the Ducati V4 S with its engine development and race charisma in a street-legal package.

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Overview

The Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is the embodiment of decades of racing history and development. Its wonderful balance of power, chassis, and tech make it a superb corner-carving superbike.

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The 2020 Honda Civic ranks near the top of the compact car class thanks to its dynamic performance and upscale, roomy interior. © American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 2020 Honda Civic Is the Honda Civic a Good Car? The Honda Civic is a great vehicle. Available as a sedan, coupe, or hatchback, it offers more versatility than many compact cars. Regardless of which body style you choose, you’ll get an agile, spirited car with good fuel economy estimates and an upscale cabin. We named the Civic a finalist for our 2020 Best Compact Car for the Money award because of its outstanding combination of quality and value.

Updates for 2021

The CBR1000RR-R is a new 2021 model for the US although it is pegged as a 2020 model in Europe.

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Pricing and Variants

This limited-production CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP retails for $28,500.

Powertrain: Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 999cc inline-four produces a claimed 214 hp (Euro model). It has been modified to be supremely compact and lightweight thanks to its engineers trickling down tech from Honda’s MotoGP efforts with the RCV. This engine is fully analyzed by Cycle World’s Kevin Cameron in “2021 CBR1000RR-R Is Honda’s Response To The Ducati V4 R.”

Tractable, yet impressive power delivery is a highlight of the RR-R SP, while a rush of top-end power will surge toward its 14,500 rpm redline. In fact, we noted that the rideability of the engine’s power delivery resulted in serious confidence. “As a testament to the 999cc liquid-cooled inline-four’s tractability and rider friendliness, I shut the HSTC and Wheelie Control settings off entirely for my final five laps of the day and found the same level of confidence under acceleration as I did with rider aids engaged,” noted Road Test Editor Michael Gilbert.

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Handling

When Road Test Editor Michael Gilbert took laps around Losail on the European model CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, he wrote: “Honda struck a superb balance. With its brand-new twin-spar frame and swingarm with redone rigidity characteristics, the Fireblade is gloriously serious in corner-carving prowess. The bike exemplified its strength in Losail’s difficult side-to-side transitions, requiring little effort to change direction and easily executing midcorner corrections. Look where you want to go, and it goes, no drama—a true track weapon and racebike to the core.”

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Superb feel and support are relayed from the top-shelf Öhlins NPX Smart EC 2.0 semi-active gas-charged fork and TTX 36 Smart EC shock. These suspension components are easily tunable via the Objective Based Tuning Interface (OBTi) accessed in the TFT display.

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The Rebel, all grown up with a 1,084cc parallel-twin engine.The Rebel has long been known as the low-displacement, affordable, easy-to-ride bike that makes a great starter machine for new riders. Even after the heavy model revision three years ago, the Rebel remained perfectly suited to new (or newer) riders. Even so, it was clear that Honda had ambitions to reimagine its cruiser line more broadly. The new Rebels were designed to appeal to younger riders; to fit into an urban landscape filled with commuters and day-trippers. They weren’t smaller, raked-out versions of more traditionally styled cruisers or lightly altered versions of the previous Rebel design.

Brakes

The Brembo Stylema calipers bite down on two 330mm front discs and the rear caliper is straight from the RCV213V-S. Two ABS modes are Sport and Track, but offer no hint of excessive intervention found on the previous model.

Fuel Economy and Real-world MPG

Fuel economy and real-world mpg are not currently available.

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Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility

Ergonomics for this superbike are as you would expect: aggressive. The pegs are up and back for an athletic lower body stance. Handlebar location, however, is lower and angled much farther forward, motocross style, which puts excessive pressure on the rider’s wrists.

Electronics

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Racebikes offer cream-of-the-crop electronics in order to deliver the best, most efficient lap times, and as such the ‘Blade is equipped with throttle-by-wire, five power modes, nine levels of Honda’s Selectable Torque control, wheelie control, two ABS modes, and three Engine Brake levels. A Bosch six-axis IMU monitors lean and pitch angles.

Leon Haslam: Honda Fireblade has "much more potential" than the new Kawasaki

© Motorsport Images Does the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade have what it takes to be a WSBK winner? Kawasaki reacted to the new superbikes of the competition and sharpened the ZX-10RR for the WSBK season 2021. The new Ninja has more reserves on the engine side and has a new fairing that is supposed to press the front wheel to the ground ( more info ). At the Jerez test, the 2021 Kawasaki first encountered the superbikes of the competition. World champion Jonathan Rea set the fastest time.

A new full-color TFT display can be customized to rider preferences.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

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Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty. One year included but extended coverage is available with a HondaCare Protection Plan.

Quality

Honda’s history is deeply rooted in racing. The new Fireblade is the result of decades’ worth of experimenting and progressing through that history with a potent blend of MotoGP-derived tech, an impressive powerplant, and a strong chassis. A fine fit and finish is the cherry on top.

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2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Claimed Specifications

MSRP:	$28,500
Engine:	999cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled inline-four; 4 valves/cyl.
Bore x Stroke:	81.0 x 48.5mm
Horsepower:	186.0 hp @ 12,000 rpm (US model)/214 hp @ 14,500 rpm (Euro model)
Torque:	83 lb.-ft. @ 11,000 rpm (US model)/83 lb.-ft. @12,500 (Euro model)
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/chain
Fuel Delivery:	Fuel injection w/ 52mm throttle bodies, 12-hole injectors
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate
Engine Management/Ignition:	Throttle-by-wire, digital transistorized w/ electronic advance
Frame:	Twin-spar aluminum
Front Suspension:	43mm Öhlins NPX Smart EC fork w/ electronically controlled preload, compression, and rebound adjustments; 4.3 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Öhlins TTX 36 Smart EC shock w/ adjustable compression, rebound, and spring preload; 5.6 in. travel
Front Brake:	Brembo Stylema radial-mount calipers, 330mm discs w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	Brembo two-piston caliper, 220mm disc
Wheels, Front/Rear:	17 x 3.5 in. / 17 x 6.0 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	120/70ZR-17 / 200/55ZR-17
Rake/Trail:	24.0°/4.0 in.
Wheelbase:	57.3 in.
Ground Clearance:	4.5 in.
Seat Height:	32.6 in.
Fuel Capacity:	4.3 gal.
Wet Weight:	443 lb.
Contact:	powersports.honda.com

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