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2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade Spied

The 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade was spied being tested at Suzuka.
It didn’t debut at the Tokyo Motor Show as expected.
This is an all-new bike.

Okay let’s move away from Ducati for a while (yes, there are more) and head over to another great sportbike — the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.

We were expecting its launch at the recent 2019 Tokyo Motor Show but it didn’t turn out that way. Instead, the new model was caught testing at Suzuka by a Japanese photographer, who then uploaded the pictures and video to his Twitter account @n_mode_log.

HRCが鈴鹿サーキットに持ち込んで来ているこのテストマシンは何だ⁉️
タンクのところに「性能車①」ってラベルが確認できる。
#MFJGP #SuperBike #HRC pic.twitter.com/Owzh8cUs1m

— NOBU㌠ @JO3VHC (@n_mode_log) October 23, 2019

Honda has said before that this will be a new CBR1000RR, rather than a mere update.

At first glance, you can see a new fairing which is more enclosing compared to the outgoing model’s. Besides that, there are gills at the bottom.

However, look closer at the front and you’d spot something which resembles a large inlet with winglets in them. This is the “aerobody” which the manufacturer patented a few months ago. They’re enclosed, rather than hanging out in the breeze unlike the Ducati Panigale V4 and V4 R’s. Honda also patented “active aerodynamics” for the rear in the form of foldout winglets, but they don’t appear in these photos.

But these pictures showed the race version of the bike, signified by the front fork set up. The purple-coloured slider tube shows that its coated with titanium nitrate and the true giveaway is the thin plunger-like travel sensor.

However, bear in mind that superbike racing dictates no modification to the frame and bodywork over the streetbike.

Peeking through the fairing’s opening also reveals what seems to be a new frame. The cutouts in the swingarm also look different.

Honda brought along a 2019 CBR1000RR for comparisons and the uploader also shot its pictures.

There was also a video and the bike has an inline-Four engine, quashing rumours of a V-Four.

今日HRCが鈴鹿サーキットで走らせていたマシンですが、動画も撮っていたのでUPしておきます。
#MFJGP #SuperBike #JSB1000 pic.twitter.com/cPaj3v4gTl

— NOBU㌠ @JO3VHC (@n_mode_log) October 23, 2019

Hope to see it at EICMA 2019.

All pictures credit @n_mode_log

2020 Ducati Panigale V4 and 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 S Updated

The 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 and 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 S were also updated.
They were revealed at the Ducati World Premiere.
Outwardly, they look like the Panigale V4 R.

More on Ducati; this was why they chose to debut new bikes away from EICMA because there are so many all at once. Included in the Ducati World Premiere were the 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 and 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 S.

The updates were aimed at moving the two bikes a little closer to the WorldSBK homologation Panigale V4 R model, but of course, the R still has more race-ready components.

First and foremost, they gain the V4 R’s winglets and fairing, complete with gills. The fairing is also wider along with a taller windscreen to provide the rider with more wind protection. Those winglets really work, and provide 30 kg of downforce at 270 km/h — the same figures as the R’s. The downforce they provide allows the rider to open the throttle earlier and keep on the gas while accelerating as wheelies are kept in check without having the anti-wheelie electronics cutting in. Ducati claims they obtained a 2.43m advantage over the 2019 model from the last corner to the finish line at Jerez.

The front of the frame was also made less stiff to provide more feedback. Better feedback equals better confidence. Additionally, the centre of gravity was moved 5 mm higher for better turning leverage.

Lastly, the already excellent traction control strategy was upgraded to DTC EVO 2, as per the new Streetfighter V4 and Panigale V2.

Ducati also released the prices. The Panigale V4 costs € 23,490 and the Panigale V4 S costs € 28,790. That marks a € 500 increase for both bikes.

The Ducati Panigale 959 is Now the 2020 Ducati Panigale V2

The 2020 Ducati Panigale V2 takes over from the Panigale 959.
It’s now updated to share some features with the Panigale V4.
It’s the last Ducati V-Twin sportbike.

The updated Ducati Panigale 959 has been renamed as the 2020 Ducati Panigale V2.

We published a number of articles about a new 959 months ago and here it is. It was launched alongside the Streetfighter V4, Multistrada 1260 S 1260 Grand Tour, updated Panigale V4 and Scrambler Icon Dark at the 2019 Ducati World Premiere.

Immediately obvious are the Panigale V4-style front fairing, single-sided swingarm and new exhaust.

Holding out as the last Ducati V-Twin sportbike, the V2 gets lots of great stuff, some of them clearly shared with its Panigale V4 brother. However, Ducati made the V2 more accessible to the regular superbike rider while the V4 is the true track-oriented beast.

But that doesn’t mean the 959 went soft. The Superquadro engine was updated to produce 155 hp and 104 Nm of torque, while weighing only 153 kg, dry. That’s a whisker more than 1 hp to 1 kg.

The electronics got better too, of course. Traction control is now handled by the new IMU-based Ducati Traction Control Evo 2 (DTC EVO 2). The manufacturer claims it handles rear wheel slips 25% better compared to the previous model’s. Other functions such as the engine braking control and bi-directional quickshifter were similarly revised, too.

Last but not least, the V2 now has the TFT screen from the V4.

2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 – Hail the New King of Supernakeds

The 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 was just launched at the Ducati World Premiere 2019.
It has 208 bhp, 122.6 Nm, and weighs only 178 kg dry.
There are the standard and “S” models.

The most anticipated bike of the year, the 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 was just launched at the Ducati World Premiere 2019.

And as promised by the manufacturer, the bike is a powerhouse that would scare off sportbikes. In case you missed the teaser video, the 1100cc Desmosedici Stradale engine punches out an unholy (for a naked bike) 208 bhp at 12,500 RPM, 122.6 Nm of torque of 11,500 RPM.

If those figures are awesome, think about the weight: 178 kg dry. That gives the bike a 1.17 bhp/kg power-to-weight ratio, which some sportbikes could only envy. As a matter of fact, Ducati aimed for 25% more power over their closest competitor.

However, there’s a Streetfighter V4 S model and it produces 216 bhp!

The full specs are just filtering through at the moment. But among other things is the electronics suite which is shared with the Panigale V4.

And just like the Panigale V4 S, the Streetfighter V4 S uses the amazing Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension.

But it has something which only the Panigale V4 R has: Winglets. Make that twice the V4 R’s winglets. The Streetfighter has four of them!

Ducati also released the prices. The standard bike costs €19,990 while the “S” is at €22,990.

Stay tuned as we will bring you the full specifications of the bike later.

Here it is (Times Two)! The 2020 Kawasaki Z H2 Supercharged Supernaked

The supercharged super naked 2020 Kawasaki Z H2 was revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The engine produces 197 hp and 137 Nm of torque, and weighs 239 kg ready to ride.
Kawasaki also revealed the W800 Street and W800 Cafe.

As promised also, the 2020 Kawasaki Z H2 supercharged supernaked was revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019.

While the bike bears resemblance to the fully-faired Ninja H2 and Ninja H2R, most of the bike is brand new. The main differences between it and its Ninja siblings are revisions to the chassis and geometry to provide more agility. The engine is likewise tweaked for better midrange grunt (as if the Ninja H2 doesn’t have midrange grunt!).

But okay here’s the news everyone is waiting for. The 1000cc, inline-Four engine and supercharger are paired to produce 197 hp and 137 Nm of torque. That makes it the most powerful supernaked bike — at least for a few hours until the launch of the Ducati Streetfighter V4.

Whether the Z H2 looks good or otherwise is entirely up to personal tastes, we think. But it does celebrate the fact that even naked bikes get 200 horsepower these days!

Kawasaki also launched two new W800 modern retros at the same time. They are known as the Kawasaki W800 Street and Kawasaki W800 Cafe. It’s great news for those who missed the previous W800. The engine is now a 773cc parallel-Twin and it’s Euro 5 compliant.

Here it is! The 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R Inline-Four Sportbike

The 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R was revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show.
It’s the return of a 250cc inline-Four.
The bike is full of great stuff like a quickshifter.

Finally! As promised, the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R inline-Four sportbike was revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Yes, the 250cc inline-Four returns after years of going the parallel-Twin route.

But it isn’t just a case of sticking a new engine into a frame and enclosing it in the Ninja 400’s bodywork. No no, this bike is packed with goodies that you’d only find on bigger bikes.

Where do we start…?

Okay, the engine first. The 249cc, 16-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled inline-Four is said to be tuned for low- to mid-range torque, while possessing high-end power. The intake and exhaust were also tuned for the exhaust note characteristics of Kawasaki’s inline-Fours. The performance figures were not revealed yet, however.

Over to the chassis, the frame is a steel trellis instead of the usual steel backbone or perimeter type common to the class. Kawasaki says that it was “designed using dynamic rigidity analysis.” Could that means tuned rigidity?

The suspension is high grade. The forks are SFF-BP (separate function forks – Big Piston) presumably from Showa. The Ninja ZX-25R will be the first 250cc bike to utilise them. The rear suspension uses the company’s Horizontal Back-link set up. Braking is handled by radial-mounted a monobloc caliper up front.

But here’s the best part: Besides the KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control) and Power Mode selector, the bike comes with… drum roll… KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter).

No word on its pricing yet, but hope you enjoy these two videos.