CBR1000RR Fireblade Archives

Is This How the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade Looks LIke?

More renders of the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade are going viral.
One is aggressive, the other an evolution of the current model.
The new bike may be unveiled at EICMA 2019.

It’s probably blasé to say that many are anticipating the arrival of the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.

While the world held a collective breath and anticipated its unveiling at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, it was a no-show. The only other big show event would be EICMA next Tuesday.

Then, pictures of a prototype howling around the Suzuka circuit began circulating the very next day. We could see a number of revisions although the prototype was wearing a camouflage. Even then we wondered if all those changes will end up on the production bike.

Now there two renders by artists have shown up and going viral in social media ahead of EICMA.

One was posted by BikeThrottle. It’s apparent that the tail section and exhaust pipe arrangement mimic Marquez’s RC213V.

As breathtaking as it is, I feel that it may be stretching the truth a little too far. For one, Honda confirmed that the 2020 CBR1000RR will continue to have an inline-Four engine, thus the “stacked” exhaust system makes no sense. Why do you need to route another exhaust under the tail when there’s no Vee engine configuration? Certainly, Honda could do so like in the CBR600RR, but I think the need for simplicity and compactness would overrule this concept.

2020 Honda CBR1000RR render – BikeThrottle

Apart from that, Honda prefers to design bikes that are pretty by having curvy and clean lines. But we would like to point out that the new bike will feature “aerobodies” on both sides of the fairings, instead of winglets. Those aerobodies were clearly seen on the prototype.

Next, Japanese motorcycle magazine, Young Machine rendered this image below, ahead of its anticipated launch at EICMA. Young Machine had always provided renders that closely match the production bikes. The best example was the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R which was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Their rendering shows a bike that is a evolution rather revolution of the current bike. The profile of the nose, air intakes and windscreen matches the Suzuka prototype closely. The aerobody is also present in this rendering. However, the gills at the bottom of the fairing are missing.

2020 Honda CBR1000RR render – Young Machine

You can read up about it here if you are Japanese literate.

So which one can we believe? I pick Number 2.

Anyway, there are also rumours that the new bike’s engine will produce between 212 to 220 bhp. Honda took the direction of having lower horsepower on their road bikes somewhere along the way. There were those days when they built the fastest street bikes. But it’s time that the manufacturer consider more ponies especially in this, their flagship sportbike. I hope it dawns on them that it’s time to stop getting owned in superbike racing, and that great handling alone isn’t enough to bring home the silverware.

Rumours and renderings of a new CBR1000RR have been running rampant almost more than any other motorcycle. It shows just how popular the bike is. Besides that, you can just sense the hope for Honda to produce a revolutionary new bike to regain its superbike crown.

EICMA 2019 is just four days away.

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

Winglets on Next-Gen Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade?

Patents show a Honda roadgoing sportbike with active aerodynamics.
It could be the next-gen Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.
The next bike ought to be unveiled in the next two years.

While Honda may not fill certain gaps in different motorcycle market segments, they sure are busy with coming up with new stuff and patenting them. The latest patent to leak shows a superbike – which may be the next-gen Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade – with active aerodynamics i.e. winglets.

The bike in the patent has the profile of the RC123V MotoGP racer, but it’s complete with mirrors and a number plate holder. It must therefore be a street bike.

No. 52 on either side are the aerobodies – Picture credit Bennets UK

Back to the “winglets,” there aren’t mounted firmly in place. Instead, the wings swing out and retracts. We can assume that the wings retract at slower speeds when there isn’t need for more downforce. Having them open in the airstream all the time increases drag.

As such, the aerodynamic devices should be ECU-controlled, not unlike the sweeping wings of the F-14 fighter jet.

On another note, the patent submission shows an inline-Four engine. It’s been rumoured that Honda will bring back a V-Four performance motorcycle but that doesn’t like it. At least in these patent drawings.

No. 57 at the tail is the flip-out aero device – Picture credit Bennets UK

However, equipping the new CBR1000RR with variable valve timing or lift technology should be a bigger possibility. VVT/L can liberate more power while cutting back on polluting exhaust gasses.

We shall see!

Source

Boon Siew Honda Lancarkan Honda PCX Hybrid 2019, Honda Forza 300 2019, Dan Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade 2019

Boon Siew Honda telah melancarkan model Honda PCX Hybrid 2019, Honda Forza 300 2019, dan Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade 2019.
Pelancaran ini diadakan di Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2018.
Motosikal-motosikal ini adalah sebahagian daripada janji BSH untuk memperkenalkan 12 model baharu pada tahun 2018.

(more…)

Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade Baharu Bakal Tampil Dengan Kuasa Yang Lebih Besar?

Imej hasilan komputer sebuah Honda CBR1000RR – Sumber imej: MCN

Motosikal Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade telah dikritik oleh pasukan dan penggemar perlumbaan atas kerana kekurangan kuasanya dalam kelas terbuka.
Khabar angin telah tersebar mengatakan Honda sedang membangunkan sebuah enjin V-4 bagi motosikal baharu itu.
Adakah motosikal yang baharu itu akan tampil dengan lebih banyak kuasa atau Honda akan mengutamakan pengurangan beratnya?

(more…)

New Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade to Get More Power?

Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade has been criticized by race teams and enthusiasts for lack of power in the open-class.
Rumors are circulating that Honda is working on a V-4 engine for the new bike.
Will the new bike get more power or Honda will stick with less weight?

It’s perhaps the relentless march of the competition or the manufacturer’s philosophy, but whatever the cause, it’s odd to see that the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade being outclassed for a long time. Affectionately known as the “Rabbit” locally, it is still very popular among sport riders.

Ironic isn’t it? For it was its predecessor, the CBR900RR Fireblade which made its debut in 1992, which showed the way to build superbikes. It outsold every sportbike all the way until Yamaha introduced the YZF-R1 in 1998. Yes, more people actually bought the CBR900RR despite Ducati stomping the World Superbike competition with the 916 from 1994.

But now that the CBR1000RR is eligible for Superbike (production-based) racing, it’s getting trounced by its rivals such as the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and BMW S 1000 RR.

Racing teams have complained about the Honda’s lack of power, top speed and front-end grip in high-speed corners. 187 bhp was awesome 5 years ago but it is now too large a gap. When the current Fireblade was reveled in 2016, project leader Masatoshi Sato said, “We could easily give the bike 200 bhp; we could give it 300 bhp if we wanted, but we think it’s the lack of weight people want to feel more.”

Ah, we see. It means the development team was adhering to the original CBR900RR concept of “light is right.” Indeed, the bike weighed 205 kg, just 2 kg heavier than Honda’s own CBR600F2 at the time. The next lightest 1000cc motorcycle (Yamaha FZR1000) was a whopping 34 kg heavier.

MCN has revealed that more power is on the cards for the new CBR1000RR which will be unveiled at EICMA later this year.

The rumour of a V-4 engine continues to circulate, although Honda is tight-lipped about it. It’s also speculated that the new bike’s aerodynamics may draw from lessons learned in MotoGP.

Till then, let’s keep our fingers crossed for the new “Rabbit.”

New Honda superbikes rumoured for 2017

Rumour has surfaced indicating that Honda are working on two new superbike models bound for release in 2017. Credible sources are indicating that the two new models will likely come in the forms of a heavily updated CBR1000RR Fireblade, followed by an all-new RVF1000 model with a V4 engine configuration.

The twelfth generation Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade as we know last underwent an update in 2014 where it received a slight increase in power with mildly revised rider ergonomics, plus the addition of a racier ‘SP’ variant as well.

Sources report that if it is green-lit, the next CBR1000RR will be based on the current bike, but will sport a revised exterior with high chance of a revised new electronics package to stack up against its rivals. Furthermore, the rumour also indicated that the updated CBR1000RR will remain rather road-focused instead of being a machine for track use.

As for the RVF1000 model, the rumour did suggest that Honda would develop it as a proper track machine. If green-lit, the V4-powered new RVF1000 will see Honda likely targeting the likes of the new Yamaha YZF-R1, Aprilia RSV4 RF and the Ducati Panigale R.

However, Honda will likely take some time in figuring out the right specification and pricing for the new RVF1000 as how it was for the controversial RC213V-S road-legal GP bike. Based on recent leaked patent and design files, the new RVF1000 V4 will likely resemble closely to the aforementioned road-going GP bike besides sharing a similar V4 powerplant.

Honda would likely build the RVF1000 using cost-effective parts from the RC213V-S like its cast-aluminium frame whilst also retaining much of street-legal GP bike’s basic elements and design solutions. However, this rumour sounds somewhat slightly far-fetched as compared to the updated CBR1000RR rumour. Honda remains coy about this particular V4 project, so it is a case of waiting and seeing if this materialises.

Sources: Asphaltandrubber and MCN

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