2019 HONDA CBR1000RR SP
R I D E R E V I E W
P62
H
onda came out swinging at
the 2019 EICMA Show in
Milan with the first ground-
up redesign of the CBR1000RR
since 2008. The new bike is
an absolute beast, with Honda
claiming 215 horsepower from the
new 998cc inline-four motor, plus
more electronics packed into the
ECU than a Best Buy store.
Yet as cool as that sounds, it still
doesn't change the fact that the
2017-2019 edition of the CBR was
a fine one, indeed. Although it's fair
to say it has fallen under the radar
somewhat. I know this because for
the past three months, I've been
commuting and track day-ing a
2019 CBR1000RR SP, which is the
middle of three CBR brothers: the
base model, this one and the race-
spec SP2, of which I still have yet
to see in the metal.
The Honda came right after
we handed the keys back to the
2018 Suzuki GSX-R1000R that I'd
had in the garage for six months,
a bike I absolutely loved despite
thinking initially that I wouldn't.
The SP is a more rounded
piece than the slightly rougher
GSX-R. The fit and finish on the
SP is simply superb, with gor-
geous touches such as the gold
top triple clamp, gold wheels and
Ohlins semi-active suspension.
The red, white and blue color
scheme screams HRC, the same
colors adorned Fast Freddie
Spencer's 1983 500cc winner,
and they look just as good today
as they did all those years ago.
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALI PHOTOGRAPHY & SCAYSBROOK
ONE
SPLENDID
THE HONDA
CBR1000RR SP
IS GETTING
RENEWED
FOR 2020, BIG
TIME. BUT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN
THE PREVIOUS
SP DOESN'T
HAVE ANY FIGHT
LEFT IN IT
SUPERBIKE
