Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1294978
2021 HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP R I D E R E V I E W P88 Here, the new electronics come to the fore. Once I'd played around with them, I dialed every- thing back to level one, with the most power, least traction and wheelie control, and the most engine braking, and the CBR was an absolute gem to experience. The electronics cut in far less intrusively than before, yet you still know they're there in the back- ground. Conversely, dial them up even just a couple of levels to level three, and they become quite intrusive. Zack Courts, a man whose opinion in the bike testing game is highly sought, said he'd prefer a level between one and zero, almost a 0.5, if you will. That, he felt, would be the ideal level of electronic intervention. He might be onto something. Back to the mechanicals, and one of the biggest areas of im- provement is the brakes. With the new Brembo radial master-cylin- der matched to the Stylema cali- pers, it really shows how rubbish the brakes on the 2020 edition were. Both bikes come with ABS you can't switch off, but the 2021 edition has so much more power and feel it's pretty confronting. Another fact is the 2021 is much more stable at high speed. Top speed we got at Thunderhill was about 150 mph on the dash, with the 2020 a bit more flighty than the new bike. All I can put this down to is the winglets, but I think it's a com- bination of the ride position, the lower overall stance and the wings. I'm not an engineer, but from the hot seat I can tell you something's working that isn't on the 2020. The 2021 Honda CBR1000RR- R Fireblade SP is the bike Honda really should have built five years ago. Rather than labor with an old, revamped bike, they should have done this when Nicky came to the series all those years ago. It's a vastly superior bike to the 2020 edition, and proof Honda is finally taking Superbike competi- tion seriously. Once the motor is tuned properly, this thing will be a weapon and right on par with the best from Japan and Europe. In production guise, despite the emissions flat spot, it's still an excellent bike. The build quality is top-notch, the chassis is brilliant, and racy ethos now at the fore. And it's about time. CN 2021 HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP ($28,500) SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Liquid-cooled inline- four-cylinder, 4-stroke FUELING EFI DISPLACEMENT 999cc BORE X STROKE 81 x 48.5mm POWER (CLAIMED) 186 hp @ 12,000 rpm TORQUE (CLAIMED) 83 lb-ft @ 11,000 pm TRANSMISSION 6-speed CLUTCH Wet multi-disc CHASSIS Twin-spar aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION Ohlins NPX 43mm telescopic fork with Elec- tronic Control (S-EC) REAR SUSPENSION Pro-Link system; single Ohlins shock w/ Electronic Control (S-EC) FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.9 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.6 in. FRONT BRAKE Two 330mm discs, Brembo Stylema 4-piston radial-mount hydraulic calipers; ABS REAR BRAKE Single 220mm disc, Brembo hydraulic calipers; ABS FRONT TIRE 120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE 200/55 ZR17 SEAT HEIGHT 32.6 in. WHEELBASE 57.3 in. RAKE 24° TRAIL 4.0 in. FUEL CAPACITY 4.3 gal. WEIGHT (CURB, CLAIMED) 443 lbs.