VOL. 54 ISSUE 7 FEBRUARY 22, 2017 P65
gine brake control, five selectable power modes and
an optional quickshifter are all fitted. The SP takes
it a step further, with Ohlins electronic suspension
the Swedish company hopes will revolutionize how
we look at suspension, Brembo Monoblocs instead
of the standard CBR's Tokico front brake calipers,
a lithium-ion battery, a titanium muffler and, in a first
for a production motorcycle, a gorgeous, ultra-light
titanium gas tank.
The engine has been re-
vamped top to bottom to pro-
vide a greater thirst for revs and
top-end power without sacrificing
the CBR's legendary midrange
grunt, and the chassis has seen
a nip and tuck job the actors on
that terrible TV show "Nip/Tuck"
would be proud of.
The lack of girth is one of the
CBR's new aces. (You can't say
trump card anymore, can you?)
All told, we measured the base
model CBR at our test facility of
Portimao in southwest Portugal
as 425 pounds—ready to ride.
Compared to the claimed wet
weight of the 2016 model, that's a
40-pound difference, a stagger-
ing weight reduction when you
consider even a 10-pound loss is
usually celebrated by the manu-
facturers.
Top all those changes off with
all-new bodywork that's both slim-
mer and far better looking with
new angles, accents and col-
Ohlins have
graced the new
CBR1000RR
SP with their
latest version
of electronic
suspension.
