Cycle News

2017 HONDA CBR1000RR AND CBR1000RR SP FIRST TEST P76 turn the system off, right? Well, you kinda can't do that. I say that because when I cornered Honda's Model Evaluator and Test Manager, Kyoichi Yoshii, as to how I would turn the system off and prevent the pulsing, he said I was unable to do so. But later he did say, in a roundabout way, that there is a way of doing it. How? Was it in the dash? The ECU? Pulling the fuse? Again, he remained silent, only giving me a wry smile. So I was stuck with ABS on. Frustrating. They system's action is annoying because the brakes themselves, both the base-model Nissin and SP's Brembos, are very good units with plenty of power and feel. It's just that they are being held back by the electronic bungey cord. The 2017 Honda CBR1000RR is thus a bit of a conundrum. It has a sublime chassis and an engine that, while not being the fastest 1000cc lump out there, is certainly worthy of the superbike name. There's buckets of midrange torque and now a top-end that wasn't available on the old machine, plus the way it transmits the go to the ground is velvety smooth. It also (in my opinion) looks amazing. It's a refined version of 'Blades gone by, with lovely accents, angles, lines and colors that give the bike a thoroughly mod- ern look. But the electronics—on a racetrack at least—are odd in their application. Under the extremes of hard track riding, the linked anti- wheelie and TC program is a strange feature. It'll prob- ably be fine for 95 percent of road riding situations, where Honda is aiming the base and SP models, and the electronic suspension settings will likely enable more riders to vary the front and rear in greater confi- dence than previously. There is a way around this problem: be one of the race teams that Honda deems worthy of receiving the HRC race ECU, which has different parameters for wheelie and traction control. The race ECU is something you can't buy, only leased by Honda. So that rules out 99 percent of CBR buyers. The CBR1000RR and CBR1000RR SP motor- cycles are indeed fine machines, electronic issues aside. Having switchable ABS and separate traction and wheelie control maps would be a massive boon for the machine. But still, it's fantastic to see the Big H back in the superbike game. CN 2017 HONDA CBR1000RR AND CBR1000RR SP ENGINE: ..Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 16-valve DOHC inline 4 cylinder DISPLACEMENT: .................................................................. 999cc BORE X STROKE: .........................................................76 x 55mm HORSEPOWER: ............................. 189 @ 13,000 rpm (claimed) TORQUE: ..................................84 lb-ft @ 11,000 rpm (claimed) COMPRESSION RATIO: ..........................................................13.0:1 FUEL SYSTEM: ...................... EFI. Five variable throttle modes EXHAUST: ................................................................ 4 into 2 into 1 TRANSMISSION: ................................6-speed gearbox. Optional quickshifter on base model, standard fit on SP. CHASSIS: ................................. Aluminum composite twin spar FRONT SUSPENSION (base model): ........43mm fully adjustable Showa Big Piston inverted forks; 4.7 inches travel. REAR SUSPENSION (base model): .....Fully adjustable Showa Balance Free shock; 5.4 inches travel. FRONT SUSPENSION (SP model): ...............Ohlins NIX30 43mm inverted fork with Ohlins Smart-EC control. Preload, compression and rebound damping adjustable. REAR SUSPENSION (SP model): ..................Ohlins TTX36 rear shock with Ohlins Smart-EC control. Preload, compression and rebound damping adjustable. FRONT BRAKE (base model): ............. Dual Tokico four-piston, radially mounted calipers. 320mm discs; ABS REAR BRAKE (base model): .......................Nissin single piston caliper, 220mm diameter disc; ABS FRONT BRAKE (SP model): .............. Brembo radially mounted Monobloc 4-piston caliper, 320mm discs; ABS REAR BRAKE (SP model): .................Nissin single piston caliper, 220mm diameter disc; ABS FRONT TIRE: ..................................................... 120/70ZR17 58W REAR TIRE: .......................................................190/55 ZR17 73W RAKE: ......................................................................................23.3° TRAIL: ................................................................................... 3.8 in. WHEELBASE: ...................................................................... 55.3 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ..................................................................... 32.7 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ................................................................ 4.2 gal. WEIGHT: ....................................................................425 lb. (wet). COLOR: .................................................Red/Black, HRC Tri-Color MSRP: ....................................$16,499/$16,799 for ABS model (CBR1000RR); $19,999 for CBR1000RR SP S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

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