Honda introduces the all-new 2008 CBR1000RR
Click above image to view gallery of the new CBR1000RR.
If you're a fan of sportbikes, you're faced with more quality choices now than ever before. While that means that no matter what you choose you're not likely to be disappointed, it also means that researching your decision is also harder than ever before. Yesterday, we took a look at the new BMW HP2-Sport, which faces tough competition for your hard earned dollars from the Big Four Japanese manufacturers. Starting with Honda, which is the largest of the Japanese motorcycle companies, we have a brand new CBR100RR. Known as the Fireblade in Europe, Honda launched the bike last week at the Paris Motorcycle Show. Take a look at our gallery, and you are likely to have some strong opinions on the styling. The front end looks eerily similar to the new Ducati 1098, but much of the rest of the bike is a departure from the sportbike norm.
While many companies are featuring very edgy design themes, Honda seems to be smoothing out the lines of their newest liter-bike. The most controversial item is likely to be the new exhaust system. Following in the footsteps of the innovative Buell brand, most sportbikes are relocating their heavy exhaust cans to the underside of their bikes, which centralizes that mass. It also keeps the heat away from your posterior, which has been an ongoing problem with the underseat muffler designs. Honda has chosen to integrate the exhaust into the bodywork, likely making it difficult for the aftermarket to offer systems which improve on the performance of the factory system without degrading the finish. So, if you hate the exhaust... perhaps you should look elsewhere or you'll be stuck with it.
[Source: Honda, Motorcycle-USA]
Gallery: 2008 Honda CBR1000RR
Moving past the superficial, the frame has been formed using a new technique which Honda claims allows for very thin wall construction and only four castings to be welded together. Besides the frame, Honda has whittled down the sidestand (really!), front brake hoses (double-really!) and rotors, battery and wheels in an effort to reduce weight. Redlining at 13,000 RPM, the 999cc inline-four engine features titanium valves and an enlarged bore with a corresponding reduced stroke -- this engine could be a bit more top-heavy in its power delivery. A new ECU delivers two separate revised maps sending the fuel and air mixture to be squeezed tight by the 12.3:1 compression ratio. Of course, ram air is offered and the scoops and airbox were enlarged and redesigned. All of that equates to a claimed power output of 178bhp at 12,000rpm.
One of the most noteworthy features is the slipper-clutch with its unique center-cam-assist mechanism. We'll have to wait for a test ride to see how well it works in real-life downshifting scenarios. Returning is the Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD) which has been revised this year as well.
Standard colors are Red/Black, Pearl Yellow/Black, Candy Dark Red/Metallic Silver and Black/Metallic Silver which bring the bike to $11,599. For another $200, 500 bikes will be offered with the limited-edition Black/Metallic Grey color scheme. If you want one of the uber-cool limiteds, we would suggest contacting you dealer yesterday. For the rest of you who are loyal to Big Red, looks like Honda's given you serious reason to consider an upgrade. Unless, of course, you hate that hockey-stick of a pipe hangin' off to the right. We wouldn't hold it against you.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Evotec 12:41PM (10/04/2007)
looks good
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Lister 12:51PM (10/04/2007)
Eerily similar to the 1098?
Did it occur to you that the 1098 got its pretty mug from the Triumph Daytona? And even then, the Daytona got its looks from the early R1's.
True, every company "borrows" styling at one point or another. But to use something Terblanche created - to insinuate that Honda isn't innovative in their styling department - is absolutely absurd.
In fact, everything on the 1098 that isn't on the front end is basically re-cycled design from Tamburini's 916.
Ducati is not the golden light of design and passion - like most european-manufacturing-sychophants want you to believe. It's a motorcycle company that makes expensive bikes for people that want to show others that they bought an expensive bike.
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Doogie Fullhouser 12:54PM (10/04/2007)
"Did it occur to you that the 1098 got its pretty mug from the Triumph Daytona? And even then, the Daytona got its looks from the early R1's."
Which in-turn got its cats eye headlights from the Ducati 916. Its styling cannibalism!
kab 12:56PM (10/04/2007)
words cannot describe how lame that exhaust is. It looked silly on the GSXRs, and continues to do so here.
What was / is wrong with the under-seat look?
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adam 1:35PM (10/04/2007)
Lost of things are wrong with the undertail exhaust:
• Large, uncentralized mass
• Unnecessary exhaust bends
• Poor heat dispersion leads to hot seats
• Little to no underseat storage
Much of the exhaust on the newer bikes is hung under the engine. Doing so centralizes mass (reducing polar moment of inertia and lowering the Cg), improving handling. Buell started slinging their exhausts under the engine over 20 years ago and now the rest of the manufacturers are starting to realize the benefits and are following suit.
Chocolate 12:57PM (10/04/2007)
Thanks Motoblog.
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jjpg2000 1:34PM (10/04/2007)
+1, I could not care less about motorcycles.
Mark 1:37PM (10/04/2007)
don't read the motorcycle stuff then, nobody's forcing you, LOTS of people on here are interested in them so go crawl back in your hole and be quiet, there's a good troll
Firley 1:41PM (10/04/2007)
Man, what a bunch of whiners.
#1. There IS no motoblog, and a lot of us ride and want to see some bike news.
#2. It's the seasonal peak for bike news. Everyone's bringing out their new bikes, and autoblog is reporting. It's not like this goes on year-round.
#3. Even with the bump in bike news, there still isn't that much. It's not like the iPhone news taking over the tech sites. As a matter of fact, the bike coverage isn't even as thick as the Transformers coverage on Autoblog earlier this year.
#4. Mice with scrolling wheels can now be had for under $15. Just scroll on past if you don't like it. I don't complain everytime they post about trucks, since I don't drive one. I just scroll to the next article.
#5. STFU
m 3:16PM (10/04/2007)
A motorcycle is an automobile. If you don't like automobiles, don't read autoblog. That seemed obvious to me.
miklm 9:58PM (10/04/2007)
Then skip it. I don't care about hybrid articles or the new Mustang flavor of the week but I'm intelligent enough to scroll past them. Lots of us are enthusiastic about cars AND bikes y'know, they tend to go hand in hand.
But, this is old news really... The pics/specs/PR has been on the cycle sites for days. :)
www.roadracingworld.com/news for up-to-the-minute coverage.
Mark 1:34PM (10/04/2007)
I'm loving the bike related news that's started to crop up in Autoblog, keep it coming.
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Andy 1:35PM (10/04/2007)
Looks even better in person....
http://powersports.honda.com/2008models/#CBR1000RR
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Dave 1:46PM (10/04/2007)
+1 for motorcycle news in here....I love the addition. With the exhaust like that, doesn't it bother somebody if they are a passenger?
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Torqued 1:51PM (10/04/2007)
Motoblog... I only wish.
Great article, Jeremy. Personally I agree that the lights look "Eerily similar" to the 1098, but there's only so much you can really do with sportbike headlight, and I think these and the 1098's are the best so far.
kab - There may be nothing wrong with the underseat "look", but there are functional disadvantages. As the article mentioned, the heat can get uncomfortable, especially for a passenger. It's also heavier and too far from the center of gravity.
I kinda like the shorty exhausts.
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2004m3driver 2:42PM (10/04/2007)
I kinda regret having an underseat exhaust now. I rarely ride during the summer because if I am not moving It feels as if I am humping a raging furnace(daytona 675). During the winter though its a godsend. I am planning on trading my bike in for a 1098, but this new fireblade is looking interesting.
Stone 2:00PM (10/04/2007)
For those looking for motoblog just visit www.motorcycle.com and add their RSS feed.
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Cypher09 2:41PM (10/04/2007)
Keep up the bike coverage.
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MKIV 3:01PM (10/04/2007)
I think Honda killed the looks of this bike with this latest rendition. I like the 07 version far better in terms of styling. It seems that the 08 bikes are ugly in design except for the Kawi and the Ducati 1098.
Suzuki's GSX-R is crappier this year than it was in the past. Only the R1 sort of remained the same and I kind of like the design of the R1 right behind the 1098.
BTW. +1 for motorcycle news here.
.
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Wally 4:39PM (10/04/2007)
love the way the '07 CBR1000rr and the '07 GSXR1000 ride but I hate the new styling on both of them.
But i really like that Avatar.