Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

The CBR1000RR, also known as the Fireblade, is a 999 cc (61.0 cu in) liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder sport bike that was introduced by Honda in 2004 to replace the CBR954RR. It is one of the most legendary super bikes and the one of the best bikes from the east. It competes with the likes of Yamaha R1 , the all powerful Gixxer 1000 and the beasty Kawasakhi Ninja ZX-10R from its home country, and theBMW S1000RR, the good looking and the exoticMV AGUSTA F4 from the west.

History

Racing roots

The Honda CBR1000RR was developed by the same team that was behind the MotoGP series. Many of the new technologies introduced in the Honda CBR600RR, a direct descendant of the RC211V, were used in the new CBR1000RR such as a lengthy swingarm, Unit Pro-Link rear suspension, and Dual Stage Fuel Injection System (DSFI). Its genes have since inspired other smaller siblings like the CBR600RR, -250RR

2004–2005

2004 CBR1000RR

The Honda CBR1000RR was the successor to the CBR954RR. While evolving the CBR954RR design, few parts were carried over to the CBR1000RR. The compact 998 cc (60.9 cu in) in-line four was a new design, with different bore and stroke dimensions, race-inspired cassette-type six-speed gearbox, all-new ECU-controlled ram-air system, dual-stage fuel injection, and center-up exhaust featuring a new computer-controlled butterfly valve.
The chassis was likewise all new, including an organic-style aluminum frame composed of Gravity Die-Cast main sections and Fine Die-Cast steering head structure, inverted fork, Unit Pro-Link rear suspension, radial-mounted front brakes, and a centrally located fuel tank hidden under a faux cover. Additionally, the Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD) debuted as an industry first system which aimed to improve stability and help eliminate head shake while automatically adjusting for high and low speed steering effort.

A longer swingarm acted as a longer lever arm in the rear suspension for superior traction under acceleration and more progressive suspension action. Longer than the corresponding unit on the CBR954RR (585 mm (23.0 in) compared to 551 mm (21.7 in)) the CBR1000RR's 34 mm (1.3 in) longer swingarm made up 41.6 percent of its total wheelbase.

The CBR1000RR's wheelbase also increased, measuring 1,405 mm (55.3 in); a 5 mm (0.20 in) increase over the 954.

Accommodating the longer swingarm was another reason the CBR1000RR power plant shared nothing with the 954. Shortening the engine compared to the 954 meant rejecting the conventional in-line layout. Instead, engineers positioned the CBR1000RR's crankshaft, main shaft and countershaft in a triangulated configuration, with the countershaft located below the main shaft, dramatically shortening the engine front to back, and moving the swingarm pivot closer to the crankshaft. This configuration was first successfully introduced by Yamaha with the YZF-R1 model in 1998 and inspired superbike design in the following years.

Positioning this compact engine farther forward in the chassis also increased front-end weight bias, an effective method of making high-powered liter bikes less wheelie prone under hard acceleration. This approach, however, also provided very little space between the engine and front wheel for a large radiator. Engineers solved this problem by giving the RR a modest cylinder incline of 28 degrees, and moving the oil filter from its frontal placement on the 954 to the right side of the 1000RR engine. This allowed the RR's center-up exhaust system to tuck closely to the engine.

2006 Honda CBR1000RR

2006–2007

2007 Honda CBR1000RR

The 2006 CBR1000RR offered incremental advancements over the earlier model with more power, better handling and less weight. Changes for 2006 include:

New intake and exhaust porting (higher flow, reduced chamber volume)
Higher compression ratio (from 11.9:1 to 12.2:1)
Revised cam timing
More intake valve lift (from 8.9 mm to 9.1 mm)
Double springs for the intake valves
Higher redline (from 11,650 rpm to 12,200 rpm)
Larger rear sprocket (from 41 to 42 teeth)
New exhaust system
New chassis geometry
Larger 320 mm (13 in) front brake discs but thinner at 4.5 mm (0.18 in)
Revised front suspension
Revised rear suspension with new linkage ratios
New lighter swingarm
Revised front fairing design

The 2006 model carried over to the 2007 model year mostly unchanged except for color options.

2008–2011

An all new CBR1000RR was introduced at the Paris International Motorcycle Show on September 28, 2007 for the 2008 model year. The CBR1000RR was powered by an all new 999 cc (61.0 cu in) inline-four engine with a redline of 13,000 rpm. It had titanium valves and an enlarged bore with a corresponding reduced stroke. The engine had a completely new cylinder block, head configuration, and crankcase with lighter pistons.

A new ECU had two separate revised maps sending the fuel and air mixture to be squeezed tight by the 12.3:1 compression ratio. Ram air was fed to an enlarged air box through two revised front scoops located under the headlamps. Honda claimed power output to be at least 178 hp (133 kW) at 12,000 rpm.

Honda made a very focused effort to reduce and centralize overall weight. A lighter, narrower die cast frame was formed using a new technique which Honda claimed allowed for very thin wall construction and only four castings to be welded together. Almost every part of the new bike was reengineered to reduce weight including the sidestand, front brake hoses, brake rotors, battery, and wheels.

In order to improve stability under deceleration, a slipper clutch was added, with a center-cam-assist mechanism. The Honda Electronic Steering Damper was revised as well. Another significant change was the exhaust system which was no longer a center-up underseat design. The new exhaust was a side slung design in order to increase mass centralization and compactness while mimicking a MotoGP-style.

On September 5, 2008, Honda announced the 2009 model. The bike remained much the same, in terms of engine, styling, and performance. The only significant addition was the introduction of the optional factory fitted Combined ABS (C-ABS) system originally showcased on the CBR600RR Combined ABS prototype. New, lightweight turn signals were also added.

On September 4, 2009, Honda announced the 2010 model. Honda increased the diameter of the flywheel for more inertia. This improved low-rpm torque and smoother running just off idle. The license plate assembly was redesigned for quicker removal when preparing the motorcycle for track use. The muffler cover was also redesigned for improved appearance.

Awards

The CBR1000RR was awarded Cycle World's International Bike of the Year for 2008-09 by the world's moto-journal communities as well as journalists. The 2009 CBR1000RR won the Best Sportbike of the Year Award in Motorcycle USA Best of 2009 Awards, having also won the over 750 cc open sportbike class in 2008.

Racing

The CBR1000RR has been used extensively in the international racing scene since its inception in 2004. Chris Vermeulen and the Dutch Ten Kate Racing team placed the bike fourth in the standings in its debut year in the World Superbike class. The following year, the bike and team secured runner-up honours. In 2007, the Hannspree Ten Kate team was able to secure the first World Superbike Championship with the CBR1000RR with Briton James Toseland. Also, Ryuichi Kiyonari was able to win back to back titles in the British Superbike Championship in 2006-07 using the CBR1000RR with the HM Plant Honda team.

The CBR1000RR has also been used heavily in the road racing scene, most notably at the famous Macau Grand Prix. Since its debut in 2004, it has recorded 4 victories with Michael Rutter having taken back to back victories in 2004–2005 and Scottish motorcycle racer Stuart Easton achieving the same, in 2008–2009. Arguably, the most famous of all road races has been the annual Isle of Man TT races which the CBR has been used to continue Honda's success at the circuit. Since 2006, the HM Plant team and Padgett's UK Honda team utilising the CBR1000RR have achieved eight victories at the event ranging from the Superbike, Superstock and the blue riband Senior TT races. 2009 was an especially dominant year for the Fireblade, having achieved the top 5 positions in the Superbike TT final standings, as well as another CBR1000RR whitewash in the Superstock TT where they occupied the top 5 again. Steve Plater also won the blue riband Senior TT race to secure Honda the manufacturers crown, fittingly as it was Honda's 50th racing year at the event.