First Ride: Honda CBR1000RR

Together with several other members of the CW editorial staff, I've been knocking around these offices long enough to have witnessed the debut of the 1993 Honda CBR900RR. That seminal sportbike combined the feathery feel of a middleweight racer-replica with the knockout punch of an Open-classer. Not much has changed.

In fact, on paper, our Repsol Edition CBR1000RR (one of several thousand $500-more-expensive, MotoGP-inspired examples shipped stateside) is remarkably similar to the original 900. Despite the many, many changes made to the big-bore CBR line over the years, the basics—fuel capacity, dry weight, steering geometry and wheelbase—are remarkably similar. Output from the more compact and oversquare, fuel-injected, 16-valve 998cc inline-Four has improved, of course, from 114 horsepower and 64 foot-pounds of torque at the rear wheel to 151 hp/78 ft.-lb. Same goes for acceleration and top speed, though the original, with its 2.9-second 0-60-mph time and 159-mph top speed, wasn’t slow.

Often deemed the “Best Bike for the Masses,” the always-well-mannered CBR hasn’t won a lot of shootouts of late. Though the bike is refined, smooth, stable and steers precisely, the gas tank is wider than most, splaying the rider’s legs. Also, fuel mileage (and, therefore, range) could be better—or at least equal to that of the other bikes in the category.

While the RR’s performance has in past years been a tick or two off its competition, our ’07 model was inexplicably right in the hunt. Moreover, Road Test Editor Don Canet turned his quickest lap at the annual MasterBike slugfest in Spain on the Honda entry, and James Toseland is leading the points chase in the World Superbike Championship on a CBR-RR. Impressive stuff.

Thinking back to the 900s, 929s and 954s of years past, I wish Honda's engineers had also used the mid-level muffler on the more recent full-liter models—or at least introduced a low-mounted design, a la the Suzuki GSX-R600 and 750. That way, swirling exhaust fumes from the fashionable underseat outlet wouldn't leave my backpack and riding jacket smelling like the CW dyno room!