By
PETER THOEMING
8 May 2006
It seems impossible, but as the designers make sports bikes ever
lighter and more powerful, they also keep making them more rideable.
Even for ordinary riders, like my humble self. The 2006 FireBlade is a
perfect example. While my compatriots from the bike press worked on
their lap times at Phillip Island during the launch, I borrowed a bike
and took it out on the island’s roads – and found it tractable and
comfortable as well as blindingly fast.
What’s going on?
Well, let’s see if we can find an
answer from Honda.
The company is justifiably proud of the
bike’s ‘high-performance features such as its gravity die-cast
aluminium frame, more compact, high-output engine with Dual Sequential
Fuel Injection system, Unit Pro-Link rear suspension, radial-mount front
brakes and a unique electronic steering damper’ which were ‘transferred
directly from the world championship racer directly to the new FireBlade
with the goal of creating not only one of the finest Super Sports street
bikes to ever carve a corner, but also the base model for a new World
Superbike contender in full compliance with new FIM regulations that
raised the qualifying displacement of four cylinder engine-powered
machines to 1000cc.’
Well, fine. That explains why it goes
like a cut cat, with handling to match. And the bike certainly has the
runs on the board – ‘the new FireBlade soon strongly reasserted its
leadership of the high-performance Super Sports class, and paved the way
to a strong showing in a new era of World Superbike racing.
‘From its very first year in
production, the new FireBlade exceeded all expectations, running with
the leaders in all its races in the hands of World Supersport champion
and Superbike sensation, Chris Vermeulen for the privateer Ten Kate
Honda team, and taking the Super Sports riding world by storm with its
peerless combination of breathtaking power and smooth, effortless
control.’
Indisputably true. And not only that. My
keen colleagues even got the mechanics to remove the hero pegs (the
small, downward-pointing pins on the footpegs that tell you you’re
about to touch down) to allow the bikes to lean further than they were
designed to do. But how did that magic rideability come about? How was
the design team briefed?
‘Building on the CBR1000RR FireBlade’s
already well-established successes, its development team set out on a
course of careful refinement, rather than drastic redesign, since the
raw fundamentals of top performance and potential for further
advancement were already boldly evident in both the design and
performance of the CBR. The team thus focused on a development theme
conceptualising the ‘Crystallisation of Racing DNA’ in formulating
the next generation of the strongest and most responsive handling RR
yet.
‘Foremost among the new machine’s
design goals was achieving stronger performance—with no change in
engine displacement—and lighter weight in the quest for both quicker
acceleration and quicker handling. This stronger and lighter package of
performance could then deliver a greater range of riding excitement and
a more fantastic experience of Total Control when pushing the outer
limits of one’s own riding abilities.’
Okay, okay we know about the performance
and we’re impressed. What else?
‘The FireBlade’s bodywork was given a
new look that more impressively expresses its sense of speed and winning
performance. Front and side cowls were redesigned with a sleeker, more
curvaceous and more aggressive look that still maintains strong
bloodline ties to its MotoGP racing predecessor.’
Yep. Works well, too. It’s a very
smart-looking bike. But the increased comfort? It actually doesn’t
sound as though anyone at Honda wants to take credit for that. Or maybe
it’s just a side effect. Whatever it is, it’s made what is
effectively a high-performance track weapon, aimed at racing success, a
serious contender as an everyday road bike. Incidentally, to make it
more likely that you can keep the bike, Honda Access Corporation has
also developed an accessory motion-and vibration-sensitive AVERTO
security system ‘that emits a piercing wail if tampering is detected’.
How cool is all that? No wonder you made
the FireBlade the best-selling bike in its class in Australia last year
– and that was last year’s model… wait till you sample the ’06
’Blade. Hope you don’t mind that it’s comfortable.
AT A GLANCE
Model: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
Price: $18,990 (plus on-road charges)
Warranty: Two years, unlimited distance
Power: 126.4 kW at 11,250 rpm
Torque: 114.5Nm at 10,000 rpm
Engine: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16-valve DOHC inline-4, PGM-DSFI
electronic fuel injection, digital transistorised ignition with
electronic advance
Bore x stroke: 75 x 56.5mm
Displacement: 998 cc
Compression ratio: 12.2 : 1
Transmission: 6 speed, wet, multi-plate clutch, final drive by chain
Suspension: Front, 43mm inverted HMAS cartridge-type telescopic fork
with stepless preload, compression and rebound adjustment, 120mm travel.
Rear, Pro-Link with gas-charged HMAS damper featuring 13-step preload
and stepless compression and rebound damping adjustment, 135mm travel
Dimensions: Seat height 831 mm, dry weight 176 kg, fuel capacity 18
litres, wheelbase 1400 mm
Tyres: Front, 120/70 ZR17. Rear, 190/50 ZR17
Frame: Diamond; aluminium composite twin-spar
Brakes: Front, twin 320 mm discs with 4-piston calipers. Rear, single
220 x 5mm hydraulic disc with single-piston caliper.
Colour/s: Red/black, Grey/silver.
