All-new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R & SP Overview + Full Specs

Visordown takes a closer look at the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R and SP motorcycle models to see exactly what’s new and improved.

Honda CBR1000RR-R SP

With MotoGP derived winglets and an all-new RC213V inspired engine and chassis design, the new CBR1000RR-R is Honda’s most technology-laden and track-focused Fireblade to date - with a bit of help from HRC. 

The unofficial ethos of the Fireblade as ‘the best road sports bike for the road’ has been dashed out. Instead, Mr Yuzuru Ishikawa, Large Project Leader, says: 

“The CBR1000RR-R’s battleground has moved to the race track, where its advanced performance can be most fully demonstrated. ” 

Honda CBR1000RR-R Model Overview - Engine

The ‘ultra-compact’ EURO 5 compliant engine - although still and inline-four - has had some HRC tinkerage, sharing the same bore and stroke as the RC213V. With a semi-cam gear train; finger-follower rocker arms; titanium con-rods; RC213V-S internal friction reduction technologies; and piston jets with check ball system, Honda has gone balls to the wall with this motor. 

The end result is 160Kw (214hp) @ 14,500rpm and 113Nm torque @12,500rpm. At last, the Blade is now part of the 200+hp club! And some.

To help feed the engine a ram-air duct centrally mounted in the front fairing flows through directly into the airbox. At the rear the 4-2-1 exhaust downpipes are ovalized and the end-can has been developed in conjunction with Akrapovic. An exhaust valve was also added to deliver both low-rpm torque and high-rpm power. 

With all the extra horses, the Throttle By Wire has been enhanced for improved feel and three default riding modes feature options to change Power, Engine Brake, Wheelie Control and the optimised Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC).

The intervention of the rider modes electronics works on an ascending scale. The higher number set for the parameter, then the stronger it will be - with level 1 offering the lowest level of interference. 

Engine sum up:  

  • Finger-follower rocker arms, titanium con-rods and forged aluminium pistons reduce inertial weight

  • Airbox fed by ram-air duct tunnel through the steering stem

  • Titanium end-can developed in conjunction with Akrapovic

Chassis and Equipment

A new aluminium diamond frame uses the rear of the engine as the upper shock mount, thus doing away with the upper cross-member. The new swingarm is longer and based on the RC213V-S design. Plus, a larger 200/55-ZR17 rear tyre also joins the party. Vertical and torsional frame rigidity is increased by 18% and 9%, with horizontal rigidity decreased by 11% - all aimed at producing maximum levels of feel.

Showa’s 43mm Big Piston Fork (BPF) is matched to a Showa Balance Free Rear Cushion Light (BFRC-L). The front discs are 10mm larger in diameter and matched with new Nissin four-piston radial mounted calipers. The ABS is adjustable for track riding (sport/track).  

A six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) manages all of the electronic systems and controls the new 3-level Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD).

The fully customisable 5-inch TFT display is operated via a simplified four-way switch on the left handlebar. Honda’s (keyless) Smart Key system is installed, and the adjustable Start Mode [aka launch control] comes standard.

Chassis and equipment sum up: 

  • New aluminium frame and swingarm

  • Bosch six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

  • Full colour TFT dash

  • Three default riding modes plus options to customise Power, Engine Brake and Wheelie control 

  • Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) gains slip rate control

  • Launch control standard fitment

Aerodynamics

Honda’s RC213V MotoGP machine has kindly handed down aerodynamics to the CBR1000RR-R, including winglets to increase downforce and improve braking stability. The riding position is also much more compact [as if the Blade wasn’t compact enough...] thanks to a 45mm lower fuel tank. Even the convex front mudguard shape contributes to the aero package, guiding air around the front wheel to the side fairings - reducing the total drag coefficient to 0.270.

Aero sum up:

  • Aerodynamic fairing reduces drag coefficient; lower fuel tank also provides more compact riding position

  • Inner fairing winglets drawn from the RC213V MotoGP machine 

  • Honda Smart Key adds convenience and simplifies top-yoke design  

Honda CBR1000RR-R SP Overview (2020)

The SP version has all the features of the RR-R model, but with a few extra Brembo and Öhlins trick bits to make it even more of a track weapon.

Second-generation semi-active Öhlins Electronic Control (S-EC) featured on the RR-R SP uses a 43mm Öhlins NPX fork. Its length also offers greater freedom for geometry changes. The rear shock is an Öhlins TTX36 Smart-EC unit.

In conjunction with the hardware upgrade, the Öhlins Objective Based Tuning interface (OBTi) now offers finer suspension adjustment front and rear; both can be set independently from the default settings and 3 individual modes can be set and stored allowing the rider to configure multiple settings for a track, and switch instantly while riding.

New Brembo Stylema four-piston radial-mount brake calipers are operated by a Brembo master cylinder and brake lever. The rear brake caliper is the same Brembo unit used by the RC213V-S.

CBR1000RR-R & SP Full Technical Specification

ENGINE

Type

Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16-valve DOHC Inline-4

Engine Displacement (cm³)

999.9cc

No. of Valves per Cylinder

4

Bore × Stroke (mm)

81mm x 48.5mm

Compression Ratio

13.0 x 1

Max. Power Output

160kW @ 14,500

Max. Torque

113Nm @ 12,500

Oil Capacity

4.0L

FUEL SYSTEM

Carburation

PGM-DSFI

Fuel Tank Capacity

16.1L

Fuel Consumption

16.0km/litre 

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Starter

Electric

Battery Capacity

12-6 YTZ7S

DRIVETRAIN

Clutch Type

Wet, multiplate hydraulic clutch with assist slipper

Transmission Type

6-speed

Final Drive

Chain

FRAME

Type

Aluminium composite twin spar

CHASSIS

Dimensions (L x W x H)

2100 x 745 x 1140mm

Wheelbase

1455mm

Caster Angle

24o

Trail

102mm

Seat Height

830mm

Ground Clearance

115mm

Kerb Weight

201kg

SUSPENSION

Type Front

Showa Telescopic inverted fork with an inner tube diameter of 43 mm, and a Big Piston Front Fork with preload, compression and rebound adjustment, 120mm stroke

 

SP: Telescopic inverted fork with inner

diameter of 43mm and Ohlins NPX Smart-

EC with preload, compression and

rebound adjustments. 125mm stroke.

Type Rear

Unit Pro-Link with gas-charged HMAS damper featuring 10-step preload and stepless compression and rebound damping adjustment, 137mm stroke. 

Showa Balance-Free Rear Cushion with preload, compression and rebound adjustment.

 

SP: Pro-Link with gas-charged Ohlins TTX36 Smart-EC damper featuring preload, compression and rebound damping. 143mm stroke.

WHEELS

Rim Size Front

17 inch x 3.5

Rim Size Rear

17 inch x 6.0

Tyres Front

120/70-ZR17

Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP

Bridgestone RS11

Tyres Rear

200/55-ZR17

Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP

Bridgestone RS11

BRAKES

ABS System Type

2 Channel

Front

330mm disc with radial-mount 4-piston Nissin caliper

 

SP: 4-piston Brembo Stylema 330mm disc

Rear

220mm disc with 2-piston Brembo caliper

INSTRUMENTS & ELECTRICS

Instruments

TFT-LCD

Security System

HISS

Headlight

LED

Taillight

LED