Honda CBR1000RR-R vs Yamaha R1M – Battle of the Japanese Superbikes!

It’s been a big couple of years for flagship Superbikes with both Ducati and BMW bringing their latest models to market with the Panigale V4 and S1000RR… but the time has come for the Japanese firms to fight back with the launch of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP and Yamahas R1M.

Two machines to lay the foundation to their fortunes on the race track, the new Honda Fireblade is charged with revitalising the marque’s fortunes on the world stage four years on from its last trip to the top of the podium.

Yamaha meanwhile have enjoyed more success than Honda in recent years but are still adrift of leaders Kawasaki and Ducati, so have given the venerable R1 an update for 2020 in the hope it will push them closer to the front.

As inline-fours generating 200hp and more, the CBR1000RR-R and R1M are natural rivals both on and off-track, but which is the most fun, the most useable and the one we’d be spending out £20,000+ cash on…

Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP vs Yamaha R1M - REVIEW

We will have to wait until both the Yamaha and Honda emerge on their respective press fleets to find out whether they are just as useable day-to-day as they are enjoyable to unleash on the racetrack.