Honda's Sweet New Sportbike (Motorsports ping)

Business Week ^ | 2/4/06 | Rob Doyle

[voletti]

Redesigned for 2006, the flagship CBR1000RR hits all the marks, trimming pounds but improving performance and looks

Whether on the track or on the street, Honda proposes the question: Was its new 2006 CBR1000RR redesigned to be the fastest bike for the ultimate rider or as a fast bike for the widest range of riders -- including those with a little less experience who are curious to get a glimpse of life in the fast lane? Honda (HMC ) claims to have done both with its new model.

I was invited along with a few other motojournalists for a firsthand experience of this newly redesigned motorcycle, Honda's flagship sportbike, on a track called Buttonwillow Raceway, located in Bakersfield, Calif. It was also my first experience of feeling like a MotoGP star. Not only because this particular model uses technology that has trickled down the R&D chain from Honda's definitive Grand Prix weapon, the RC211V, but also because of the royal treatment we received at the racetrack.

There were actually garages trackside, and four bikes in each stable. Plus, we had mechanics, tire warmers, and each got our own chair to relax in between riding sessions. Then, the icing on the cake -- each of the eight journalists there for the day got their names inscribed on the windshield of a bike.

[taxed2death]

"drool with disgust, that is. harley roolz."

To a certain segment of the motorcycling population, yes.

For others.....well, you know... "different strokes for different folks".

[Emmett McCarthy]

Had a beer oir two a few weeks back with a fella who's still riding one of those Nortons. He said that once he got rid of all the old Lucas electrical parts, it became much more fun.

[Steveone]

Way cool one has to respect the technology there.I am not a street guy but raced Motocross.

[rabidralph]

Please, add me to the motorsports ping list.

[Mr Rogers]

No - you wreck one of these bikes, and there isn't likely to be a whole organ left to donate. Although you might need to SELL some organs to pay for a new fairing.

For myself, I miss the days when bikes were affordable means of transportation. I obviously don't speak for the majority - seems most bikes sold cost as much as cars, and either a) weigh as much, or b) are meant for travel at 100+.

[MarkL]

Years ago, I bought a Brit motorcycle magazine (I think it was Fast Bikes, but I don't remember for sure), and it had a number of stickers in it. One that I immediately put on my helmet (and it's still there) reads:

If you can read this, my head has come off, and it might be a good idea to call an ambulance.

Mark

[MarkL]

drool with disgust, that is. harley roolz.

And HD has done so well over the years, in racing...

Mark

[HiTech RedNeck]

yer bikes too ugly to show itself anywhere else

[bad company]

Ping!

[MarkL]

Huh?

[JoeGar]

And HD has done so well over the years, in racing...

Wait a minute, do I detect sarcasm? I heard G. Gordon Liddy say that Harley makes "the most powerful motorcycles in the world".

[corlorde]

No, but they let you pick out your wheelchair in advance.

[taxed2death]

I have that same sticker on my helmet....LOL.

[taxed2death]

"For myself, I miss the days when bikes were affordable means of transportation. I obviously don't speak for the majority - seems most bikes sold cost as much as cars, and either a) weigh as much, or b) are meant for travel at 100+."

Been to a dealer lately?

There's a lot of nice brand new bikes to be had for $6000.00-$7000.00 that are under 500 lbs and make terrific reliable transportation.

[HiTech RedNeck]

thuh hoggiest

[ovrtaxt]

A friend of my dad's used to drag race Harleys. They were neat modified bikes.

A friend of mine, a forme SEAL, used to race rocket bikes professionally. When I first met him, he was still recovering from his last wreck. I think being a SEAL was less abusive to his body than racing! His leg bones are mostly metal.

[ovrtaxt]

I meant to ping you to 36.

[taxed2death]

I sponsored Kurt Hall in his bid to become 1992 WERA Champion. He was successful and took first place (TZ-250). One of the reasons WHY I chose to sponsor Kurt was the fact that he rarely crashed. He also won several F-USA championships on his Suzuki if I am not mistaken. He had great success riding for Team Valvoline / Suzuki.
One of the most interesting conversations I had with him was when I asked him "How is it that you seem to crash so much less than the next 10 competitors"?
He told me he spent hours and hours racing endurance races... as opposed to sprint races. Track time is what counts....and the typical AMA sprint races do not lend itself very well to "teaching you how to race". The pucker factor is much higher when you have to make your mark upon the racing world in 25 laps.... as opposed to the longer format of endurance racing. Kurt would happily take second place and accumulate the points rather than try for first place every time and risk having a "yard sale" on the outside of turn three. Having said this... I do enjoy AMA super bike racing (except for the recent rule change for 600cc / Daytona). The classes in AMA desperately need some "streamlining"...but overall the racing is terrific.

Lesson learned: Crashing sucks (gravity sucks too).

[Bob Mc]

Considering the maneuverability, stability, balance, tire traction, and suspension and braking performance, these sportbikes are far superior from a safety standpoint, to the old technology in Harley type bikes.

It's the rider's attitude that makes them unsafe.

As far as cost, it's relative. You can buy one of these sportbikes, such as the new Yamaha R6 with some 130HP engine, with all the latest and most sophisticated racing techonolgy installed, for 10 grand. If you were to try to buy an automobile with equivalent amount of race tuned components and performance, it would cost over 100 grand! Actually you probably couldn't legally drive such a race bred automobile on the street!

[El Gran Salseron]

Ping