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.

[Blue Jays]

Hi bikepacker67-

"...Organ/Tissue Donor Card..."

Gee, motorcyclists have never heard that one before. As a motorcyclist who is also heavily into bicycling and dedicates time to the USCF to promote the sport, I would think there would be a certain esprit de corps among everyone who enjoys themselves while up on two wheels. The whole Organ/Tissue Donor thing is so hackneyed and trite that it's painful...

~ Blue Jays ~

[JoeGar]

A friend of my dad's used to drag race Harleys.

Harleys used to be uncompetitive in the NHRA Pro Stock drag racing, so they had to run in the All-Harley drags. However, a rules change made them very, very competitve in NHRA.

[StarCMC]

He he he -- we have an '04 R1. Hubby was looking at the new one -- the LE, but decided to pass for now. It's eating him though. Won't surprise me if we end up with one. LOL

[StarCMC]

Thanks for the ping El Gran!!

[taxed2death]

R1-LE is an amazing bike...but definitely not for the faint-hearted. I put about 300 miles on a 2005 R1 with a power commander and a pipe on it in Sept....to be honest with you... the thing was so fast that the addition of those two items were totally unnecessary. What struck me was how fast that thing accelerated from 100 mph to about 160 mph. I ran out of nerve before I ran out of road....fortunately.

It's amazing what $10,000 bucks will buy these days. The new R6 is "fly-by-wire"...so I'm sure the R1 will soon follow. suit.

[steve86]

Yeah, the R1 and R6 are great bikes, but I'd prefer you'd give me title to one of those restored TZ-250s.

Had a lot of fun watching those at Seattle International Raceway in the early 80s.

[taxed2death]

I'm restoring one as a Lucky Strike replica right now.....

This particular customer of mine has an addiction to race replicas....
LOL

[blackie]

I'm 75 and have been riding motorcycles since 1948 and I still ride a Suzuki SV650 that does 130+ and I'm still here.

Me thinks the bikepacker is a wee bit jealous. ;);)

Organ donor, indeed!

[Blue Jays]

Hi Blackie-

Yup, I remembered you had some serious saddle time under your belt so I knew you would be interested in that post!

~ Blue Jays ~

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I briefly owned a Kawasaki H-1 3 cylinder 2 stroke bike in 1972. After three months, I was convinced the front forks were made out of aluminum foil.

[Blue Jays]

Hi E.i.t.O.-

Kawasaki motorcycles of all vintages are very popular with dragracers. While I'm more of a Honda fan myself for streetbikes/sportbikes, I do acknowledge that Kawasaki builds bulletproof engines.

~ Blue Jays ~

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It was the fastest thing I'd ever been around, quicker in a city block than the Kawasaki 900 that was introduced in 72. Curiously, the 70 and 71 500s had CDI but my 72 had three sets of points. In 73, they want back to electronic ignition.
The front end would develop a wobble when I put it in a big right hand sweeper at 65 or 70. I didn't know if I should speed up or slow down when this virus attacked. I got rid of the damned thing before it nearly killed me and picked up the used Norton which I kept around until about 1992. For all its odd mannerisms, it was a dependable machine.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

btw, I'm a Honda owner now. Last summer, we bought a 26 foot Play Craft pontoon boat with a 225 V-6 Honda outboard motor. This is where I do my recreating these days; on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. The rig has three pontoons and will do 55 mph. There is seating for 15.

[Disambiguator]

I'm not that keen on Britbikes, but I enjoyed the article.

My philosophy is this: motorcycles should have 2 cylinders, and cars should have 12.

[poindexter]

Nice donorcycle.

[VOA]

bump

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It gives away my age, I'm afraid. In the 50s, 60s and early 70s, Limeys were it. Then a little Japanese guy figured out how to put engine cases together a different way and wiped out the UK bike industry in five years.

[woofie]

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Life can be a Dream...

[uglybiker]

Slightly off-topic.

Saw The World's Fastest Indian the other night. It was one of those rare occasions where the audience applauded at the end on the movie. Definitely one of those to put on your must see list.

And there were no gay cowboys eating pudding!