The New Honda Fireblade Is Actually Coming to America
The all-new Honda CBR1000RR…-R Fireblade SP is coming to American motorcycle showrooms as a hulked up 2021 model of the familiar Honda CBR1000RR sport bike. There were apparently not enough Rs for this speedster––so Honda added more. Honda Powersports advertises this designated factory racer as “everything but the factory contract.”
Named the Fireblade––presumably alluding to the heat with which it slices through the air(or the competition)––this sportbike is not for beginners. And it really belongs on a track. With top speeds of up to 186 miles per hour, we absolutely cannot endorse opening this beast up on public roads. It’s ridiculous. It’s far more than anyone could ever need for the commute to work and back. But let’s be honest, that’s the draw.
The all-new Fireblade
In the past, the Honda CBR1000RR-R will be America’s first Fireblade-badged MotoGP inspired bike. According to a report from Ride Apart, trickle down race tech goes a long way for the 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R silhouette. Additionally, new equipment includes titanium connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, fresh finger-follower rocker arms, and a block that’s more compact. All of this inspired by the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) RC213V MotoGP race bike.
“The RR-R one-ups the RR in a number of ways, including the price. Honda announced that the new 2021 Fireblade will retail for $28,500—a $12,000 premium over the entry-level CBR1000RR. What does the additional $12k get you? Put simply: a road-legal MotoGP bike…The designers and engineers took a few pages out of HRC’s book and applied track-inspired solutions to the Fireblade’s design to improve efficiency and reduce friction.”
Sabrina Giacomini | Ride Apart
How fast is the CBR1000RR?
The previous Honda CBR liter bike models were plenty fast. The Honda CBR1000RR SP motorcycle reaches top speeds of about 185 miles per hour, according to Top Speed. Keeping speed with its predecessor, the 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is an insane racing machine.
Motorcycle.com reports a horsepower increase from 169 hp on the current CBR1000 to 188 hp for the all-new Fireblade. Comparably, the 215 horsepower the European model supposedly specs, it’s a bit disappointing. Not to say that the American Honda Fireblade SP will be slow by any means––just not quite as hot and heavy as some might have hoped. Even the BMW S1000RR claims 205 hp in its NHTSA documentation, reports Motorcycle.com.
What does the extra R stand for?
As we all know, those Rs stand for ‘race replica.’ So why are there three? It seems like the new Honda sport bike might be keeping a secret. The ‘Type R’ stamp is typically not to be taken lightly.
If CBR stands for ‘city bike racing’ and 1000 is the amount of displacement, then RR-R stands for Race Replica…R? We still aren’t sure. Despite curious fans, Honda’s lips are sealed. One thing is clear: with that SP badge, it better be special.
The extra R is either a fun sticker or a game-changer. Unfortunately, the US release for the Honda Fireblade SP has been delayed from June 2020 until September. So, we will just wait and see.
Is the Fireblade SP a good bike?
If you don’t mind spending some serious cash on a brand new race-built factory sport bike, the 2021 Honda CBR is a good, fast motorcycle. The 2021 Honda Fireblade will easily compete with others like the BMW S1000RR and the Suzuki GSX R1100. Although city street motorcycle racing isn’t exactly advised, this bike will be a top contender if you choose to do so.
