| | | | Road Test: 2007 Honda CBR600RR- 20 years later, put the R in R |  Written: 20/11/2007 : 13:24. Read 5909 times (35/day). | | The integrality of this filed article is for Premium Members. | 1987 saw the very first CBR years before Fireblades and Firestorms. Honda started the CBR series with a 600 and already in 1991 it boasted 100bhp. In 2003 the 600RR was launched and in 2007 an all new version of the CBR600RR, 20 years later.
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In many ways the CBR600RR is the most focussed Honda that you can get your hands on for road riding. A lot of the modifications are made every other year or so to accommodate the race teams relying on the CBR, but also changes to make it a better road bike. The one modification that stands out and benefits everyone is the weight reduction. It is also the one single factor that for me makes the experience of a 2007 supersport so enjoyable.
The new 2007 Honda CBR600RR carries a claimed 155kg dry weight and a supposedly honest 184kg kerb weight (ready to ride, with fuel and battery…) For a motorcycle with huge performance, this lightness is absolutely stunning. Compare it to your average 250cc scooter and the CBR600RR beats most with at least 10 kilos!
Then take a more compact and high tech than ever new 599cc engine of 120bhp and 66Nm. Add the lighter new chassis, the longer swing-arm and new fairing with a centrally mounted ram-air duct and you have the new bike in a nutshell.
The single most important first impression that I get is the feeling of riding something very light and flickable. Secondly I notice how responsive that small new engine is even at fairly moderate rpms (which in this case is around 7.000rpm) I don’t have to twist the throttle fully open and wait for things to happen whilst yawning in higher gears as much as I am used to with the small in-line fours. That’s a star in the book straight away.
Despite this surprise in everyday midrange usefulness, the engine is still classified as a screamer and high revs in the range of 7K+ is pretty much the norm all the time. Albeit a decent midrange, I still feel left in no mans land where I can’t reduce the revs all the way down and I can’t go flat out. It’s a 600 and most of the time I am just longing for places where I can open up the throttle to really feel the power. And then when I find somewhere it doesn’t last long before speed has to be reduced due to obstacles in the road.
Oh yes I know, life on a sportbike is frustrating and when frustration leaves paranoia replaces it. I guess it’s for me as for everyone else; you live f ...
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