2017 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade Unveiled At INTERMOT

The 2017 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade loses 15kg of weight and gains 10.8PS of power, resulting in 14 per cent higher power to weight ratio.

One of the biggest unveilings of the INTERMOT motorcycle fair in Cologne, Germany, was the 2017 model of the legendary Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. WorldSBK race winner and former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden and Honda Endurance Racing team rider Freddy Foray raised the curtains on the 2017 model of the bike, along with its new SP and SP2 versions. According to the company, "The development of the 2017 Fireblade has remained true to the ground-breaking spirit of the original 1992 machine, with a relentless focus on power to weight ratio."

The 2017 Honda Fireblade is the sharpest in its 25-year history and the new model looks completely different from the existing one. The bike gets all-new fairing along with full LED headlights and tail light. Thanks to the new radiator design, the width of the bike has been reduced by 24mm. Moreover, the new components, including a titanium fuel tank and muffler, help in weight reduction, making the 2017 model a whole 15kg lighter.

Powering the 2017 CBR1000RR is the same inline-four engine that does duty in the existing version. However, the motor has been reworked to make it Euro-4 compliant and churn out 10.8PS of extra power. With the increased power and reduced weight, the company is claiming 14 per cent improvement in the power to weight ratio, making the 2017 model the fastest Fireblade ever.

The list of new features on the 2017 Fireblade includes a full touchscreen TFT instrument console while the other two versions get some more advanced electronic upgrades. The SP and SP2 versions of the 2017 model get a complete package of advanced electronics, such as throttle-by-wire, quick shift assist, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) with slide control and wheelie control and gyro-based ABS. Also managing the system is an advanced five-axis IMU. Moreover, the SP2 version also gets ready for the circuit, with its kit including lightweight Marchesini wheels along with redesigned valves, combustion chamber and pistons.

The company has worked on the frame and the swingarm to enhance the handling dynamics of the 2017 Honda CBR1000RR. Also, the bike gets a programmable Ohlins Electronic Controlled Suspension system. The company could launch the new model in the international market by the end of this year, while India is expected to get it sometime next year.