Motorcycles Technology
CBR1000RR - Engineers Talk Part 1
The CBR1000RR, Ever Pursuing the Joy of Riding, Meets Electronic Control
The CBR1000RR’s Electronic Control Does Not Aim for a Carefree Fast Bike
Miyagi
The new CBR1000RR’s major topic to discuss is its electronic control.
I feel the new CBR-RR has every kind of electronic control Honda has developed for this class of bike: Super sports ABS, electronically controlled suspension, throttle-by-wire, engine mapping changes, selectable torque control, quick shifter, the works.
Competing models, especially the European bikes, have already been equipped with these electronics.
I understand that Honda’s policy is to apply technology only once the engineers are satisfied, and I imagine that’s why it took a long time. That also means, riders look forward to a philosophy unique to Honda. What can we look forward to?
Hosokawa
A major premise is that the rider comes first.
The CBR-RR aims to be a super sports bike easy to handle, and fun for as many riders as possible. That doesn’t mean that anyone who can open the throttle can ride fast. It’s not the sort of bike that spoils the rider, or rides fast on its own.
As a rider, I don’t like being ridden by the bike, and I didn’t want to give riders that impression.
Sato
In sports, you can’t go to the next stage if you don’t know if you succeeded or got it wrong. The CBR-RR helps the rider to recover from a mistake. Sometimes it makes the rider realize a mistake has been made. We aimed to build electronic control that puts the rider first.
Miyagi
When I interviewed you on the RC-V MotoGP bike, you mentioned that electronic control is not a “riding aid” but a “rider’s aid.” Electronic control does not make the bike faster, but supports the rider, resulting in riding faster. The CBR-RR inherits this philosophy.
From an average rider’s perspective, what will the rider, from a novice to an experienced rider, feel in various situations?
Sato
I actually own the last generation NSR250R.
Miyagi
You ride a very relentless bike. It was a model that forged a generation of its own.
Sato
Yes it was. For me the NSR250R is one form of perfection. It has a strong presence, but it’s a light bike so everything is within reach, and it gives you the confidence that you can control it completely. The CBR1000RR, with its electronic controls, makes it a bike that you can ride as enthusiastically as the NSR250R, despite having a 1000cc engine. I believe this is because we put in so much effort to reduce its weight, while giving riders the reassuring feeling that the bike will always be there to support them.
Miyagi
I see. The larger margin leads to a more confident ride. Mr. Hosokawa, what are your thoughts?
Hosokawa
I believe the CBR-RR can help even with a novice rider becoming an intermediate rider. As Mr. Sato mentioned, the rider has a feel of constant security, so when attempting to ride on a track, they will try to go a bit faster, or keep up with a faster rider ahead.
The experienced rider can enjoy pursuing their perfect ride, by customizing the various devices according to their riding style. We have included settings for the track with slick tires, so every rider can enjoy bringing out the performance of the bike according to their skill level.
Sato
It’s as if the bike is growing along with the rider. A new discovery waits at the next level, which I believe, is a new way the rider can enjoy the CBR-RR like no other super sports bike.
Miyagi
The CBR-RR has gained a new mechanism, and enters a new era. Still, I’m very pleased that in many ways, it returns to its roots, the original CBR900RR.
The CBR-RR’s unchanging concept is to allow anyone to enjoy riding. The bike is built taking what the rider feels seriously, not just fast lap times on the track.
CBR1000RR - Engineers Talk
