More delays are coming to the Honda CBR1000RR-R superbike, this time for the SP models that are coming to the US market.
While Europeans will have to wait a couple weeks longer because of a con-rod recall affecting the new Fireblade in their markets, would-be owners in the United States will have to show some patience as well, as deliveries to the United States have been pushed back by over one month.
American Honda tells us that the delays in US arrivals stems from supply chain issues for parts that go into making the CBR1000RR-R SP, and that we are not to expect the new Fireblade until early/mid September.
While the specific part or its manufacturer isn’t being discussed, one can assume that the production shutdowns in Europe are having their effects on Honda’s plans for the CBR1000RR-R.
For instance, the closure of the Brembo facilities in Italy are certainly going to send ripples through the motorcycle industry, and create chaos for supply chain manufacturers.
With Italy and Spain home for more than a few OEM parts suppliers, as well as being two of the worst-hit countries in Europe for COVID-19, we can imagine that the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade is not alone in its production disruptions.
The question though is whether the end-of-season arrival for the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP will drastically affect the bike’s first-year sales.
Normally, that would be the case, but given the fact that American Honda is only bringing in the SP version of the new Fireblade, and that it costs $28,500 MSRP in the USA, big first-year numbers were never going to be very likely.
After all, If one has the near $30,000 to roll a new CBR1000RR-R SP out of a Honda dealership, then one probably isn’t hurting too bad from the economic slowdown, and have plenty of other toys in the garage to play with.
That being said, assuming no further delays push the new Fireblade’s American arrival into next year, it still remains one of the most anticipated motorcycles for 2020.
Source: American Honda
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