As if waiting for the debut of a new superbike from Honda wasn’t a marathon event in itself, the arrival of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP onto US soil took its time in its own right, thanks in part to the coronavirus outbreak.
But, the new Fireblade is finally here in the United States, and Asphalt & Rubber is among the first to ride this new superbike.
Our ride test takes us to smokey California, at the Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, CA. With fires smoldering not too far away, we consider ourselves lucky to ride this popular Californian track, and the new Fireblade should feel right at home on this undulating circuit.
The highlights of the day will be getting to spend a handful of sessions on the new “Triple R” (this seems to be the preferred nomenclature over Honda’s stammering pirate naming system), but Honda has also brought a bevy of the outgoing generation of CBR’s for comparison.
This should not only give us a chance to compare the two model generations in the SP trim, but also see how Honda’s superbike lineup stacks up with the base model and SP variants available to consumers.
We found the previous generation Fireblade SP to be a nimble and fun bike to ride, though it had two major flaws: 1) it was noticeably down on power to its competitors, and 2) the electronics were less than stellar.
From its spec sheet, the 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP promises to fix both of those issues, and now it’s time to see if the paper is confirmed by the tarmac.
Per our new review format, I will be giving you a live assessment of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP right here in this article (down in the comments section), and I will try to answer any questions you might have about this exciting motorcycle.
So, here is your chance to learn what it’s like to ride the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, before even our own proper review is posted. As always, if I don’t know an answer, I will try to get a response from the Honda personnel. So, pepper away.
You can follow our thoughts on the bike live via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and you can see what our colleagues are posting on social media by looking for the hashtags #CBR1000RRR
Spec-Sheet Comparison of Relevant Models to the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP:
| Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP | BMW S1000RR M | Ducati Panigale V4 S | |
| Horsepower | 214 hp | 202 hp | 211 hp |
| Torque | 83 lbs•ft | 83 lbs•ft | 91.5 lbs•ft |
| Weight | 443 lbs (wet) | 427 lbs (wet) | 436 lbs (wet) |
| Engine | 999cc / Inline-Four | 999cc / Inline-Four | 1,103cc / 90° V4 |
| Price | $28,500 | $21,190 | $28,395 |
Photos: Honda
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