information supplied by: Honda South Africa 01 February 2006
Crystallisation of Honda’s Racing DNA


The Honda CBR1000RR FireBlade development team decided against a drastic redesign for the 2006 model. Instead, they worked towards careful refinement of the fundamentals for their most powerful and best handling RR yet.

One of the main design objectives with their newest Superbike was even stronger performance – without increasing the engine capacity. They also sought less weight in their quest for quicker acceleration and sharper handling.

And they succeeded, as the new FireBlade so competently demonstrates by delivering a greater range of riding excitement and the experience of total control when pushing the outer limits of the rider’s abilities.

In racing terms, the impressive power to weight ratio means the refined ‘Blade has the competitive edge on track – right up to World Superbike Championship level.

Still, Honda’s FireBlade development team kept environmental concerns in mind. The 2006 CBR1000RR meets upcoming Euro-3 standards for exhaust gas emissions.

From its conception, the range-topping Super Sports machine has shown noticeable visual and technological ties with its famous RC211V MotoGP racing relative. It was meant to be a street-legal realisation of Honda’s cutting edge racing technologies.

As a result, the FireBlade not only looks the part of a championship-winning racer, it also delivers a unique blend of class-leading performance and handling on the street and the track.

The latest generation’s bodywork boasts a new shape to express its sense of speed and winning performance. The front and side cowls are sleeker, more curvaceous and aggressive-looking to highlight its bloodline bond with the RC211V.

The new design shows off more of the right hand engine cover and also more of the header downtubes, which help to make the machine look much racier. Compared to the 2005 model, the upper cowling on the leading edges of the screen is further flared and the lower fairing does not extend as far to the rear.

Styling details include a more pronounced indent in the front cowl and reshaped slimline headlights to make the RR’s distinctive new face more aggressive. The fairing’s new side cowls also feature compact, rounded lines to accentuate the typically lean and aerodynamic outer shell and add to superior high-speed handling.

The overall premium performance impact is evident from all angles. In addition, the lower exhaust ducts in the side cowls draw air extremely effectively through the radiator to reduce the rider’s exposure to engine heat and greatly improves riding enjoyment.

The slim seat cowl provides easy manoeuvring and sports riding comfort within the same sleek lines, sweeping back into a sharply tapered edge. A neat LED taillight hovers over the centre-up exhaust system’s prominent exit port, with its newly-designed decorative moulded resin flange.

Racetrack performance is not the only area that Honda has addressed for 2006, as the designers have also provided denser seat foam for added comfort.

The CBR1000RR FireBlade for 2006 comes in three dynamic colour variations, leading with a new black to accentuate the ‘Blade’s technological superiority. The red version embodies Honda’s proud racing history and the CBR’s winning ways, while a metallic silver option has the look of quality and prestige – once again in touch with the FireBlade’s MotoGP racing roots.

The chassis also gets new colour touches, with the impressive hybrid aluminium swing arm in the same black as the frame for a dark, mean appearance. Rounding off the aesthetic changes is a switch in colour of the radial brake mounts and fork lowers to black from the previous bronze found on the 2005 model.

Colours

· Graphite Black, with Matte Axis Grey Metallic
· Winning Red, with Graphite Black
· Iron Nail Silver, with Force Silver Metallic and Graphite Black


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