The new 2020 Honda CBR1000-RR Fireblade will take the superbike fight to rivals with a completely redesigned pair of motorcycles that are packing the very latest technology, aerodynamic wings and a new engine that produces 214bhp.
There are actually two new versions of the bike; a standard CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and a higher specification CBR1000-RR R Fireblade SP with both being developed with heavy input from the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) which is the same Honda company division that develops all of the factory racing bikes.
The Honda CBR900 Fireblade was a class-redefining motorcycle when it first appeared in 1992 and there have been several key models updated along the way but class competitors have in recent years left the Honda behind in terms of both power and the latest technology. This new 2020 model is the first all-new version to be seen since 2008.
Honda is making no bones about the fact ultimate track performance has been behind all of the changes made to the new models with engine power, handling and aerodynamics all drawing from what has been learned from developing the MotoGP championship-winning RC213V motorcycle.
The SP version of the bike gets a significant number of changes over the standard model and this will be reflected in the higher price.
The SP version gets Brembo brakes, Ohlins electronic suspension and an Akrapovic titanium silencer.
Project Leader for the 2020 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade is Yuzuru Ishikawa. He said: “This year a brand-new Fireblade is born. And our intentions are crystal clear.
“The CBR1000RR-R’s battleground has moved to the race track, where its advanced performance can be most fully demonstrated. The engine has the same bore and stroke as the RC213V, and we have chosen to maintain an inline four-cylinder engine configuration and regular combustion interval for the freedom in packaging, high power and ease of control this layout affords.
“We firmly believe riders everywhere can experience a whole new level of performance with our new CBR1000RR-R – a machine in its element on the track.”
CBR1000RR-R Fireblade Engine
Unlike the last 11 years of development of the Fireblade engine, the 2020 model features a completely new short-stroke engine which shares the bore and stroke of the RC213V MotoGP bike to produce 214bhp and 83.3ft lbs of torque.
The engine features a new semi-cam gear train, finger-follower rocker arms, titanium conrods, new friction reducing technologies and a newly-designed, centrally-mounted front-fairing ramair duct.
The SP-model gets an Akrapovic titanium silencer over the standard bike’s stainless steel version.
The engine is completely new and features an 81mm bore with a 48.5mm stroke which is a huge change over the previous bike’s 76mm x 55.1mm bore and stroke; the bore size is the biggest in the 1000cc sportsbike class.
The change to finger follower rocker arms is a change from bucket valve drive and reduces inertial weight by a claimed 75% which, when combined with a new Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) surface treatment on the cam lobes has resulted in a claimed 35% reduction in frictional losses.
The new semi-cam valve train is driven from the timing gear located on the crankshaft via the cam idle-gear which shortens the length of the chain needed which helps in such a high revving engine to maintain engine timing.
New titanium conrods and conrod caps have been developed by a Honda-developed material called TI-64A and save a claimed 50% in weight over Chrome Molybdenum steel versions.
Forged aluminium pistons are lightweight and weigh 5% less than previous versions and the engine has an oil-cooling system that adjusts between high and low rpm to ensure oil-pressure isn’t lost unnecessarily at lower engine speeds.
The newly-designed ramair system leads straight into the pressurised airbox which is now bigger on both the outside and inside of the air filter before the fuel/air mix is mixed in the inlet valves thanks to larger 52mm throttle bodies using a reduced intake valve angle.
AERODYNAMICS
Honda has joined the small but growing club of manufacturers adding aerodynamic wings to their high performance motorcycles with a pair of vertically-mounted wings now featuring on the 2020 CBR1000RR-R range.
The Japanese company says the wings have been developed as a result of MotoGP racing knowledge and they help not only to reduce lift but aid stability and generate downforce at the same amount as the 2018 MotoGP RC213V racing bike.
Honda claims the new CBR1000RR-R range is the most aerodynamic bike in the sportsbike class thanks to the wings and also the work done on the front end of the bike in combination with the narrow engine.
The fuel tank is now mounted 45mm lower than before and this helps to allow the rider to get lower and out of the windblast at high speed and therefore reduce the aerodynamic drag. This works along with the
ELECTRONICS
It’s not just the engine that has been completely overhauled, the electronic rider aids have also been updated for 2020 with a newly-reprogramed Throttle By Wire system said to offer a more natural feel and has been developed from the one on the RC213V-S MotoGP road replica.
There are three riding modes with options to alter engine output and character. There are five power levels, adjustable engine braking through three levels, as well as wheelie control and launch control too.
All of these systems are governed by an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) which uses six different measurements to ensure all of the electronics work together and uses information including pitch angle, front and rear wheel speed.
There are nine levels of traction control available – called Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) plus completely off and now adds slip rate control where an allowed amount of wheelspin within predetermined ratio when comparing front and rear wheel speeds is then more smoothly controlled than before. The new Fireblade essentially allows you to power slide up to a point when the computer will step in to stop you crashing.
‘Start Mode’ is Honda’s name for launch control and has engine rpm limits set at 6000rpm, 7000rpm, 8000rpm and 9000rpm limits and allows the rider to drop the clutch and the bike takes care of the rest. This works with a new quickshifter for clutchless gearchanges.
A new full-colour 5in dashboard has been fitted and will allow full control over the electronic systems using the hand controls on the bars.
CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION
The chassis is another element of the design of the bike that has been completely overhauled with a new aluminium design of frame and swingarm aimed at changing the weight distribution, centre of gravity and rigidity.
Because the engine is more compact the chassis has been made smaller and now has completely revised geometry with the overall aim of making the bike handle better at high speed with improved stability under acceleration and braking with improved front and rear grip.
Honda is claiming torsional rigidity is improved by 9% with an 18% gain in vertical rigidity. In contrast, horizontal rigidity is reduced by 11% with the aim of improving rider feedback and feel.
One big change is to the mounting the of shock which bolts directly to the rear of the engine block which then gets rid of the need for an upper cross-member and reduces weight.
The seat height is now 830mm with the handlebar position moved forwards and footpeg mountings moved backwards and upwards.
The new Fireblade SP is now equipped with a new, second-generation Ohlins Electronic Control (S-EC) suspension with 43mm Ohlins NPX front forks working in conjunction with an Ohlins TTX36 Smart-EC rear shock.
New Brembo Stylema four-piston radial-mount brake calipers work with larger 330mm diameter front brake discs with ABS now managed though the Bosch IMU and has two modes of Sport and Track.
A new 200-section tyre has replaced the 190 section tyre of the previous bike and this wider tyre helps increase track grip and, Honda says, reduces chassis changes needed when changing from street to track tyres.
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