Honda has announced the list of products that it will showcase at the 2019 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. The headline-grabbing products at the motoring event were the all-new 2020 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Apart from their litre-class motorcycles, Honda also unveiled the 2020 CB1000R Neo-Sports Café flagship that receives some upgrades in its latest iteration.
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The changes on the 2020 CB1000R are far subtle when compared to the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade range. The cosmetic changes for MY20 aim to enhance the premium feel and commanding road presence of the Neo-Sports Café flagship.
The 2020 Honda CB1000R features an all-black triple clamp and stem that are complemented by a new Metallic Matte Ballistic Black headlight surround. In contrast, the previous model used silver accents for the triple clamp and stem. Also, a silver racing stripe enhances the visual appeal of the fuel tank. The rear spring and front brake discs also receive colour changes. Apart from the existing Candy Chromosphere Red and Graphite Black, the retro-style litre-class motorcycle will also be available in the new Matt Pearl Glare White shade.
The CB1000R is a fairly new design, and it is one of the most visually appealing litre-class naked roadsters available in the market today. If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right?
The engine has received a few upgrades, and it now produces 16% more peak power than the previous CB1000R. The torque levels have also improved by 5%. Honda has revised the gear-ratio. The 2020 model is 4% shorter geared. The revision aims to extract even faster acceleration. The 998 cc inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 16-valve (4-valves per cylinder) DOHC motor now produces 107 kW or 143.4 hp of peak power at 10,500 rpm and a peak torque of 104 Nm at 8,250 rpm. In comparison, its predecessor made 92 kW or 123.3 hp at 10,000 rpm and 99 Nm at 7,750 rpm.
Unlike the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, the bore and stroke on the CB1000R remain unaltered (75 mm x 56.5 mm). The compression ratio, however, has gone up by 0.4 to 11.6:1. Moreover, Honda has used forged pistons instead of cast units.
The Throttle By Wire (TBW) brings three preset riding modes (Rain, Standard and Sport) plus a USER setting that provide access to Power (P), Engine Brake (EB) and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). The rider can also disengage the HSTC completely. A quick shifter is available as an optional accessory. Buyers can opt for the CB1000R+ version that comes with ‘factory-fit’ accessories. The list includes flyscreen with aluminium inserts, heated grips, quick shifter, single-seat cowl with aluminium inserts, aluminium rear hugger panels, aluminium front fender panels and radiator grille with CB1000R logo.
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The motorcycle rides on Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) at the front and a Showa mono-shock at the back. Stopping power comes from 310 mm double discs at the front and a 256 mm single rotor at the back. The safety-net also includes a dual-channel ABS.
