September 28, 2007
Dirck Edge
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2008 Honda CBR1000RR Introduced in Paris

Following the official world unveiling in Paris, here in California a group of journalists gathered at American Honda headquarters to take a look at the all-new 2008 CBR1000RR. Honda is not treating this bike as a typical redesign. Honda stressed that the 2008 CBR1000RR is intended to be a huge leap forward in terms of technology and performance.

Although photos of the bike have been floating around on the Internet for several weeks now, no details were released until today. The 2008 CBR1000RR is bristling with new technology, that is detailed in Honda’s press material below. Here are a few highlights.

Despite virtually every competitor gaining weight in recent redesigns (due to tightening emissions regulations such as Euro 3), Honda made it quite clear that the new CBR1000RR is a lighter machine. Without releasing any dry weight claim (that will be announced later), similar to the redesign of the CBR600RR last year, Honda has really taken an axe to excess weight on its open class machine.

There are so many individual components that have lost weight, I do not want to list them all (you can read about them below), but it will give you some idea when Honda bothers to mention that the front brake hoses are lighter this year. Honda claims new technology has allowed them to save 2.2 pounds in the battery alone. Some of the other larger items that are lighter this year include front brake rotors, the frame, the Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD), pistons, wheels, LED tail lights, and titanium intake valves (larger this year).

Displacing 999 cc, the bore and stroke of the new engine is 76mm by 55.1mm. A moly coating on the pistons reduces friction, and a new ECU (also “smaller and lighter”) “provides two 3-D fuel injection maps for each cylinder, and two 3-D ignition maps for cylinder pairs.”

The ergonomics are a bit different. The bars are further away, but higher.

Honda again stresses mass centralization, and the bike looks like much of the mass has been moved to its center (note the light looking rear end, and the exhaust system tucked underneath the bike with a short muffler). The exhaust appears smaller than some of the other new bikes coping with Euro 3 emission standards. In fact, as one of my photographs shows, the exhaust is quite large, but very nicely tucked underneath the machine, and close to the center line of the machine.

We were promised a much more thorough press kit, with component photographs and additional details and specifications within a couple of months. The press launch should be in January of next year.

A total of five color combinations will be available in the United States next year, including Red/Black, Black/Metallic Silver, Pearl Yellow/Black, and Candy Dark Red/Metallic Silver. Additionally, a limited number of Black/Metallic Grey bikes will be produced (you can see my photo of this bike at the end of this story). U.S. MSRP will be just slightly higher than the outgoing model, with a small premium for special colors.

Here are Honda’s features and specifications for the new 2008 CBR1000RR:

CBR1000RR

In 2008 Honda reinforces a long-standing legacy of creating breathtaking breakthroughs in the liter bike class. The all-new CBR1000RR establishes a higher standard for weight reduction and compact, centralized mass to produce the pinnacle of sportbike performance and rideability.

New for 2008

All-new 999cc inline four-cylinder engine.
Lightweight titanium intake valves.
New thinner high-strength pistons featuring molybdenum coating.
New removable cylinder block with Nikasil-coated cylinders.
Idle-air control valve (IACV) and Ignition Interrupt Control for idle stability and smoother on/off throttle response.
Unique slipper clutch features cam mechanism to reduce clutch lever pull.
New mid-muffler exhaust system design incorporates exhaust valve and catalyst.

New-generation Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD).
New lighter-weight front brake hoses with lighter front brake rotors.
New monoblock front brake calipers with chromium-plated aluminum pistons.
Lightweight aluminum sidestand.
New four-piece Hollow Fine Die-Cast Frame (see Technology Section).
New aluminum swingarm design.
New twin-tunnel ram-air induction.
New line-beam headlights.
Front turn signals integrated into mirrors.
New compact instrumentation.
New lighter-weight wheels.
New lightweight compact battery.
New improved ergonomics.
Iconic new Honda Wing tank badge.
Exciting new colors include Red/Black, Black/Metallic Silver, Pearl Yellow/Black, Candy Dark Red/Metallic Silver.
Black/Metallic Grey (2008 special color†).

Unique Features

Exclusive, MotoGP-derived Unit Pro-Link® Rear Suspension.

Mid-muffler exhaust system design.
Specially designed slipper clutch.
Dual Stage Fuel Injection (DSFI) system features two injectors per cylinder.
Centrally located fuel tank increases mass centralization and allows more compact frame design.
Line-beam headlights feature two-piece reflector design.

Engine/Drivetrain

Liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve 999cc four-stroke inline four-cylinder engine features bore and stroke dimensions of 76mm x 55.1mm.
Sixteen-valve cylinder head features 30.5mm intake and 24mm exhaust valves with a 12.3:1 compression ratio for efficient combustion and high horsepower.
Larger titanium intake valves create a lighter valve train for higher rpm.
Intake valves feature double-spring design for optimum performance at high rpm.
Intake ports use new shot-peening technology that improves power and torque characteristics.
Cam-pulser location between the middle cylinders allows a narrower cylinder head and frame.
Direct shim-under-bucket valve actuation system ensures high-rpm durability and allows 16,000-mile valve maintenance intervals.
Forged-aluminum pistons with molybdenum coating for reduced friction.
Lightweight nutless connecting rods.
Iridium-tip spark plugs improve fuel combustion and performance.

Dual Stage Fuel Injection (DSFI) (see Technology Section).
46mm throttle bodies feature Denso injectors with lightweight valving for faster reaction time and 12 holes per injector to optimize mixture atomization, combustion efficiency and power.
Auto-enriching system is integrated into programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) module, eliminating the need for a manual choke.
New idle-air control valve (IACV) minimizes torque reaction and smoothes response to small throttle changes through gradual reductions of air and fuel intake when the throttle is opened and closed.
New Ignition Interrupt Control system works with IACV and FI mapping to enhance driveability.
Smaller and lighter ECU provides two 3-D fuel-injection maps for each cylinder and two 3-D ignition maps for cylinder pairs, creating ideal fuel-mixture and spark-advance settings for superb rideability.
MotoGP-derived twin ram-air system allows high volume of cooler air to the 9.7-liter airbox for linear power delivery and incredible engine performance.
Butterfly valves inside the ram-air ducts open and close depending on throttle opening and engine rpm for optimum performance.
High-capacity radiator incorporates twin cooling fans and allows a more compact cowl for reduced drag coefficient.
Maintenance-free automatic cam-chain tensioner.
Starter gears located on the right side to produce narrow engine and increased lean angle.
Unique slipper-clutch design uses a center-cam-assist mechanism for easier actuation. Unlike an ordinary slipper clutch where the pressure plate moves side to side, the Honda clutch moves both the center cam assist and the pressure plate to provide additional slipper effect.
Nine-plate clutch is compact and tough, featuring durable friction-plate material.
New extremely compact exhaust system incorporates a catalyzer and control valve in mid-muffler design that reduces rear bodywork size and significantly improves mass centralization, reducing roll and yaw inertia.
Durable #530 O-ring–sealed drive chain.

Chassis/Suspension

Lightweight Hollow Fine Die-Cast twin-spar aluminum frame utilizes MotoGP technology.
New aluminum subframe is lightweight and easily removed for ease of maintenance.
MotoGP-derived Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD).
43mm inverted aluminum-slider Honda Multi-Action System (HMAS) cartridge front fork features spring preload and rebound and compression damping adjustability, and offers precise action and unparalleled rigidity.
Exclusive, MotoGP-derived Unit Pro-Link Rear Suspension.

Front brake system features radial-mounted four-piston calipers and 320mm floating discs, and rear brake system uses a 220mm disc with a single-piston caliper for exceptional stopping power.
Front discs with 72 holes of four different diameters for lighter weight and improved feel.
Super-light aluminum-alloy hollow-spoke wheels feature race-spec 3.5 x 17-inch front and 6.0 x 17-inch rear dimensions.
Centrally mounted 4.7-gallon fuel tank is positioned low in the frame, increasing mass centralization and allowing a more compact design. This design positions the rider farther forward for optimum handling.

Additional Features

New ergonomic triangle lets rider sit 10mm farther forward and 10mm lower than previous-generation CBR1000RR. Handlebars are 6.5mm higher and 2mm forward.
High-capacity 400-watt AC generator.
High-tech instrument display features tachometer, plus LCD readouts for speedometer, coolant temperature, odometer, two tripmeters and a clock, mpg and average fuel consumption. A low-fuel LED light and shift-indicator light are located above the LCD.
Line-beam headlight features two-piece reflector design utilizing two H7 bulbs for optimum light distribution and unique compact design.

LED taillights for lighter weight and improved appearance.
Plastic tank shell cover protects tank and airbox.
Convenient ignition switch/fork lock for added security.
Folding aerodynamic mirrors.
Convenient push-to-cancel turn-signal switch.
New maintenance-free battery is 2.2 pounds lighter.
Transferable one-year, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan.
Purchase of a new, previously unregistered Honda USA-certified unit by an individual retail user in the United States qualifies the owner for a one-year complimentary membership in the Honda Rider’s Club of America® (HRCA®). Visit www.hrca.honda.com for details.

Available Accessories

Color-Matched Passenger Seat Cowl, U-Lock, CBR® Racing Cycle Cover, Carbon-Fiber Accents.

Specifications

Model: CBR1000RR

Engine Type: 999cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder

Bore and Stroke: 76mm x 55.1mm

Compression ratio: 12.3:1

Valve Train: DOHC; four valves per cylinder

Induction: Dual Stage Fuel Injection (DSFI)

Ignition: Computer-controlled digital transistorized with three-dimensional mapping

Transmission: Close-ratio six-speed

Final Drive: #530 O-ring–sealed chain

Suspension

Front: 43mm inverted HMAS cartridge fork with spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability; 4.7 inches travel

Rear: Unit Pro-Link HMAS single shock with spring pre-load, rebound and compression damping adjustability; 5.4 inches travel

Brakes

Front: Dual radial-mounted four-piston calipers with full-floating 320mm discs

Rear: Single 220mm disc

Tires

Front: 120/70ZR-17 radial

Rear: 190/50ZR-17 radial

Wheelbase: 55.4 inches

Rake (Caster angle): 23.3°

Trail: 96.2mm (3.8 inches)

Seat Height: 32.3 inches

Fuel Capacity: 4.7 gallons, including 1.06-gallon reserve

Colors:

Red/Black

Black/Metallic Grey†

Black/Metallic Silver

Pearl Yellow/Black

Candy Dark Red/Metallic Silver

Curb Weight*: TBD

*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel– ready to ride.

† Limited color run, less than 500

Meets current EPA standards.

California version meets current CARB standards and may differ slightly due to emissions equipment.