Has it really been thirty years since Honda introduced the Fireblade? Honda’s original game-changer, the CBR900RR, really did make its debut in 1992, and that was indeed (sorry) 30 years ago. In the intervening time, the engineers at Honda have not been resting on their laurels. They’ve made sure every iteration of the motorcycle is lighter, more powerful, and more technologically advanced.
In celebration, Honda has unveiled the 2022 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, including the SP 30th Anniversary Edition. The bike remains a benchmark in its class. The limited edition livery, in white, red and blue, dresses up a real weapon of a supersport motorcycle.
22YM HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY (Picture courtesy Honda)
Updated, redesigned airbox funnels and retuned intake ports improve airflow. The midsection of the 4-2-1 exhaust gets a redesign, too. Honda engineers are constantly working to make the Fireblade lighter and faster, which means wringing as much power as possible out of as little weight as possible. All of these changes improve efficiency.
The new bike now sports a 43-tooth rear sprocket replacing its predecessors’ 40-tooth. Honda has updated their Honda Selectable Torque Control and lightened the throttle return spring. These changes improve the stability of the bike under heavy cornering.
If you’re interested in hearing some very smart people reminisce and expound for fifteen minutes about the challenges and drivers in the development of the CBR1000 Fireblade over the past 30 years (and I know you do), take a moment with this video. It features the four Honda Fireblade Chief Engineers who have headed development of this motorcycle since its inception in 1992.
The Numbers
The 2022 CBR1000RR-R sports a liquid-cooled DOHC inline four-cylinder 998cc engine. That puts out a little over 215.5 horsepower and a smidge more than 82 pound-feet of torque. Its six-speed sequential gearbox puts power to the 17-inch wheels with a wet multiplate hydraulic clutch fitted with a quickshifter. Its two-channel ABS hauls the bike down from speed with 330 mm discs and radial-mount 4-piston Brembo Stylema calipers in front. The back gets a 220mm disc with a two-piston Brembo caliper. It handles the road through Öhlins NPX S-EC 43 mm telescopic forks with preload, compression and rebound adjustments and a 125 mm stroke. The rear wheel gets bolted to an Öhlins TTX36 S-EC Pro-Link swingarm with preload, compression and rebound damping, with a 143 mm stroke. All this in a package that weighs about 443 pounds at the curb.
The bike’s TFT/LCD instrument panel shows you all the bike’s info. Its LED lighting all around helps you see and be seen. And if all that isn’t enough, Honda has fitted auto-canceling turn signals.
