XtraPix: 2007 Honda CBR600RR - First Look

Little Big Bang.

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XtraPix: 2007 Honda CBR600RR - First Look

Will 2007 be the year that the CBR600RR regains the glory that previous-generation Honda middleweights once held? If first impressions are any indication, it has the best chance in years of fighting for shootout glory. Only then, will we know if its new-found agility and uprated engine can fight with the likes of last year's middleweight shootout winner the Triumph 675, the rev-happy Yamaha YZF-R6 and the brand-new Kawasaki ZX-6R.

As you can read in the current issue, we've already conducted a full road test of the new Honda. Thumbnail sketch? Sharper handling, more power and a lot less weight make the Honda more responsive than older RRs on the racetrack and on the road. The new HESD (Honda Electronic Steering Damper) keeps the CBR stable in all conditions but allows the bike to be incredibly agile on the street.

From the test: “Honda has always been known for innovation, and this motorcycle is a showcase for all the gadgets and gizmos that its engineers could think up. Like the RC211V MotoGP bike that the RR aspires to be, designers sought to improve performance by dramatically improving the power-to-weight ratio through a drastic diet and better engine performance. Another goal was to reduce the physical size of the bike; both wheelbase and aerodynamic profile are much smaller.”

We can't wait until our shootout to see how it stacks up.