Honda CB1000R

It hasn’t been too long since all the Japanese naked motorcycles tended to look very similar. A transformer inspired robot like headlight, oversized tank extensions, and edgy surfaces made it difficult to tell one bike from another. There is, however, no one mistaking the new CB1000R. The bike stands out from anything else on the road thanks to its new design philosophy which Honda has given the moniker of neo sports café. This incorporates the most noticeable elements from the café racer ethos and updates them for the modern age. There is a circular headlight but it uses an LED DRL. The tail section is kept clean by mounting the number plate and the mudguard on a tyre hugger which is mounted on the single-sided swingarm. Then there is the tank that boasts the classic café racer tank design in all the right ways as it tapers down to the seat scoop and has shapely scoops for knees to dig in to. The vertical aluminium radiator shroud gives it some added road presence which is complemented by the exhaust system with its four snaking pipes ending up in a single unit double stacked end can. The fit and finish are also high in quality. The overall dimensions of the bike are also easy to manage at 2,120 mm in length, 789 mm in width, and 1,095 mm in height. There are 17-inch ten spoke wheels at both front and rear with a 120/70 front and a 190/55 rear tyre. The instrument display uses an LCD screen, which might seem like a letdown at this price.

The Honda CB1000R weighs 212-kg. It uses a mono backbone steel frame that is somehow lighter than the older aluminium chassis. The rake is sharper and the trail is shorter. This has resulted in a bike that is very easy to handle. The CB1000R has a slim profile and small dimensions which also add to the aggressive handling. The suspension setup is quite capable with Showa SFF – BP (Separate Function Fork - Big Piston) USD fully adjustable front forks and a Showa BFRC (Balance Free Rear Cushion) rear shock absorber which is also adjustable in terms of spring-preload and rebound-damping. This suspension, once adjusted to your needs, performs very well in absorbing road imperfections and imparting great handling characteristics to the motorcycle. The seat height, however, is a bit high at 830 mm.

The engine powering the Honda CB1000R is a 998 cc inline-four borrowed from the old CBR 1000 SP. With a little re-tuning, new components, DOHC, and 44 mm throttle bodies, the trusty water cooled engine produces 143 hp at 10,500 rpm and 104 Nm of peak torque at 8,250 rpm. The engine screams to a redline of 12,000 rpm but needs an aftermarket exhaust if you really want to hear it roar. It is also equipped with a ride by wire throttle. There’s a quick shifter that comes as an option. The power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a six-speed transmission. The Honda CB1000R also gets a slipper clutch for those smooth shifts and light clutch operation. There are four modes - Rain, Standard, and Sport along with a customizable user mode – to modulate the torque and power delivery as needed. The throttle by wire also allows the use of Honda’s selectable torque control that works as its traction control. The engine does pack some grunt and will jump off the line easily, but it certainly is not as aggressive as an Austrian motor that we find in the KTMs. Still, a lot of torque is available throughout the powerband. The fuel tank can store up to 16.2-litre of fuel and the mileage is around 17 kmpl.

The CB1000R comes equipped with dual 310 mm floating discs with four-piston callipers in the front and a single 256 mm disc at the rear with a twin-piston calliper. Dual channel ABS is standard and cannot be turned off which might be disappointing for people who like to perform stunts.

The Honda CB1000R is a very good example of a blend of old and new. The industrial take on the café racer design philosophy has resulted in something extremely cool. It is not the out and out streetfighter that you might have been hoping for. But in true Honda tradition, it is a very refined and capable package that looks great and handles well. The price, however, might not work in its favour.