To be honest, I can’t bring you what I’d call a full and comprehensive test on the bike because I didn’t get the chance to ride it on the road. Bearing that in mind, I’m not able to form a view on real world stuff like comfort, in town manners, and fuel range. I’m pretty confident those issues should be fine, especially when you consider things like the roomy underseat storage, and specially designed comfort seat the Blade has been fitted with to increase its versatility. That indicates the bike’s design team were taking a broader view than just lap times.
A spokesman confirmed that opinion, and told me that
Honda
is aiming to attract a broader range of customers with its new sportsbike, and not just those who want to go fast. The Fireblade will have to be pretty damned good to beat both the performance and civility of the class-leader, the GSX-R1000. But from my experience of it at Losail, I’d guess it’s just got a hell of a lot closer. Just like the original 1992 version, the 2008 Fireblade is one hell of a bike.
THE RACER'S VIEWIt wasn’t just me who was impressed by the new Blade. A few fast men who were at the test also had positive things to say about it.
British Superbike star Leon Haslam, who’s very familiar with the current bike from riding one at his father’s race school at Donington, will race a Blade next season and now can’t wait to get on the grid. “The first thing I noticed was the extra power and torque in the mid-range. The smooth and progressive way it’s delivered makes it easier to use when you’re getting on the throttle. On the chassis side, the suspension adjusters have more of an effect, and the bike changes direction easier and faster than the current one. All the improvements have come without any sacrifices being made elsewhere. It turns better, is lighter, and has a stronger motor. It’s a more controllable bike and I’m really looking forward to racing it next season.”
His father Ron, the former GP rider, is also keen to get on the Blade in 2008. “Everything’s improved a little bit to make a big difference overall. The front end is noticeably better and I couldn’t get it to complain however hard I tried. You can brake really hard from full throttle and change line easily, and the fork stays controlled. It stops really quickly and the slipper clutch is very good. The engine’s extra strength is as much down to the lighter weight as the added power and the delivery is smoother. It spins up less and I think it’ll be as much as a second a lap faster around Donington.”
Guy Martin who’ll race the Blade in BSB and at the TT admits to being a bit surprised by the new bike. “I thought the shorter stroke engine would be reviver and a bit gutless like the R1’s, but it seems to have the best of both worlds with bottom and top end power. It’s a really useable bike and I think it’ll have a lot more potential against the GSX-R1000 in superstock spec. I like the slipper clutch, low down grunt and feel through the chassis. Mind you it looks as though someone’s set about it with a frying pan. Still, I don’t care about that really and I can’t wait to get out there and ride it.”
STAT BOX
2008 Honda CBR1000RR
Price: £9,300
Performance: 186mph (restricted)
EngineType: liquid cooled, 16-valve, dohc, in-line four
Displacement: 1,000cc
Bore x Stroke: 76 x 55.1mm
Compression: 12.3:1
Power: 175bhp @ 12,000rpm
Torque: 84ft-lb @ 8,500rpm
Carburation: PGM-DSFI electronic fuel-injection 46mm throttle bodies
Gearbox: six-speed
SuspensionFront: 43mm inverted telescopic fork, adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping
Rear: Pro-Link rising-rate monoshock, adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping
BrakesFront: twin 320mm discs with four-piston radial calipers
Rear: single 220mm disc with single-piston caliper
Wheels/TyresFront: cast 3-spoke alloy/Bridgestone BT-015, 120/70-17
Rear: cast 3-spoke alloy/Bridgestone BT-015, 190/50-17
ChassisType: Composite alloy twin spar
Rake/trail: 23.2 degrees / 96.3mm
Seat
height: 820mm
Wheelbase: 1405mm
Fuel capacity: 17.7litres
Wet weight: 199kg
Contact: 0845 200 8000, www.honda.co.uk
