Honda has announced the list of products that it
will showcase at the 2019 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. The headline-grabbing
products at the motoring event were the all-new 2020 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and
the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Apart from their litre-class motorcycles, Honda
also unveiled the 2020 CB1000R Neo-Sports Café flagship that receives some
upgrades in its latest iteration. The changes on the 2020 CB1000R
are far subtle when compared to the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade range. The cosmetic
changes for MY20 aim to enhance the premium feel and commanding road presence
of the Neo-Sports Café flagship.
The 2020 Honda CB1000R features an all-black triple
clamp and stem that are complemented by a new Metallic Matte Ballistic Black headlight
surround. In contrast, the previous model used silver accents for the triple
clamp and stem. Also, a silver racing stripe enhances the visual appeal of the
fuel tank. The rear spring and front brake discs also receive colour changes.
Apart from the existing Candy Chromosphere Red and Graphite Black, the
retro-style litre-class motorcycle will also be available in the new Matt Pearl
Glare White shade.
The engine has received a few upgrades, and it now
produces 16% more peak power than the previous CB1000R. The torque levels have
also improved by 5%. Honda has revised the gear-ratio. The 2020 model is 4%
shorter geared. The revision aims to extract even faster acceleration. The 998
cc inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 16-valve (4-valves per cylinder) DOHC
motor now produces 107 kW or 143.4 hp of peak power at 10,500 rpm and a peak
torque of 104 Nm at 8,250 rpm. In comparison, its predecessor made 92 kW or
123.3 hp at 10,000 rpm and 99 Nm at 7,750 rpm.
Unlike the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, the bore and
stroke on the CB1000R remain unaltered (75 mm x 56.5 mm). The compression
ratio, however, has gone up by 0.4 to 11.6:1. Moreover, Honda has used forged
pistons instead of cast units.
The Throttle By Wire (TBW) brings three preset
riding modes (Rain, Standard and Sport) plus a USER setting that provide access
to Power (P), Engine Brake (EB) and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). The
rider can also disengage the HSTC completely. A quick shifter is available as
an optional accessory. Buyers can opt for the CB1000R+ version that comes with
‘factory-fit’ accessories. The list includes flyscreen with aluminium inserts,
heated grips, quick shifter, single-seat cowl with aluminium inserts, aluminium
rear hugger panels, aluminium front fender panels and radiator grille with
CB1000R logo.
The motorcycle rides on Showa Separate Function Fork
Big Piston (SFF-BP) at the front and a Showa mono-shock at the back. Stopping
power comes from 310 mm double discs at the front and a 256 mm single rotor at
the back. The safety-net also includes a dual-channel ABS.