2007 Honda CBR600RR: more agile, more powerful

2007 Honda CBR600RR: more agile, more powerful

2007 Honda CBR600RR
By: Rob Beintema

After almost 4,000 km and a long Gold Wing trip, it was time for something a little different. So after dropping off the Wing, I folded myself into position on a CBR600RR, waved goodbye to the Honda guys and wobbled down the driveway, trying not to let on that both of my legs had instantly locked into a cramp from the hips down.

Ahhh, nothing like a new riding position.

It happens occasionally, moving from bike to bike. I knew the muscles would loosen up eventually as long as I timed the stoplights so I wouldn’t have to put a leg down within the next few minutes or so.

But I must confess that it was enough to raise a question that had been raised before. A question usually rooted in inconvenience, discomfort or occurring at the end of a particularly long and grueling day.

“Why the heck do I keep booking these damn sportbikes?”

Simple question. With an equally simple answer.

Speed, acceleration, and ultra-responsive maneuverability.

Any motorcycle will get you out there where you can feel the wind, smell the smells, and put mind and body in touch with the experience of the journey, instead of just the blank-stared drive to a destination.

And a sportbike takes that experience and doubles it, triples it, whatever. You can’t quantify it mathematically. It’s just that much more intense.

Instead of relaxing in a recumbent position with feet forward, you are hurtling head first. Instead of gazing nonchalantly around, you are hunched over the gauges, eyes dancing from vibrating tach to the blurring pavement and spinning front wheel. The smell of hot brakes wafts into your helmet and your leathers will have to be aired out after the back draft of underseat exhaust. And then, there’s the sound. A midrange 6000 rpm that sounds frenetic after a cruiser ride but that is barely halfway to the dental-drill-like scream of a 15,000 rpm-plus redline.

It’s no wonder some of us behave like jerks on sportbikes. The siren call of power and agility is just too hard to resist.

I tried though. I thumbed my nose at aching old bones and set out on a 500 km road trip to a regional sportbike rally, determined not to peel off into one of the 150 km/h convoys of bikes that blow past like high-pitched express trains. With all the current street racing hysteria, that was one motorized conga line I did not want to join.

Arriving at the sportbike rally, I was struck, as usual, by the colours. Compared to the usual monochromatic cruiser collection of chrome, black and more black, sportbikes seem to shine with the variety and vibrancy of every colour and hue under the rainbow.

Add to that palette, one red and very shiny 2007 Honda CBR600RR. After all my rambling above, I can’t get into a lot of detail about the bike but it is lighter and tighter, having undergone a clean slate redesign that includes the engine, chassis, body and exhaust system.

A shortened motor, that Honda boasts about as the world's lightest and most-compact inline-four 600cc engine, features race-proven PGM-DSFI (dual stage fuel injection) and offers a reported 118 hp with rumours of up to 130 horses available at speed, thanks to a new ram air intake system. The engine has also been tweaked for more midrange oomph and peak power. The wheelbase has been shortened by 23mm to an impressive 1368mm (53.8 inches), with everything else correspondingly pulled that much closer to centre for improved agility.

Meticulous attention to detail has shaved 7.3 kg (16 lb) from the overall weight. Man, think how fast this puppy would go if I could do the same.

I could go on and on but I would suggest surfing over to Honda.ca for a closer look at the many changes and improvements made to the 2007 model, on sale at dealers for about $500 more than last year’s previous generation bike.

Definitely worth a spin. And don’t forget to bring it back.


Specifications

Engine: 599cc DOHC liquid-cooled inline-four cylinder

Fuel Delivery: Dual Stage Fuel Injection

Transmission: Close-ratio six-speed

Final Drive: O-ring-sealed chain

Front Suspension: 41mm adjustable inverted HMAS cartridge fork with 119mm (4.7 inches) travel

Rear Suspension: Unit Pro-Link HMAS adjustable single shock with 130mm (5.1 inches) travel

Tires: 120/70ZR - 17 radial front; 180/55ZR - 17 radial rear

Brakes: front dual 310mm discs with radial-mounted four-piston calipers; rear single 220mm disc with single-piston caliper

Seat Height: 820mm (32.3 inches)

Wheelbase: 1,368mm (53.8 inches)

Dry Weight: 156.5 kg (345 pounds)

Fuel Capacity: 18.1 litres

Colours: Black, Red/Black, Ultra Blue Metallic/Silver

MSRP: $12,499

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