Honda CBR600RR
Best Lap: 1:21:06
Honda's CBR600RR took top honors in our "Class of '07" comparison, so we had high expectations for the new-generation RR. We were not disappointed. Honda's middleweight remains so balanced and composed in any situation that it seems to exist on a different plane--a Supreme Being sent straight from Planet Sportbike.
The '09 iteration is more revision than re-tooling--which, given the success of the previous version, isn't unwise. Rake, trail and wheelbase remain unchanged, though thinner frame rails cut 1 pound and improve feedback. The engine is essentially the same except for the new exhaust incorporating an exhaust valve (as on the CBR1000RR) to boost low- to mid-range torque. Anti-lock brakes are an available option (see sidebar, page 64), but in the interest of parity, we included the base model here.
Jump aboard the CBR and it makes almost no impression at all--it's either transparent or tragically boring, depending on your expectations. When asked to describe it, testers invariably arrived at blandly affirmative adjectives such as "neutral," "predictable" and "forgiving." Whether commuting cross-town, droning along the interstate or carving up twisties, the CBR goes about its business and never argues.
The controls feel flawless, highlighted by a light, cable-actuated clutch, and the motor offers the smoothest power delivery of all the bikes here--just like a Honda. It's difficult to find a complaint, provided you're under 5-foot-8. Taller testers dubbed the CBR "the clown bike," citing an interference-fit between elbows and knees. With such diminutive dimensions, the tiny windscreen doesn't deflect much air, either.
Lapping the racetrack on the CBR induces cognitive dissonance. With a level of plushness and compliance unmatched by any other bike here, you expect the CBR to come apart at speed--but it doesn't. No matter how hard you push, the CBR never loses its composure. The wonderfully progressive Pro-Link rear suspension and relatively low-tech (no big pistons here), 41mm Showa inverted fork perform just as well at a 1:21 or 1:41 pace. Steering is razor-sharp, with quicker turn-in than even the Kawasaki ZX-6R, and the chassis was absolutely immune to the Streets of Willow's many mid-corner bumps. On the throttle or off, braking or not, the CBR behaves exactly the same.
The re-tuned engine is down on power this time (100.5 bhp, compared to 105.2 in '07), but we hardly noticed. Like the chassis, the powerplant has the same puzzling combination of softness and strength. The power feels muted, with no sensation of punch, but still manages surprising forward motion. Despite sub-optimal gearing--first was too low for the Streets, and the first-to-second gap too wide--the CBR still turned the quickest lap time, out-performing even the mighty liter-bikes.
Honda delivers the total package: a smooth, supremely capable street machine that still dominates the racetrack. Combining mellow manners with a seemingly bottomless capacity for speed, the CBR600RR rewards riders with complete confidence. No matter how crazy the situation, you never feel like this bike will get away from you. You seemingly can do no wrong on this motorcycle, which means if you're looking for an excellent all-around sportbike, you can't go wrong with the Honda.
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