2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP 30th Anniversary Review

The original iconic Honda Fireblade appeared in 1992, making its 30th anniversary this year. Here in Donington Park, one of our favorite tracks, we see the special jubilee edition! While the vehicle’s overall appearance hasn’t changed for 2018, both the base and SP trim levels have received significant upgrades. Here is the complete review of the 2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP 30th Anniversary and its specifications.

2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP 30th Anniversary – Features and Specs

Champion of All Times

This efficient and technologically sophisticated super sport bike may seem like another bike to the younger generation. However, for more seasoned riders, the name Fireblade has special significance. Several varieties have been produced since 1992, leaving many aficionados of two wheels dissatisfied with the sport’s ‘golden’ period (sometimes tarnished by less desirable characteristics). This era saw widespread ownership of sports bikes, inexpensive petrol and few radar regulations. The vehicle’s overall appearance in the last Fireblade generations hasn’t fared well in the SBK World Championship, but things seem to be turning around. On the other hand, the sportive has had tremendous success in various other contests, including the Endurance World Championship, the British Superbike Championship, the Isle of Man, and several Road Racing events.

These motorcycles are simpler to locate the the always-packed track days of today. A few days before they went for the Isle of Man TT, celebrities Glenn Irwin and John McGuiness (whose interviews have already been published on our website) showed us the latest version of the model. This British song is among the most well-known in the world. The “concentration” of Fireblade motorbikes was impressive, and it included versions that would appeal to riders of all ages and skill levels. But that’s going to have to wait until the next piece.

Updates

We won’t go into depth regarding the model’s specs. Still, we will talk about the improvements made for this year, especially concerning the SP version, which is the most advanced and includes things like electronic suspensions. This new generation, born in 2020, has wholly rethought every aspect of their development with competition in mind. Most reviews had criticized the model for not having enough “horsepower” at low speeds to justify the amount of power it had at higher rpm, so the designers focused their efforts there. With improved efficiency, the 2022 model maintains the same 160 Kw at 14.500 rpm (around 215 hp of output) as the previous model. Therefore, improvements were made to the intake ports, air filter box, intake funnels, and exhaust mid-section to improve acceleration, cornering grip, and mid-range responsiveness.

Because the gearbox was also excessively lengthy, the quick shifter mechanism was adjusted, and the rack was given an additional three teeth, bringing the total to 43. These are the most noticeable changes. However, Honda’s traction control has also been upgraded in response to rider feedback, making it more sensitive to adjustments to the proper grip. Fire blade SPs still have the same diamond-shaped aluminum frame and RC213V-S-style swing arm as before, along with a 6-axle IMU and a 3-level electronic steering damper. Ohlin’s Smart Electronic Control (S-EC) suspension units and top-tier Brembo braking components are mounted. Using the Honda Smart Key system, you may customize the vehicle’s TFT color instruments for the power mode, engine brake, HSTC (traction control), anti-kickback control, start mode, and ABS. This year’s SP trims come in either red or black, and both have gold wheels (PVP of 27). The base model costs 23,300 Euros and has a more powerful engine but less sophisticated suspension and brakes than higher trim levels.

This SP 30th Anniversary version pays tribute to the first Fireblade, released in 1992, with a beautiful color scheme that is impossible to ignore. Each bike is further personalized with a laser-etched 30th-anniversary logo on the fuel tank lid, a Smart key, and an Akrapovic silencer, as well as a unique serial number on the top table. Those who look closely enough will also see that the blue seat from the first edition has been kept. However, there are other little bonuses, such as a “Ring of Fire” animation that plays as the screen loads when the ignition is turned on. The total price is just 27,700 Euros, almost identical to the “normal” SP version.

On Track

Since this unique presentation was part of a BSB racing weekend, we didn’t have the track until it started raining on Friday afternoon. The asphalt surface at Donington is one of the worst in the country, and it has been patched up with various rubber strips. When it rains, it turns into a rink perfect for skating. The solution was to change all of the bikes’ wheels to rain tires so that we could ride the Fire blade just twice. Of course, just to aggravate everyone, the rain suddenly stopped, so we could ride pretty dry on a truncated stretch of the circuit in second gear with wet tires without finishing the Melbourne Hairpin.

Although it differed from any other track in the Hollywood, Crainer Curves, Old Hairpin, or Starkey’s Bridge areas, we appreciated the way for its ‘old school’ felt. It also had a lot of undulations and was quite fluid. And in the inner square, where the SBK World Championship riders had to lift their wheels, the SP did the same thing (there is a little bump that can’t be seen without a measuring device). The updated Fire blade from ’22 is still an extreme super sport for use on the road, especially in terms of riding position, but it’s a lot more enjoyable to ride on the track. The engine “wakes up” sooner, so we can leave the corner with power and without screeching at about 6,000-8,000 rpm when in the prior model, we would have had to drop down a gear to get the same result. The shorter gearbox makes riding a Fire blade easier and more pleasurable for most riders.

The new and improved two-way quick shifter is fantastic in every aspect imaginable. The inline four-cylinder engine is as refined as ever, while Akrapovic gives it a beautiful voice. When riding in slippery conditions with Pirelli rain tires installed, we only used riding mode 2 (equivalent to a Sport mode) because it provided all the available power but smoothly and progressively, and the electronic suspensions adapted very well to the ride and the asphalt surface, allowing us to do well with the irregularities. Only the anti-lock braking system (for which we had to calibrate) sometimes overreacted in these conditions, causing some braking distance to be increased due to the extreme slippage of the wet tire on the dry track. But the traction control worked as intended, protecting the reporter from harm as he tried to keep up with the great McGuiness and dreamed of flying again.

2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP 30th Anniversary – Technical Specifications

Engine

Wheels

Dimensions and Weights

Transmission

Instruments and Electrics