2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Sports Motorcycle Review

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Honda upgraded the CBR1000RR-R SP in preparation for Model Year 2022. Electronic upgrades were made to enhance rider control and throttle response, which led to higher power output and faster acceleration. For the true peg draggers and would-be racers among us, this newest Fireblade variant adds even more race-tactic yummy goodness to the table, with features that raise it substantially beyond the non-SP version to the track.

2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Sports Motorcycle – Features and Specs

Design

Even though the Fireblade has a rich history to draw from, the manufacturer took inspiration for the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP’s front bodywork from its racing division. Although it has the same bubble screen and hefty mullions as its MotoGP version, the sides of the front fairing are widened to make room for the twin LED headlamps. There’s no receiving around the fact that the “SP” has turn signals and mirrors up front. However, at least the manufacturer integrated them into a single unit to reduce wind resistance and make them easier to take off before a race.

A set of three foils ride beneath an aesthetic cover at the cowl’s top edge, creating downforce at the front of the vehicle at high speeds. Unfortunately for you street riders, the effect doesn’t begin to take hold until you’re doing somewhere near 100 mph, so it won’t be beneficial at street-legal speeds but still makes for a great conversation piece. Speed demons, this one is for you.

The instrumentation and ride-control electronics have been consolidated into a single, high-resolution, five-inch color TFT display, which is more significant and feature-rich than its predecessor.

The bodywork is optimized for low-drag penetration, as indicated by the class-leading 0.27 drag coefficient; even the 4.3-gallon fuel tank has its fairing to minimize another source of speed-robbing turbulence.

The pilot is lured down into the aircraft by the moderate seat height of 32.7 inches from the deck and the significant rise to the tail, and his tiny waist provides enough area for body English and an effortless reach to the ground.

Rearview mirrors and blinkers, like their counterparts up front, are affixed to the rear mudguard so that they can be easily removed before track days, leaving just the taillight in its usual location. The race-ready bodywork is finished with a belly pan that protects the exhaust headers and the engine from debris.

The paint itself is noteworthy because of the brush-style design by Hiroaki Tsukui, in which white, red, and blue predominate. The name will be familiar to those who have followed the Fireblade from its inception in 1992.

Chassis

The twin-spar frame of the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is made of thin-wall, lightweight aluminum parts, and the engine, as is the usual these days, is a stressed member that completes the primary structure with thin-wall aluminum tubing for the subframe. This skeleton’s flexibility has been fine-tuned, and the 24.5-inch-long swing arm has been lengthened with improved racing performance and grip in mind.

With its 24-degree rake angle adjusted by the steering head, 17-inch cast wheels, and 4 inches of trail across a 57.5-inch wheelbase, this vehicle is surprisingly agile for its size. Honda’s standard Electronic Steering Damper has three intervention levels to mitigate even the most severe jolts.

Naturally, being a race-ready bike, the wheels are shod with Z-rated rubber that can take whatever the SP can throw. The front and rear tires measure 120/70 and 200/55, respectively. The enormous 330 mm discs and four-pot Stylema calipers are provided by Brembo and are used as anchors. Like the RC213V-S, the SP uses a 220 mm disc and caliper borrowed from the racing family. Even while ABS is included and has “race-friendly” intervention settings, most seasoned pilots would rather have plain ol’ brakes on the track and not have any electronics mess with their performance.

The back tire will stay put thanks to the back Lift Control, which has track and street settings. The Fireblade SP also has upgraded suspension components. These most notably 43 mm hlins forks are fully adjustable for compression, rebound, and spring preload electronically through the hlins Smart Electronic Control. Whether or not you plan on racing it, you must appreciate the convenience of push-button adjustments. All of the electrical subsystems get their information from a six-axis inertial measurement unit, making the whole thing sensitive to lean.

Drivetrain

The Fireblade’s powertrain hasn’t been updated in a while, but the manufacturer returned to the drawing board to shorten the drivetrain so that more space may be used for positioning. The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP’s front and rear weight distributions are 53% and 47%, respectively, due mainly to this.

The engine is the same 999 ccs inline four-cylinder as its factory racing sibling, but the compression ratio was increased from 12.5 to 1. The tuned-up slash-cut intake funnels, the 52 mm throttle bodies, and the two 32.5 mm intake ports are all identical to the ram-air duct that scoops pressurized air and feeds it straight to the air box.

The exhaust system, including the catalyst and titanium Akrapovi silencer, is designed for low resistance performance, and the waste leaves through 28.5 mm exhaust valves for four poppets per cylinder. The return spring was slackened to provide a smoother throttle response and finer mill control.

The amount of power produced is phenomenal. 214 Hp (160 kw) at 14,500 rpm and 112 Nm (82.60 kgm) at 12,500 rpm are the stated power and torque figures, respectively. This year, the rear sprocket increases by three teeth, bringing the total to 43, which results in more uniform acceleration throughout the rev range.

Don’t worry, however; the manufacturer spared no expense on the engine-control electronics you’ll need to harness all that power. Smoother programming brings Selectable Torque Control (traction control) in line with Engine Brake Control, Wheelie Control, and Power modes, all managed by the three default Riding Modes. The enhanced Quick Shifter completes the electrical bells and whistles that enable you to hammer around the six-speed range even more quickly.

2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Sports Motorcycle – Price

It may be called “Pearl White,” but its red and blue highlights are unmistakably reminiscent of the original Fireblades from three decades ago. With a base price of only $28,900, the basic version of this racing platform is perfect for anybody who wants to get their feet wet without having to take out a second mortgage.

Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP vs. Yamaha YZF-R1M

The Tuning Fork Company has entered a vehicle with a body evaluated in a wind tunnel. It is made of lightweight carbon fiber, making it look like a sister from another father. To be fair, the R1M’s ram-air ports are stealthier than those of the Fireblade SP’s two triplanes. Therefore, the R1M’s ram-air duplication is an improvement.

For the same reason that the SP has downforce-generating foils, the Yammie features lightweight, low-drag headlights. The same goes for the “outback” lore. The turn signals, tag light, and license plate holder are integrated into the rear mudguard mirrors. If you and a buddy feel courageous, you may simultaneously remove both motorcycles and have a blast together.

Yamaha’s Ohlins Electronic Racing Suspension NPX forks and rear shock rival Honda’s in terms of adjustability, providing the complete trinity of settings.

Both motorcycles are fully electric and ride-by-wire, but Yamaha arguably has the upper hand by matching the Fireblade SP’s features and adding its own Launch Control and Slide Control.

The R1M is equipped with a 998 cc four-cylinder engine that has double overhead camshafts and sixteen valves in total. It generates 197 horsepower and 83 pound-feet of torque, a little less than the 214/82.6 of the competition. Compared to the Fireblade SP’s $28.9k base price, the MY22 YZF-R1M’s price tag of $26,299 leaves a little cash on the table. However, I anticipate that this price difference will not be enough to overcome brand loyalty.

2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Sports Motorcycle – Technical Specifications

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