New Honda CBR600 RR A Chip Off the Old Block
Honda recently celebrated 50 years of racing in the Tourist Trophy at the Isle of Man, and with the 2012 600 CBRR, they paid homage to the machine that changed the sportbike world.
Six consecutive world titles in World Supersport racing since 2003 cemented the reputation of Honda’s mid-sized, low weight rocket. Featuring centralized mass and a compact chassis, the original CBR600 became the go-to choice of weapon for serious racers around the world. When a machine is capable of winning more AMA and World Supersport Championships than any other middleweight sportbike, what do you do to make it better?
Apparently, you don’t change a thing…
The engineers responsible for the CBR600 RR didn’t really bother to change much this time around since a major revision way back in 2009, and during that year, about the only thing they brought out was the Combined ABS braking system. Yeah, back in 2009 the iconic sportbike did get an engine upgrade to improve torque in the upper range of the RPM band and redesigned fairings, but in keeping with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” philosophy surrounding this bike, almost nothing changed for 2010 and 2011.
The 2012 Honda CBR 600 RR is a nearly perfect piece of engineering, and improving it is a daunting task.
The last major innovation was, however, a real tour de force; the C-ABS, a true “brake-by-wire” design where braking is entirely electronically controlled, puts the hammer to conventional motorcycle ABS systems and avoids the soft lever feel you get from systems operating on hydraulic pressure.
2012 Honda 600 CBRR Tech Data
| Engine 4 cylinder, 4 stroke 16-valve, liquid-cooled (DOHC) Displacement 599 cm3 Bore x stroke 67 x 42.5 mm Compression ratio 12.2: 1 Maximum power 88.1 kW / 13,500 min-1 (95/1/EC) Maximum torque 66 Nm / 11,250 min-1 (95/1/EC PGM-DSFI electronic fuel injection Computer-controlled digital transistorized ignition, with electronic advance Starter Electric A 6-speed gearbox Final Drive Sealed O-Ring (Item # 525) Dimensions (LxWxH) 2010 x 685 x 1,105 mm Wheelbase 1,375 mm Seat height 820 mm Ground clearance 135 mm Fuel tank capacity 18 liters (Including 3.5-liter reserve shown on LCD) | Suspension Front Telescopic fork inverted HMAS Cartridge 41 mm fully adjustable, travel 120 mm Rear Suspension Unit Pro-Link with gas-charged shock and reservoir separate, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping, 130mm axle travel Wheels Front Hollow-section cast aluminum three-spoke Wheel Rear Hollow-section cast aluminum three-spoke Tires Front 120/70 – ZR17M / C (58W) Rear tire 180/55 – ZR17M / C (73W) Two hydraulic disc brake Front 310 x 4.5 mm with four-piston calipers with radial, floating rotors, * ABS and sintered metal pads Rear hydraulic disc brake 220 mm x 5 mm with single piston caliper, * ABS and sintered metal pads Bent aluminum frame, made of die-end |
2012 Honda CBR 600 RR Prices:
- Red / $11,540
- Black $11,540
- Black C-ABS (C-ABS only available in Black) $12,540
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