ROAD NEWS
2021 HONDA CBR600RR
H
onda has unveiled details for the
forthcoming CBR600RR, with the firm
not reinventing the wheel for its new
supersport offering. Based heavily on the last
CBR600RR, the 2021 machine opts to heavily
revise the package with modern materials and
technologies rather than start from scratch.
Honda has kept the recipe familiar. The inlinefour
remains at 599cc, but now features new
camshafts, valve springs and crank makes use
of lighter metals. The throttle bores have been
enlarged and the intakes and exhaust have also
been tweaked.
The result is a boost in power to leapfrog
Yamaha’s YZF-R6 with the 2021 CBR600RR
now producing 119hp – up 6hp from the
previous generation and a smidge over 2hp
over the Yamaha.
While 2hp over the competition might not
excite, its in the electronics package that Honda
has worked some serious magic to bring the
CBR600RR into the top of the class. That means
the 2021 model gets an electronic, fly-by-wire
throttle along with an inertial measurement
unit (IMU) to help control all the latest riderassist
technology.
Honda has added its Honda Selectable Torque
Control system—for some reason they don’t call
it what the rest of us call it, traction control—
along with wheelie control and adjustable
engine-braking.
As expected, helping the rider navigate it all is
a TFT dash – the same unit that used on the big
brother CBR1000RR.
Weight is listed at 194kg, just 3.3kg lighter
than the CBR1000RR, while the bodywork
brings into the supersport class the winglets
we’re starting to see become mainstream
with the superbike players.
The CBR600RR is reportedly set to be an
Asian market exclusive, with Europe missing
out thanks to emissions regulations. However,
BlueWing Honda has expressed an interest in
bringing the model here but has, as yet, not
been able to confirm whether we’ll see it in
showrooms next year.
22 KIWI RIDER