Bike of the Year
Bike of the Year
UP FRONT
David Edwards
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER AND A long dry spell is over. For the first time since 1993, a Honda has walked away with top honors in the International Bike of the Year competition. In fact, doublekudos to the Big Red Machine, because another of its models notched second place in the annual polling of moto-mag editors from around the world.
Sixteen years back, it was the CBR 900RR that wowed we scribblers. Now it’s another supersport, the lightened-up and laser-focused CBR1000RR (a.k.a. Fireblade in other parts of the world) that’s been named IBOTY for 2008.
“Honda, usually such a conservative company, has given us a new Fireblade that is not merely optically similar to a 600cc supersport bike,” said Belgium’s MotorWereld. “It feels just as compact but places 177 horsepower under your butt! Honda has a real winner on its hands with this ’Blade, and we suspect this feeling will only be fortified in 2009 with the release of the sport-ABS version.”
Italy’s apex-happy Super Wheels magazine agreed: “The Fireblade is finally and totally a pure supersport bike. Yes, it is harder-edged than in the past, so we have a real racer for very expert riders. But that’s how we like our motorcycling.” England’s Bike wanted to head straight to the Isle of Man with its CBR1000RR, saying, “So ridiculously fast, yet so bafflingly stable under all conditions. It makes an instant John McGuinness (14time TT winner) of us all. Go with God. It feels a generation ahead of anything else. Surprisingly easy to ride despite being stupidly fast-you remember the composure, not the speed.”
Auto-By, from Japan, went all Zen on us. “This bike responds so quickly to a rider’s will, just like the water soaks
through the sand...”
Trust the Aussies to be a bit more concrete. “For a machine to be a clear winner in every respect in the superbike class is something that doesn’t happen often,” said Australian Motorcycle News. “The 2008 Fireblade stands to go ‘bar-to-bar’ with Ducati’s 916 and Honda’s own RC30 as the ultimate sportbike of its time. It’s been 16 years since Honda first released the Fireblade, and finally it is back to its roots-brilliant handling, exciting and revolutionary. It has redefined the superbike class on track, but what’s more, it’s just as good a machine in the company of its peers on the road. This is the year of the Fireblade.”
Another Honda, the CB1000R, had a good year, too, finishing second in the ÍBOTY balloting. Pretty good for a bike that didn’t receive a single vote from the U.S., simply because it’s not sold here. Ironic, ain’t it, at a time that we’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original transverse-Four standard-style Honda, the blockbuster 1969 CB750, that perhaps the ultimate evolution of the genre is not available in America?
In Europe, everyone seems enthralled by the bike, designed and built by Honda Italy with input from Japan. It’s basically an aluminum Hornet
600 frame stuffed full of CBR1000 motor that’s had its powerband rearranged to produce a still-healthy 125 horsepower.
“A giant step for Honda in the naked category that clearly outshines the competitors with its flawless engine, good brakes and sharp handling,” said Bike Scandinavia.
“In numbers, the CB1000R isn’t the sort of bike that yanks the rug from under your feet. However, riding it you discover just what an overall finely balanced bike Honda’s youngest naked really is-a balance that adds up to precise, easy, fun handling. Add to this a torquey, sweetrunning engine, and there it is, the naked bike of 2008,” added MotorWereld
“You don’t really need a hyper-sport machine to feel hill sensations from a one-litre engine,” noted Spain’s La Moto. “Plus the 1000R is very comfortable, a good partner for everyday use. This is one of the best CBs Honda has ever built.”
Said Autocar India, “A sensible, urban motorcycle built with Honda’s typical feel of quality. Rugged, naked good looks give it a powerful presence. And its gossamer-smooth, flexible engine comes allied to a well-sorted transmission. A practical motorcycle, the CB1000R enjoys a city-friendly upright riding posture, as well as light, forgiving handling that makes this an admirably easy bike to live with.”
Holland’s KicXstart was especially effusive: “Stunning looks, brilliant handling, smooth-but-fierce performance and bulletproof reliability for a realworld price. The Honda CB1000R must have been developed by a team that really loves their jobs.”
Here’s hoping that we in the U.S. might someday get to sample a naked Honda built with that kind of that enthusiasm. U
To read all the IBOTY 2008 comments and see the complete list of finalists, log on to www.cycleworld.com
