2018 Honda CB1000R Review | First Ride

We go for a quick test ride aboard Honda's re-vamped CB1000R motorcycle. What was originally designed as a streetfighter has morphed into a Neo Sports motorcycle that's designed to offer styling cues of an old bike with the modern technology and high-end performance of a modern motorcycle. For now watch our review and read the written report on CycleWorld.com -- Honda offers a bit of old and new with its latest entry into the liter-size naked bike class. Feast your eyes on the new 2018 CB1000R (starting at $12,999). Classified as a "neo sports" entry, this top-of-the-range CB is designed to offer something a little different in this growing segment. “Look around at the other entrants in the category. You have everything from kind of wild and aggressive, like the [Yamaha] MT-10 and [KTM] Super Duke R,” American Honda’s Assistant Powersports Communications Manager Jon Seidel says. “Our bike is a blend of old and new,” he explains. “[Other manufacturer’s models] have some existing styling cues. We didn’t want to make it a replica, nor redo anything new. If you look at everything—especially the proportions, from the shape of the tank to the short rear overhang—it’s almost a little bit non-Honda-like. We sometimes are said to not have the coolest of things…” But cool factor is something this CB oozes. From its round multi-chamber LED headlamp, liberal use of metal, and signature single-sided alloy swingarm, this Honda is a head turner. It feels every bit as good as it looks behind the handlebar too—offering a ultra-polished riding experience that’s above others in the class, for the most part. Swing a leg over it and it’s noticeably slimmer than before—especially through the midsection where the rider is perched. Although seat height has increased by 0.6 inch (32.7 inches now), the new CB feels more manageable due to its thinness. In typical Honda fashion, the cockpit is well-proportioned with adequate spacing between each control surface. We appreciate the position of the handlebar, and the distance between it and the seat. Together this affords a sporty but not overdone riding position. This is a bike you can ride comfortably for hours, while still providing an aggressive platform to work from during cornering high jinks. The CB continues to be powered by Big Red’s previous-generation 998cc inline-four superbike engine, with a twist. Honda’s new ride-by-wire throttle control system has been retrofitted, which essentially breathes new life to this old but certainly still adept powertrain. Other important mechanical changes include a switch from cast to forged pistons along with a 0.4 compression ratio increase (now 11.6:1). Valve lift has increased slightly, too, as has the diameter of the throttle bodies now measuring 44mm instead of 36mm. It drinks fuel from a 4.3-gallon tank (0.2-gallon smaller than before). The engine sits inside a stiffer steel backbone frame that Honda says is 10 pounds lighter than the aluminum version it replaces. Geometry has also changed with a 0.3-degree sharper rake (now 24.7) with a corresponding 0.1 inch decrease in trail. Renowned for its broad, torquey powerband, the CB1000R’s inline-4 engine is well suited to life on the road providing plenty of muscle in each of its six gears, no matter what rpm the engine spins at. Vibration is mostly muted but you feel a slight buzz when cruising in top gear at highway speeds. It certainly isn’t too intrusive though. Wheelies come easy in first or second even with Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC—Honda’s version of traction control) enabled. HSTC also includes integrated wheelie control logic tied to each setting. For best results, you can manually disable HSTC using the switch gear. ABS on the other hand, is fixed—a small strike for would-be stunt riders. “It’s not something that we see as a benefit or something that most riders would want,” Seidel answers when asked why Honda doesn’t offer the ability to manually disable ABS (as you can on most European-made bikes equipped with the feature). Regardless of the reasoning, the CBR1000RR-sourced front brakes are strong with just the right amount of bite at either lever. We also appreciate the use of a heavy-duty radial-pump master cylinder up front, which delivers strong hydraulic force when the lever is squeezed. Written report: https://www.cycleworld.com/2018-honda-cb1000r-pairs-elegance-and-performance Subscribe: Motorcyclist Shirts: Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/

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