Honda’s latest generation of 600 cc CBR super sport bikes sticks to the family tradition with its race-winning blend of power and agility, all packed into a chassis inspired by MotoGP. The current 2022 Honda CBR600RR Sports Motorcycle, like the first CBR600RR, debuted in 2003 and was built as a race bike copy; it has a powerful engine, front suspension with Honda’s 41mm Big Piston Fork for excellent handling and quick action, and MotoGP-inspired bodywork in a race-tested aerodynamic supersport design.
2022 Honda CBR600RR Sports Motorcycle – Features and Specs
Design
The latest generation of the 2022 Honda CBR600RR Sports Motorcycle essentially started with a significant facelift in 2013. It coincided with a shift in the market away from racing replica motorbikes and towards more naked, streetfighter-style bikes in 2016. Those still interested in the race-replica aspect of the 600RR will appreciate the similarities between it and the motorcycle Michael van der Mark rode to Honda’s 10th Manufacturer title in the Moto2 class in 2015.
The wind-tunnel-tested body panels nearly totally conceal practicality in favor of aesthetics. In addition to providing superior penetration, the fairing generates an air scoop that uses the pressurized air at the front of the motorcycle as a makeshift turbo. Honda’s bodywork improvements extended from the CBR500R to the RC213V MotoGP racing machine.
The ram air is reintegrated into the slipstream with little resistance because of the vented lowers of the fairing, which are located at the entry and rise up and over the low-profile, bullet-shaped windscreen. The manufacturer was able to keep the rear end sleek and the exhausting weight focused by routing the silencer behind the P-pad area, which not only looks great but also keeps those drag-inducing, power-robbing components tucked away where they cannot harm.
The bike’s speed and aggressive appearance may make it less visually appealing than its more pedestrian competitors. The riders of the 600RR’s competitors will get entirely acquainted with its rear end. The 600RR is relatively compact in terms of its dimensions, with a wheelbase of 53.9 inches, a seat height of 32.3 inches, and a wet weight of 410 pounds.
Chassis
Honda equips the CBR600RR with an all-aluminum, twin-spar frame to keep the bike light and flexible for quick flips and reversals. The steering head is adjusted for optimal canyon-carving agility at 23.5 degrees of rake and 3.9 inches of trail, thanks to Honda’s patented Electronic Steering Damper. To prevent tank lappers from cutting your ride short—or at the very least frightening the living daylights out of you—the ESD automatically adjusts based on bike speed.
There is a 41 mm Big Piston Forks up front and a Pro-Link mono-shock at the rear. The suspension provides full ride customization with its adjustable spring preload, dampening, and 4.3 inches of front and 5.1 inches of rear axle travel. The 17-inch rims are cast, and the tires are sized 120/70 in the front and 180/55 in the back.
Front disc brakes are 310 millimeters long and clamped by a pair of radial-mount, four-pot, monoblock, opposed-piston calipers; the rear disc brake is 220 millimeters in diameter and is held in place by a single-pot, piston-and-anvil caliper. The Honda CBR600RR may be had with either essential conventional brakes or Combination ABS.
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) does what you’d expect it to do—prevent traction loss from over-braking—. Still, it also acts as a proportioning valve, moving part of the power from the rear brake lever to the front brake calipers to ensure that braking is uniform. Although it may seem as if the front brakes are reluctant to engage, with a rather long throw before the brakes begin to apply, the sensation at the brake lever appears to be natural, with no pulsing or disconnected feeling.
Drivetrain
Chrome-plated Palphos M1-style pistons are used in the Honda CBR600RR’s 599 ccs inline-4 cylinder engine.
The Africa Twin was treated like con-rods and wrist pins to broaden the range of adventure vehicles available. The liquid cooling system helps the 600RR mill conform to pollution standards, while the water jacket muffles the motor’s internal noise.
The cylinder dimensions reveal a somewhat over-square engine, with a diameter of 67 mm and a stroke of 42.5 mm. This engine, as you can guess, has greater horsepower but less torque. Because the bike must travel at high speeds to benefit from the pressurized air in front of it, ultimately, the official power ratings are rather vague. For the sake of argument, let’s estimate it generates roughly 98 horsepower at 12,500 rpm and 44 pound-feet of torque at 10,000 rpm.
Electronic ignition with 3-D mapping controls the spark, delivered by four Denso 12-hole 40 mm throttle bodies. Dual overhead cams time the 4-valve heads, and a relatively high compression ratio of 12.2-to-1 means that only the finest champagne will do to power this bike. The 600RR’s lack of slipper-clutch technology is a little surprising given the bike’s track-fantastic capabilities, but competent riders can quickly work around this. When power is transmitted from the engine via the close-ratio six-speed gearbox, it is delivered to the back wheel through an O-ring chain.
Price
The base model of the 2022 Honda CBR600RR Sports Motorcycle will set you back $11,999, while the ABS model will set you back $12,999. The price hasn’t moved much over the last several years, and neither has the bike.
Honda CBR600RR vs Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
Both seem like they may be racing replicas with minor tweaks to the general design. The fairings’ front edges include an inlet that draws air from the show. It is because no manufacturer ignores the possibility of using the pressure wave at the front of the bike to feed the intake.
Both bikes have adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping in their rear mono shocks and have strong 41 mm inverted forks for the front suspension. Both brands’ versions feature twin front brakes measuring 310 millimeters in diameter, and the anti-lock braking systems are interchangeable.
Kawi adds muscle to the Ninja thanks to its choice of the power plant. It seems like a Honda engine from the specifications: an inline four with water cooling and direct fuel injection. Kawasaki’s Traction Control and Power Mode switch provide riders with security and customization unavailable on the CBR. (Not that you should need any assistance; they are, after all, crutches.) The 636 cc Kawi mill has more power than the 44-pound Honda lump (99 hp vs. 112 hp and 62 lb-ft of torque). It’s different, to be sure, but not so different that an experienced rider couldn’t handle it.
Honda’s pricing of $12,799 is comparable to the Ninja’s $12,699 MSRP, but one might make the case that the latter offers superior value due to its electronic engine wizardry. If you don’t care about flashy features, the CBR will provide a pleasant ride at a reasonable price.
2022 Honda CBR600RR Sports Motorcycle – Technical Specifications
Engine & Drivetrain
Engine: | 599 cc Liquid-Cooled Inline Four-Cylinder |
Bore x Stroke: | 67mm x 42.5mm |
Induction: | Dual Stage Fuel Injection (DSFI) including 40mm throttle bodies, Denso 12-hole injectors |
Ignition: | Computer-controlled digital transistorized featuring 3-D mapping |
Compression Ratio: | 12.2:1 |
Valve Train: | DOHC; 4 valves per cylinder |
Transmission: | Close-ratio 6-speed |
Final Drive: | #525 O-ring chain |
Chassis
Rake: | 23.5° (Caster Angle) |
Trail: | 97.7mm (3.9 inches) |
Front Suspension: | 41mm inverted Big Piston Fork including spring preload, rebound, and compression damping adjustability; 4.3-inch travel |
Rear Suspension: | Unit Pro-Link HMASâ„¢ single shock featuring spring preload, rebound, and compression damping adjustability; 5.1-inch travel |
Front Brake: | Dual radial-mounted 4-piston calipers with full-floating 310mm discs |
Rear Brake: | Single-caliper 220mm disc |
Front Tire: | 120/70ZR-17 radial |
Rear Tire: | 180/55ZR-17 radial |
Dimensions and Capacities
Wheelbase: | 53.9-inch |
Seat Height: | 32.3-inch |
Curb Weight: | 410 pounds |
Fuel Capacity: | 4.8 gallons |
Details
Model Id: | CBR600RR |
Warranty: | One Year Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available, including a Honda Protection Plan. |
Available Colors: | Grand Prix Red Tricolor |
Price: | $11,999 (ABS: $12,999) |