The Honda CBR600RR is a 599 cc sports motorcycle made by Honda since 2003 and marketed as its middleweight sport bike. It succeeded the CBR600F4i, which was repositioned as the tamer, more street-oriented model behind the technically more advanced race replica.
Honda CBR600RR at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Produced since | 2003 |
| Displacement | 599 cc inline four |
| Class | middleweight supersport |
| Predecessor | CBR600F4i |
| Design approach | prototype racer first, production bike second |
| MotoGP influence | RC211V |
| Rear suspension | first Honda with Unit Pro-Link |
| Racing success | supersport titles through 2008, and in 2010 and 2014 |
| Project leader | Hiroyuki Ito |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the CBR600RR.
History of the Honda CBR600RR
A change of approach
Honda’s previous 600, the CBR600F4i, was a balance of practicality and performance. With the 2003 CBR600RR the company shifted to a more aggressive, less compromising strategy. Project leader Hiroyuki Ito explained that in the past Honda always developed a road bike and then modified it for racing, but with the RR the team first built a prototype racer and then gave it to the production department.
From MotoGP
The 2003 CBR600RR was based on technologies used in the RC211V MotoGP bike and was given a similar appearance. It was the first Honda to use Unit Pro-Link rear suspension, a variant of the single rear shock in which the upper mount is connected to the rear swingarm subframe to help isolate forces from the steering head.
Racing record
The RR carried Honda’s Supersport World Championship winning streak into 2003 and through 2008, and won again in 2010 and 2014.
Design and features
- Race-first design: a prototype racer turned into a production bike.
- RC211V styling: MotoGP looks and technology.
- Unit Pro-Link suspension: the first Honda road bike with the system.
- Middleweight focus: aimed squarely at the supersport class.
Honda CBR600RR versions
- CBR600RR (2003): the original RR.
- CBR600F4i: the earlier, more street-oriented 600.
- Later RR generations: the model continued into the 2020s.
The CBR600RR succeeded the CBR600F and sits between the CBR250R and the CBR1000RR. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda CBR600RR, English Wikipedia: development approach, MotoGP influence, suspension, racing
