Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP got launched at Rs 33.50 lakh

Honda has re-launched its top superbike, the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, in India. It costs ₹33.50 lakh ex-showroom. The bike is brought to India as a completely built unit, or CBU. That means it is fully imported. It is sold only through Honda’s premium BigWing dealerships. The new price is ₹4.51 lakh higher than before. So if you want this bike, you have to pay a lot more now.

Let us first talk about the engine and performance. The bike has a 999cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine. It is made to rev very high. It produces a brutal 217.5 bhp at 14,000 rpm. It also makes 113 Nm of torque at 12,000 rpm. The bike comes with a lightweight Akrapovič titanium exhaust system that is ready for the track. The gearbox is a close-ratio 6-speed transmission. It also has a bi-directional quickshifter, which means you can change gears up and down without using the clutch.

Now let us look at the premium hardware. The frame is a lightweight twin-spar aluminium diamond frame. This is directly taken from the RC213V-S MotoGP race bike. The suspension is top-level. It uses the latest semi-active Öhlins Smart EC 3.0 NPX USD front forks. The rear has an Öhlins TTX36 monoshock. Both are electronically adjustable. The brakes are race-grade Brembo Stylema R calipers. They clamp down on huge 330mm front discs. So stopping power is extremely strong.

The electronics package is also very advanced. A 6-axis IMU controls all the rider aids. Everything is managed through a 5-inch colour TFT display. The bike has multi-level traction control, which Honda calls HSTC. It also has wheelie control, launch control, engine brake control, and switchable cornering ABS. So you get all the safety and performance features you would expect from a track-focused superbike.

Now let us see how the Fireblade SP compares to its rivals. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R costs ₹20.79 lakh. That is significantly cheaper. The BMW S 1000 RR costs ₹23.25 lakh. That is also much more affordable. The Honda CBR1000RR-R SP costs ₹33.50 lakh. So it is the most expensive among these three. The Ducati Panigale V4 S costs ₹39.00 lakh, which is even higher. But compared to the Kawasaki and BMW, the Honda is priced at a premium.