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2006-2007 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade electronics and race-style riding positions. If you want
the ultimate CBR ‘Blade for the road, this is probably
Seeing as this is a celebration of all things CBR we the one.
could quite easily have included most incarnations of
the sportiest CBR – the Fireblade – of all. But in the
interests of restraint, we haven’t. Two more, however,
stand out for us, the first being the subtly updated
2006-2007 version of the first RCV-alike alike, which
was launched in 2004. The 2006, version, however,
exudes Honda refinement at its best. The styling is
‘smoothed over’ and refined; the engine and chassis
are virtually faultless and the build quality is exquisite.
If you want the best ‘old school’ blade, before
electronics started to take hold, this is the one.

2007 Honda CBR600RR
In a similar vein to the 2006 Fireblade, above, our pick
of the incarnations of its little brother, the CBR600RR,
is not the 2003 first, nor the facelifted 2014 version, nor
even the current one – but this.

Again based on the 2004 RCV-inspired 600RR, the 2004 Honda CBR125R
2007 update has smoothed out styling, an uprated
chassis and engine, sublime build quality, and was From the biggest Honda CBR to one of the smallest –
available largely unchanged for seven years. That but still one of the best. Honda launched its all-new
means there’s a huge number of used bikes in a CBR125R learner sportster in 2004 and although
massive variety of paint schemes to choose from and unremarkable in many ways it remains – still – one of
even came with the option of Honda’s clever new C- the best and most-prized bikes of its type, even though
ABS combined ABS braking system. 600s don’t get it stopped being built in 2016.
any classier.
Simply, it delivered to the brief – perfectly: it’s sporty
2014 Honda CBR1000RR SP looking (especially in GP-replica Repsol colours); is
solid, well-built, reliable and less prone to corrosion
And speaking of classy, Fireblades – or CBR1000RRs, and neglect than most; has all the spec it needs and,
seeing as we’re talking about CBRs – don’t come any more than anything, in typical Honda fashion has a
classier than the original Fireblade SP from 2014. With brilliant, novice-friendly riding position and is equally
a blueprinted engine, Brembo monobloc brakes, easy and unintimidating to ride (are you listening
Ohlins suspension and classic HRC ‘tricolour’ paint Aprilia?). On top of all that, it was decent value, too
job, it not only went well, with 178bhp, it also handled while a facelift in 2011 improved its looks again. LHR
and stopped superbly and looked utterly fabulous, too,
and all before Fireblades went overboard on

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