2020 HONDA CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP

There’s been a load of hype about the new Fireblade, so I couldn’t wait to take it for a spin when it arrived at FB HQ. Bruce couldn’t get enough of it back when he rode it at the launch in Qatar earlier this year, with its claimed 215bhp (yeah, I don’t believe that for a second, either) from its brand new motor. New titanium con-rods, finger follower rockers, a totally new lubrication system and a bigger airbox and throttle bodies, as well as an all-new chassis and an aerodynamics package straight off Marc Marquez’s race bike, have all clubbed together to, according to Honda, make the new, RCV213V-S (Honda’s MotoGP bike) inspired ’Blade the best one yet.

The ‘wings’ on the ’Blade are boxed in and not like traditional winglets, but I liked it as it seems like a much neater way of achieving the same outcome. In fact the whole bike looked really smart, with the blue and red colour scheme. I was less of a fan of the riding position, however, which