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Honda CBR600RR: The joys of evolution

by Grant Parsons

Exiting a second-gear roundabout on California's Buttonwillow Raceway, aimed at a series of tight esses that lead to the front straight, I'm in a perfect position to appreciate the changes Honda made to the 2005 CBR600RR. That's because the evolutionary steps engineers made to the third-year RR were aimed at two main areas that almost any rider can appreciate in the real world: reduced weight and improved mid-range grunt. And having just switched, after several laps on the '04 model, it's easy to feel the difference.

I didn't think last year's bike was a slouch, but when I bring the 2005 bike toward vertical and twist the throttle, I'm forced to re-evaluate.

The new CBR responds with more urgency, courtesy of the few extra ponies that come from re-designed intake ports and a new fuel injection map. It's immensely satisfying when you're in a hurry on the track, but it's also sure to be a boon in the real world of stoplights and traffic, when you spend a lot more time in the middle part of the rev band.

Speed climbs quickly as I rocket toward a series of quick, left-right-left esses. Actively countersteering through them as the tach climbs into the upper ranges, I weave the bike right, hit an upshift and weave left and right again.

It's a series of kinks where the lighter weight—officially 9 pounds were taken off, but engineers hinted it might be more—makes the bike respond that much more quickly. And the new upside-down fork adds more stiffness that translates into more precision. I can put the bike wherever I want, whenever I want. Nice.

Hanging of a bit to set up for a sweepy left-hander, I blast through and keep the throttle pinned through a short straight that leads to a 90-degree left. Two fingers applying gentle pressure to the front brake lever hauls the speed down nicely, courtesy of a new, radial-mount brake caliper. A quick downshift of the slick gearbox (I never found a false neutral all day), brings the revs up as I flash onto the next straight.

Yup. There's a lot to be said for continual refinement. And having a chance to ride both the '04 and the '05 back-to-back only proves the point. The last year's RR made you comfortable quickly, but the '05 is that much sharper. And the changes add up to a bike that is undeniably more confidence-inspiring. There's a sharp sense that this bike will do what you tell it to do, right now, and ask for more.

And that's exactly what you want in a 600cc supersport machine.

Stylingwise, the changes from last year to this year are subtle, with a bit more of a crease to the curves, and closer resemblance to Honda's MotoGP bike, the RC211V. If the bike goes past you moving, it will take a sharp eye to notice that the windscreen is a bit more humped, the ram-air ducts are now more integrated into the front fairing, the tail section is a bit sleeker and the rear swingarm features a more rounded bulge. From the cockpit, it's easy to see that the triple clamp has more of a downward, gull-wing shape.

It all adds up to a series of evolutionary changes to an already-tight package, that hones handling and midrange.

The RR will be available in red/black, grey/black and black with tribal graphics for a retail price of $8,799.

2005 Honda CBR600RR
Engine	599cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder
Bore x stroke	67mm x 42.5mm
Compression	12.0:1
Valve train	DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Carburetion	Dual-stage fuel injection
Ignition	Computer controlled, 3D mapping
Transmission	6-speed
Front suspension	41mm inverted HMAS cartridge fork; adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping; 4.7 inches of travel
Rear suspension	Unit Pro-Link HMAS single shock adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping; 5.1 inches travel
Front brakes	Dual radial-mounted four-piston calipers with 310mm discs
Rear brake	Single 220mm disc
Tires	120/70ZR17 radial front; 180/55ZR-17 radial rear
Wheelbase	54.5 inches
Rake	24 degrees
Trail	95 mm
Seat height	32.3 inches
Dry weight (claimed)	361 pounds
Fuel capacity	4.8 gallons, including .9-gallon reserve