2006 MotoGP world champ, Nicky Hayden presents the 2017 Honda Fireblade SP and Fireblade SP2 at the Intermot in Cologne, Germany. The bike is simply stunning…
Honda have unveiled the new Fireblade SP at the Intermot and as expected, the machine is lighter and more powerful than its predecessor and also gets a full suite of electronic rider aids. ‘All 1000cc sportsbikes are extraordinary examples of high performance engineering. But for us, for our new Fireblade, we want extraordinary to be the pleasure of handling and controlling such a machine. Its true purpose – wherever it’s ridden – is to enjoy something that is not normally experienced in everyday life, something that cannot be surpassed,’ says M. Sato, Large Project Leader for the 2017 Fireblade SP. ‘To go to next stage Total Control, we have added an electronic control system that is there to support the rider,’ he adds.
So, the new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP gets an all-new 5-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which measures exactly what the machine is doing, in every plane. It works the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) traction control system, which manages rear wheel traction via the FI-ECU and ride-by-wire throttle. The new ABS (also managed by the IMU) offers rear lift control (RLC) and the ability for hard, safe trail braking into corners. Depending on settings, any difference measured between the front and rear wheel speeds also triggers the bike’s wheelie control system.
The new Fireblade SP’s electronics work in conjunction with its onboard Öhlins Objective Based Tuning Interface to adjust both the compression and rebound damping force of the bike’s semi-active Öhlins Electronic Control (S-EC) 43mm NIX30 front fork and TTX36 rear shock. For the rider this means access to a whole new level of handling ability. This system works just as well on the road as it does on the track and according to Honda, brings in a whole new standard in terms of superbike handling. And the Fireblade SP’s TFT LCD digital instrument display, which has three modes (Street, Circuit and Mechanic) provides all the information required by the rider for his specific usage and type of riding.
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