CB1000R

Introduction

Motorcycling has seen many shifts in riders’ expectations of their bikes – what they do, how they look and how they make them feel – over the last decade. And Honda has never been afraid to apply its technology, engineering and ‘what if…?’ imagination to create motorcycles that inhabit new spaces in the marketplace.

The CB1000R is one such bike. Introduced through a major model change in 2018, Honda’s development engineers re-assessed the hard-core streetfighter underpinnings of the previous model and, steered by retro-industrial minimalism, stripped everything back. The resulting machine, born under the banner of ‘Neo Sports Café’, was a new fusion of sport naked and bare-boned Café Racer inspirations.

It stood out from the crowd by moving away from the standard super sports-derived big naked formula, melding exhilarating function to a form that offered a radically fresh, visually stunning two-wheeled aesthetic. Combining more with less, the reborn CB1000R gave its rider a huge amount of usable engine performance, with the control of a super sports machine.

Exciting to ride, and fully capable of chasing much more focused machinery down on a twisting back road, from whichever way it’s approached – aesthetics, emotions, performance or technology – the CB1000R has proved itself a hard motorcycle to ignore.

Minor cosmetic updates for 2020 further enhanced its premium status. Now, for 2021, the CB1000R moves forward significantly, both in terms of style and rider engagement.

Model Overview

Visually, the 2021 CB1000R’s lines are more aggressive, forward-set with shrink-wrapped new details like the exposed aluminium subframe, radiator shrouds and airbox covers, flowing in holistic, dynamic harmony. The headlight, too, evolves in shape and now slants back, while intricately crafted new wheels add to the engineering prowess on display.

While the chassis is unchanged the engine earns revised PGM-FI settings, smoothing power delivery, and EURO5 compliance. A new, full colour TFT instrument display offers Honda Smartphone Voice Control System, linking the rider to their smartphone function, and there’s also a USB charging socket under the seat.