Test riding CB1000R

[MentalFacility]

This afternoon I got a phone call from Botany Honda to come and take the new CB1000R for a spin. So I did. I took the bike out for about 2 hours around Witford and Clevedon.
Now, this is all just my opinion and it’s not a review. I haven’t even ridden CB1000R main competitor Speed Triple to even compare what a naked should be.
So the Predator is a very tidy looking bike, it really has to be seen in flesh or you’ll never get the perspective right since it is so small. Looks very futuristic too, but there exhaust is a bit too big, and doesn’t flow with the bike too well. It is not a big issue at all (not nearly as big as ZX10R08), but I think they could have made it smaller. Single sided swing arm is a cool move and ads to the aggressive look of the bike.

Handling wise it’s a gem. I’ve managed to find some dry-weight figures that claim it to be around 204KG dry. So it is heavier then my CBR1000RR but it feels a lot lighter in the terns. I guess the riding geometry has something to do with that. The stock suspension setting was a bit too soft for my taste, but it turned very well, especially through the Clevedon Scenic view route. The handles bars assembly are similar to the once seen on MX bikes, and If u know me, I come from MX school, so I was glad to see these around. CB1000R is a very light turning bike with a lot of feedback from the both tires. The brakes are flawless, as usual with the new bikes.

The only thing I would do to improve the handling is install a steering damper. Under heavy acceleration on the back road the front and the rear seem to lack same direction, so hold on to the steering! Also at high speeds you can’t be too confident either.

Motor comes from 2007 CBR1000RR, and it’s been returned for more torque and more low rpm grunt. Works very smooth, plenty of power almost in any gear at any RPM. It only revs to 10k before the red line though. The exhaust sounds a bit lame, it’s a bit too quiet and doesn’t have “that” note, but I’m sure there are plenty of people who prefect quite exhausts out there. Gear box is perfect. Very smooth ups and downs, light clutch, although I missed the slipper clutch from my Blade, and had to think about stuff I don’t normally think in corners.
The bike was quite comfy to me; the only thing I found destructing is the shape of the pillion seat. The front edge of it will stick in your arse with its geometry if you lean back too much. Other than that it is very good. Haven’t tested the bike with the pillion though...
The clock looks very cool, although it misses a few elements like gear indicator and some fancy welcome bling display.

So in summary:

PROS:
Smooth ass engine with lots of linear torque and power anywhere in the RPM range
Feels feather light
Awesome gear box
Lots of torque and power
Cool clock
Very easy to ride
Comfy
Turns heads with its looks
Honda's fit and finish
Fun and fast

CONS:
No steering damper
No slipper clutch
No Gear indicator (call me whatever you want, but this is the thing I miss too much on my blade)
Relatively lame exhaust sound and looks
Pricy ($19k)

Botany Honda will have their demo till Wednesday. Go ride it!

Cheers to Botany Honda for letting me be one of the first to test the new bike!

PS Some more info on the bike can be found here http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...1000r%2008.htm

[Pussy]

Had a bit of a look at two of them at Energy Honda last week... nice bike

[Big Dave]

Gear indicators annoy me. After an hour on a bike I can feel what gear it's in.

[MentalFacility]

Gear indicators annoy me. After an hour on a bike I can feel what gear it's in.

Each to there own. Ive been riding for almost 13 years now, and I still would prefer to have it on my bike. My blade doesnt have it, and i miss it.

[Big Dave]

Each to there own. Ive been riding for almost 13 years now, and I still would prefer to have it on my bike. My blade doesnt have it, and i miss it.

Indeed - I disagree about the steering damper and slipper clutch too. :-)

[AlBundy]

People who need steering dampers, have a flaw in their riding styles...

Same applies to slipper clutches. They are a good backup for crap downshifts but if you rely on it for road riding, you need to smoothen up...

Only touring bikes should have gear indicators...

[MentalFacility]

People who need steering dampers, have a flaw in their riding styles...

Same applies to slipper clutches. They are a good backup for crap downshifts but if you rely on it for road riding, you need to smoothen up...

Only touring bikes should have gear indicators...

Sometimes the road surface isnt that great... If ur bike is overpowered, it is better to have them on ur side, then ur arse in the air.
Having them would also make it easir to consentrate on the riding fast.

[Big Dave]

There is a good argument for slipper clutches on track bikes.

Not so compelling for one marketed primarily as an urban machine.

[AlBundy]

Sometimes the road surface isnt that great... If ur bike is overpowered, it is better to have them on ur side, then ur arse in the air.
Having them would also make it easir to consentrate on the riding fast.

If you are going to use that as an argument, it's admitting you have no throttle control!

[AlBundy]

Also for steering dampers, most of the trouble there, comes from people hanging onto the bars too tightly.

[MentalFacility]

As for steering dampers, most of the trouble there, comes from people hanging onto the bars too tightly.

Fuking sake, there are blind corners out there with patches and potholes right in the middle.

[short-circuit]

Each to there own. Ive been riding for almost 13 years now, and I still would prefer to have it on my bike. My blade doesnt have it, and i miss it.

Why would you pay $19, 000 for a honduh (108 HP)- Speed Triple wannabe at 204 kgs dry

When you could get the King of the nakeds for another grand with 131 bhp, 189 kg, gear indicator inclusive...as above about the slipper clutch and steering damper (doesn't matter with your front wheel in the air)

[MentalFacility]

Why would you pay $19, 000 for a honduh (108 HP)- Speed Triple wannbe at 204 kgs dry

When you could get the King of the nakeds for another grand with 131 bhp, 189 kg, gear indicator inclusive...as above about the slipper clutch and steering damper (doesn't matter with your front wheel in the air)

Predator actually makes around 124bhp.

As for speed tripple. I never ridden one, I wouldn't know.

[Big Dave]

Short answer is yes I would buy one - I rate the CB1000R very highly - as I do the Speed Triple.

[AlBundy]

I'm NOT going to argue with you...

What I will say, is since you are used to a sportbike, the nakeds will feel very different. Generally it takes a while to get used to the different feel from the front end, due to having less weight on your wrists. Also, they usually have more leverage due to wider bars, so it can make the bike feel twitchy, so it needs a rethink sometimes.

I think I'd probably go for a Trumpet or Z1000 before the Honda. The triple sounds awesome, though I'm not a fan of the headlights and the styling of the Z1000 isn't as out there as the Honda (well, maybe it is actually, lol...).
Each to their own really...

Thanks for the review though...