MRW Issue 1

a bit lazy, think mainly
down to fueling, but once
it gets going there is not
much out there right now
that will compete with it
- yes, the FireBlade could
very well now be the fastest
production bike on
the market – haven’t been
able to say that for a very
long time now have we?
The quickshifter and autoblip
just adds even more
flavour to the delicious
ride the RR-R offers, and
it helped smoothen out
gear shifts that did feel a
bit hesitant from the gearbox
on the RR-R in the
first test I did. It’s 2020
Honda, using a clutch to
change gears is a thing of
the past and I suggest you
listen to the team here at
Honda SA who know the
importance of having one
fitted from standard.
While Honda have manged
to give their new production
superbike machine
plenty more power,
they’ve also managed to
keep the core of what has
made it such a hit with
fans around the world over
the years, that being that
oh-so-sweet handling and
easy to operate and understand
chassis. Although,
they have made it a little
less accommodating for
taller riders, with the new
higher pegs and slightly
more racy, lower bars. This
listened to what I had to say
after that first test, slamming
them for not having a quickshifter
and autoblip, and also
the fact that the gearing felt
way too long. So, “the boer”
made a plan and fitted shorter
gearing, a genuine Honda
quicksfiter with autoblip capabilities
(which would have
been an optional extra for
customers) as well as some
very cool looking original
HRC carbon fiber bits to the
base RR-R homologation
model they have here in SA.
He then invited myself, along
with other journos to come
out to Redstar Raceway and
sample the new updated “SA
Spec” RR-R.
It didn’t take long for me to
be grinning from ear to ear in
my Scorpion helmet, screaming
in pure delight, with a bit
of fear thrown into the mix.
“This thing is stupid fast, and with
the now shorter gearing it pulls
harder than ever before and
carries that speed effortlessly.”
This thing is stupid fast, and
with the now shorter gearing
it pulls harder than ever before
and carries that speed
effortlessly. There is power
a plenty from 7000rpm onwards,
below that it’s still