Japanese motorcycle manufacturer, Honda introduced the CBR600RR as a successor to the Honda CBR600F4i back in 2003. The prototype of the CBR600RR was designed to be more aggressive rather than the tame, more practical predecessor. Because of this new approach, the middleweight sports bike was derived from the brands most advanced two-wheeler the Honda RC211V MotoGP bike that was developed by HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) to succeed the two-stroke Honda NSR500.
When the Honda CBR600RR was launched it came with MotoGP techs such as a Unit Pro-Link suspension and Honda’s Dual Stage Fuel Injection system. Honda also used advanced ‘Hollow Fine Die-Cast’ technology to reduce the thickness of the motorcycle frame. The model kept upgrading and the company kept the bike in production till 2017 when the new EURO4 norms rolled-in and Honda dropped the CBR600RR out of production, probably due to inevitable redesign costs to comply with the new emission norms.
Now a report from a Japanese magazine suggests that Honda may be planning to reintroduce the 600cc supersport bike monikered as the CBR600RR-R, by the end of 2020 or in early 2021. The Honda CBR600RR-R is rumoured to be styled with design cues from the 2021 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and is likely to feature the aero winglets from the elder sibling. The Honda CBR600RR-R is likely to follow the same design cues as the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade but is also expected to feature its own unique styling so as to differentiate itself from the litre-class motorcycle.
In the engine department, the last line of the CBR600RR was powered by a 599cc four-cylinder, four-stroke, four-valve per cylinder DOHC engine that produced around 120 hp of power and 60 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed gearbox. Honda also produced and provided 600cc four-cylinder engines for the Moto2 class racing, since 2010 which were rated to develop around 150hp of power. The Honda engines were replaced by Triumph’s 765cc three-cylinder engines since the 2019 season.
When the new CBR600RR-R materialises is still a question and more information about it is likely to be released only after the COVID-19 situation normalises.