Honda in control with new superbike

One of the bikes causing waves among riders is the 2011/2012 Honda CBR superbike. I say this because it's been well received and thoroughly enjoyed by most riders I know.

Yes, it's a good looking bike and Honda has repeatedly proved itself with performance on and off the track.

So I dug in to see what Honda had done differently this year since it didn't change its appearance all that much, though it's clear that it's been given some major upgrades.

New suspension, new bodywork, new instrumentation, new wheels - and that's just the start - in addition to its famously powerful 999cc liquid-cooled in-line-four-cylinder engine and all-aluminium twin-spar chassis.

Honda says the 2012 CBR1000RR builds on the legacy of "total control" that has shaped its predecessors for 20 years, since the introduction of its original ground-breaking forerunner, the CBR900RR, in 1991.

Since then, successive evolutions of the machine have layered advancement upon advancement, while retaining its defining strength of a perfect balance between power and control.

The 2012 CBR1000RR is described as the essential superbike - the perfect balance of power and handling, designed to work together as one complete package.

The CBR900RR set the bar for litre-bike performance when it was introduced 20 years ago, and the new 2012 CBR1000RR sets that bar even higher.

For 2012, the CBR1000RR boasts even better handling via a patented balance-free rear shock, big piston fork and new wheels.

Add to that a 999.8cc engine pumping out huge midrange horsepower and torque for class-leading real-world muscle, and you have a high-performance package unmatched in its overall balance by the competition, Honda says.

In addition, new aggressive bodywork aids aerodynamic flow and high-speed handling, and new LCD instrumentation including a lap timer, five-level shift indicator and more, redefine the pure essence of litre-class sport bikes.

One can't really elaborate much more about this motorcycle since you have to feel its power and strength, though the future's looking bright indeed.

That's at least if you'll be looking at it from behind the bars of a new 2012 CBR1000RR, which comes in at a price of just R141999

The Specs:

Engine: Liquid-cooled four-stroke, 16-valve DOHC inline-four

Capacity: 999.80cc

Fuel system: fuel injection

Power: 131kW at 12000rpm

Torque: 78Nm at 11000 rpm

Gearbox: six-speed

Tank capacity: 17.7 litres