Honda Fireblade Fast Bikes’ Sportsbike of the Year

Honda (UK) Motorcycles has won top honours with the prestigious Fast Bikes’ Sportsbike of the Year Award for the second successive year, with its legendary CBR1000RR Fireblade, despite stiff competition from several newcomers to the supersport sector.

The award – which is now in its eighth year – gave 10 machines a thorough testing, which took in 3000 miles on both road and track work. All machines were exhaustively put through their paces for three days on the roads of North Wales before a hard session on track at the Anglesey circuit. After one of the most complete tests ever, one bike emerged victorious – Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade.

Richard Newland, Fast Bikes’ editor said, “Honda’s phenomenal Fireblade retains its 2008 title in virtually unchanged form, an incredible achievement in the face of stunning competition from the new Yamaha YZF-R1 and Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 in the litre class alone. It underlines what a devastatingly capable bike Honda has built.”

Commenting on the Fireblade, Fast Bike’s road-tester and British Superbikes racer Al Fagan said, “The ‘Blade rules again, even against the stifling competition. Why? Because it’s the best at everything, with a stunning mix of road and track talent. It’s the most versatile sportsbike in existence and the first Sportsbike of the Year to regain its title without any significant changes.”

Since its introduction last year, the latest generation CBR1000RR Fireblade has come top in RiDE Magazine’s RiDER Power survey and taken the 2008 Metzeler National Superstock 1000 title in almost standard trim, as well as winning a host of other awards.

But it all should come as no surprise, as Honda’s astounding CBR1000RR Fireblade has been a winner in the showrooms and on the track since it first appeared back in 1992 in CBR900RR form. Over the last 17 years the machine has been constantly developed and further refined to give discerning sportsbike riders the ultimate race-replica for the road. This year’s CBR1000RR comes with an optional Combined ABS system, making it the first ever supersport machine to feature such technology to make riding a sports bike on the road even safer, while keeping the Blade’s performance edge sharp.

The Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade is available now from £9,221 (on the road) for the standard version, to £10,721 for the C-ABS-equipped machine.

For further information about any of Honda’s great range of scooters, off-road machine or road bikes, genuine parts, accessories, latest offer and forthcoming events, visit your local dealer whoncan be found using the ‘Dealer Search’ facility within the motorcycles section of honda.co.uk.