2020 Honda Fireblade SP

Smaller, revvier and more focussed, we ask whether the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP can still work where it matters

Is it still the do-it-all king?

BACK IN THE 90s and the noughties, superbikes sold in their droves. The Honda Fireblade was the most popular of them all — great value, easy to ride and normally, the most practical choice, it was a mainstay sportsbike.

Fast forward to now and the motorcycling landscape has changed. Riders have hung up their now slightlytoo-tight leathers and turned to something calmer and more comfortable. That’s left the race replicas to dedicated road riders and hedonistic trackdayers. With so few superbikes sold now, manufacturers have decided that they may as well go big and cram them with all the power and tech they can and to hell with the price tag.

The new Fireblade has done the biggest about turn. Last year’s Blade was the do-it-all superbike — as easy to ride around Brands Hatch as it was on a bacon-sarnie blast. Blades were light, grunty and flattering. Honda never chased the big bhp figures, because it was always plenty fast enough.

That’s all changed. The 2020 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is smaller, revvier, makes over 200bhp and costs almost as much as a Ducati Panigale V4 S. Its focus has shifted firmly to the track but what is it like on the road?