Is the 2024 Honda CBR600RR Destined for the American Market?
The Honda CBR600RR has been completely unchanged in the American market since 2013. Let that sink in. That’s a full decade without even the slightest change besides fairing colors, and even those have been staying the same for multiple years in a row. As an avid CBR600RR fan, owner, and general middleweight class fan, it’s been hard to watch the segment go through a slow death over the past few years. Kawasaki’s new ZX-6R was a welcome breath of fresh air. The frustrating fact about Honda though is that we’ve known about an updated CBR600RR for a few years, it’s been exclusive to Japan, Australia, and Thailand since 2020. Due to that model floating around, I never fully lost hope for an updated CBR600RR eventually joining my paddock, and now with the recent news of a EURO 5 approved model heading back to the European market after a six year hiatus, I have renewed faith. We are just waiting on official word from Honda North America that the CBR600RR, along with all of the other updated CBR’s, is actually coming to the United States market.
The new CBR600RR isn’t just a facelift like the 2013 update - no there are some serious upgrades that make it compliant to stricter regulations while still providing more power, as well as a full host of modern upgrades.
Honda has loaded the 2024 CBR600RR with cutting-edge MotoGP-inspired electronics and aerodynamics. It’s free-revving four-cylinder engine has received substantial upgrades compared to its predecessor, delivering peak power of 89kW at 14,250rpm and 63Nm of torque at 11,500rpm.
According to Honda, the team at HRC went over every single component of the CBR600RR to analyze it for component weight reduction possibilities and overall package performance upgrades. The amount of attention that Honda and HRC has put towards the 600 should signal to the market that the middleweight class isn’t done just yet.
The first thing you’ll notice when looking at the updated CBR600RR is the new bodywork on the front and sides of the CBR600RR. Each design line seems to be taking design cues from the CBR1000RR-R and bringing it more in-line with the current Honda CBR aesthiec. It’s not just for aesthetics though; the new design decreases drag coefficient to the lowest in the middleweight class at just 0.555 with a rider in a full race tuck. It’s hard not to notice the winglets, which seem a bit superfluous on a 600cc inline four, but Honda stresses that they are not just for increasing load on the front tire, but also add to general stability of the bike as it carves through the corners. I know many scoff at the winglets, but the 600RR can reach speeds above 140 MPH, and any additional help to stabilize the bike as it cuts through the air is much appreciated at those types of speeds.
The fuel tank has also been slimmed down and lowered to allow the rider to tuck into the bubble more effectively, while still maintaining ample knee anchoring space for those hard breaking zones and deep lean angles.
Agility has always been one of the keys to success of the CBR lineup, and thankfully Honda is still packing the 600RR in the famous twin-spar aluminum frame with a lightened aluminum swingarm. Suspension is handled by Showa 41mm Big Piston USD forks up front, and Unit Pro-Link Showa rear shock in the back.
Riders also get a much needed electronics package featuring the same 6-axis IMU found on the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. The ride by wire system enables 5 riding modes that allow the rider to customize power delivery. You’ll also receive cornering ABS, 9-levels Honda Selectable Torque Control, Wheelie Control, Rear Lift Control, Honda’s Electronic Steering Damper, slipper clutch, and standard-equipped quick shifter that enables clutches up and down shifts with auto-blipping.
The full host of upgrades proves that Honda isn’t taking this update lightly, and the Euro 5 compliance should mean that availability spreads further, particularly to North American shores.
We’ve reached out to Honda for a comment, but have been unable to get a response.
UPDATE: Honda North America has made their decision. Click here to read our article on the update.
