Honda waves the wand over the 2007 CBR600RR

The new CBR600RR’s stunning bodywork sets a new precedent in Super Sports design with a large gap of separation visible between the front upper cowl and the fairing’s side cowls. This design innovation is based on air management design borrowed from the wings and fins used on both fighter planes and Formula One racers to more efficiently direct air around and through its more compact form while giving visual expression to the aerodynamic functionality of its wind tunnel-tested fins.

Improved Mass Centralisation

Exceptional efforts made in the quest for improved mass centralisation and lighter weight at the CBR’s extremities led to significant reductions in size and weight of nearly all the motorcycle’s main components, from its new front cowl to its lighter and more compact centre-up exhaust silencer and surrounding seat cowl.

For a start, the shape of the front upper cowl is now more compact, with its nose and surrounding form repositioned 30mm rearward and closer to the steering head for reduced inertial influence on turning and cornering response. The new lower cowl has also been made more compact, and now more closely surrounds the exhaust headers reaching down under the engine to direct airflow for more effective cooling while visually emphasising the CBR’s improved aerodynamics. This slimmer form also extends to the radiator, which is now 40mm narrower in width and 33mm longer in height for more compact proportions while maintaining its excellent cooling capacity.

The rear seat cowl was also significantly reduced in size and slimmed in shape for a more compact form and reduced mass at the bike’s extremities, which combines with the shorter, more compact exhaust silencer to make a major contribution to swifter, more responsive handling. In fact, the seat cowl is now so small in size that it seems to be merely resting atop the silencer for a lighter and more compact integrated look.

New Ram Air Induction System

Another important part of the new CBR600RR’s aerodynamic design is its effect on the engine’s power production, as can be seen in the middle of the front cowl, which is now highlighted by an impressively large air intake port built right into its nose, precisely where the pressure of air hitting the front cowl’s nose at speed is at its strongest. Modelled on the system developed for the World Superbike-winning VTR1000 SP-2, this new port feeds directly through the new frame’s open steering head casting to the CBR’s larger-volume airbox. This new ram air system provides a direct, unimpeded flow of high volumes of cool, dense air to the intake tracts at high speeds, for a strong surge of torque-filled performance that tears up the twisties and dominates the track.

Positioned between this prominent port and the steering head is a large and very strong FRP intake port extension that has been made structurally strong enough to support the entire front cowl and its associated components, including its lightweight Line Beam headlights.

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