Honda Fireblade SP2 first ride incoming

We’re riding Honda’s controversial new £22,225 CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 on Monday. 

Honda are producing just 500 of these tasty homologation specials and only 39 will be making their way into the UK. This special Blade forms the basis of the Japanese firm’s WSB, BSB, World Endurance and TT racers…but they haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory so far this year. 

But as we all know race bike chassis parts, electronics, gearboxes and engine tuning are a world away from a road bike, so we’re excited to be finally throwing a leg over this rare machine. 

Based on the lightweight, electronic Ohlins-clad Fireblade SP (MCN’s 2017 superbike group test winner), the SP2 shares the SP’s basic engine layout, chassis, electronics and suspension, but comes with extra goodies tailored for racing. 

Lightweight Marchesini wheels and a red, white and blue paintjob are the main visual difference from the SP, but under the skin the SP2 has a host of top end engine tweaks. 

It has revised shape and angle intake valves (1mm bigger) and exhaust valves (1.5mm bigger), stronger pistons, elongated spark plugs and like the RCV213V race bike, a new water jacket wrapped around the new-shape combustion chambers. Like the current ZX-10RR the cylinder head is designed to take high-lift cams, but isn’t fitted with them.

We’ll be on our social media channels on Monday to give you our first impressions and you’ll be able to read the full test in MCN on Wednesday 13 September.