Why these two?

When it comes to bang for your buck and proven race-winning performance, few machines can outpace the litre bikes from two of Japan’s big four. Both have built a cult following.  The 2016 Honda CBR1000RR and 2016 Suzuki GSX-R1000 go head to head.

2016 Honda CBR1000RR

Known also as a Honda FireBlade, Fireblade and simply just a Blade, it’s a world conquering superbike and in many ways the quintessential Honda. From the 1992 CBR900RR, the Blade has slowly and meticulously been refined over three decades to evolve into a machine that still has the ability to win WSBK races despite a complete lack of electronic riding aids. ABS is as hi-tech as the Blade gets, and for many that’s what they love about it. When Tadao Baba, the man regarded as the father of the sportsbike, retired from Honda in 2004, the name FireBlade was changed to Fireblade.

What it’s got

The Honda’s CBR1000RR is powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, transverse four-cylinder 999cc, fuel-injected engine with DOHC and four valves per cylinder. Power runs through a six-speed constant mesh gearbox. The front suspension is a 43mm inverted BPF with preload, compression and rebound damping adjustment, and 110mm of travel. The rear has a Pro-Link monoshock adjustable for preload, rebound and compression, with 138mm of travel. Front braking is handled by two 320mm discs clamped by four-piston calipers with combined ABS optional. The 220mm disc at the rear is clamped by a single-piston caliper. Fuel Capacity is 17.5 litres

Geometry

Frame: Aluminium twin spar. Rake: 23.3°.

Trail: 96.2mm. Wheelbase: 1407mm. Seat height: 817mm. Weight: 199kg (wet). Wheels: six-spoke cast alloy (17-inch front and rear).

Performance

Power: 133kW @ 12,250rpm

Torque: 114 Nm @ 10,500rpm

Compression Ratio: 12.3:1

Bore and stroke: 76mm x 55.1mm

Top speed: 299km/h (limited)

Standing ¼ mile: 10.1 seconds

Fuel consumption: 5.72L/100km

Price

$17,999 (+ ORC)

2016 Suzuki GSX-R1000

Compared to Suzuki’s GSX-R750 – which has had an unbroken, three-decade production run since its release in 1985 – the GSX-R1000 is a relative baby. Released at the start of the new millennium to replace the GSX-R1100, the litre version was designed to comply with the new WSBK rules which from 2004 allowed an increased capacity from 750cc to 1000cc for four cylinder sportsbikes. The move worked for Suzuki which claimed its first WSBK title in 2005 courtesy of Aussie rider Troy Corser.

Since then the big Gixxer has remained a favourite, evolving from the K1 to the K8 model.

What it’s got

The Suzuki GSX-R1000 is powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, transverse four-cylinder 999cc, fuel injected engine with DOHC and four valves per cylinder. Power runs through a six-speed constant mesh gearbox. The front suspension is a Showa 43mm cartridge type inverted BPF with 125mm of travel. The rear is a link type monoshock with a Showa monoshock fully adjustable for preload and rebound damping with 130mm of travel. Braking is handled by twin 310mm discs clamped by four-piston Brembo radial-mount monobloc calipers with ABS. The 220mm disc at the rear has a Nissin single-piston caliper. The fuel tank holds 17.5 litres

Geometry
Frame: Aluminium twin spar. Rake: 24°.Trail: 98mm. Wheelbase: 1405mm. Seat height: 810mm. Weight: 205kg (wet). Wheels: Three-spoke cast alloy (17-inch front and rear).

Performance

Power: 131.6 kW @ 12, 000rpm

Torque: 117 Nm @ 10,000rpm

Compression Ratio: 12.9:1

Bore and stroke: 74.5mm x 57.3mm

Top speed: 299 km/h (limited)

Standing ¼ mile: 10.3 seconds

Fuel consumption: 5.54L/100km

Price

$17,490 (+ ORC)

Did you know?

The 2005 K5 and K6 GSX-R1000 are two of the most sought after models.  Subsequent evolutions are heavier and develop a lower power-to-weight ratio.