In 1992, Honda kicked off the CBR®-RR series of open-class motorcycles with the 1993 CBR900RR, much to the delight of big-bore sportbike aficionados. Since those early days, we’ve traveled 20 years down the road, and the latest generation CBR1000RR demonstrates that a concept that was once breathtakingly innovative and impressive has only grown more so over the ensuing decades.

Actually, “reinvents” probably is an overstatement; 95 percent of this motorcycle, the new-for-2013 F6B, has been in existence for well over a decade. “Redefines” might be a better word. That’s because the 5 percent that’s no longer there has made a world of difference, and not just in the bike’s name or intentions; the effect on its performance is a few clicks short of remarkable.

When Mitsuyoshi Kohama was designated Chief Designer of what would eventually become the new Honda CB1100, he set out to create a motorcycle in a very different way than most of us could imagine. For starters, this bike didn’t fit into any existing category. This was not to be a new generation of supersport bike or a more comfortable touring machine or a way-out cruiser. Instead, this would be something very different.

In the real world, success seldom shows up overnight. Instead, it’s typically a gradual process that moves forward slowly, propelled by bright ideas, a strong will and a commitment to work tirelessly. And while all of these traits may well hurry a person down a given path, there’s a larger question to be asked: What is the goal? That direction, that driving force begins with clear-minded vision—although with the truly great, it sometimes begins with a dream. Soichiro Honda possessed all of the above qualities, but perhaps most important of all, he had a dream.

Looking at the extensive lineup of Honda motorcycles, it’s obvious this company clearly understands what it means to have a passion for riding. The amazing variety of motorcycles Honda offers speaks volumes about its commitment to delivering excitement and fun in just about every riding niche imaginable. And now, add to those qualities one more priority: Exceptional value at an affordable price. That’s clearly evident in three fun, new and distinctly different packages ranging from the CBR500R, a nimble-handling middleweight sport bike, to the CB500F naked bike that delivers sporty perform