Reflecting decades of advancement and refinement, the newest CBR600RR has been substantially redesigned for 2013. Major changes include a redesigned, centrally mounted ram-air system and other enhancements to produce stronger mid-range engine output for an elevated level of street performance, a brand-new front suspension featuring Honda’s 41mm Big Piston Fork for exceptional handling and supple action, plus all-new MotoGP-inspired bodywork that’s a product of race-tested aerodynamic design. Such improvements are very much in keeping with a decades-long legacy of ongoing evolution of the terrifically popular Honda CBR600.

It all began back in 1987, when the Honda Hurricane® 600 swept across the sport bike landscape, blowing away every other machine in the middleweight class. This first CBR600, a truly revolutionary machine, instantly elevated class standards to unseen heights, establishing performance credentials so impressive they would remain firmly entrenched as bedrock benchmarks.

How effective was this first CBR600F? In 1987 the 600 SuperSport class also made its debut on tracks all around America, and the CBR600F won all nine races that year—a clean sweep. The next quarter century would see ongoing technical innovations as the CBR600 evolved, and each successive iteration continued to garner impressive magazine reviews, sales figures and racing results the world over.

Today the 2013 CBR600RR extends this model’s impeccable reputation for full-on performance as its extensive redesign keeps this bike right in the forefront of the middleweight sport bike ranks. Through the years, ongoing changes have continued to elevate the performance envelope for the Honda CBR600, but one thing has remained constant: This is a sport bike that leads the way, whether you’re at the track or just out for a fun afternoon ride on your favorite backroads.