2012 Honda CBR1000RR unveiled

One of the perennial litre-class favourites, Honda's popular CBR1000RR has been given a mild update for the 2012 model year, boasting a subtle new front end redesign and a couple of mechanical tweaks - but no power increase.

Some litre class superbikes are pushing close to (and even eclipsing) the 200hp barrier but the Honda CBR1000RR appears to make do with its 153hp (112kW) and 106Nm output. Japanese manufacturing has been hit hard by unfavourable economic conditions in the past couple of years and the tsunami/earthquake natural disasters of early 2011 have also hampered the country's economy, so it's more likely we'll get an updated engine in the next couple of years.

Minor changes to the fuel injection mapping have been made, designed to deliver "more linear response, particularly at smaller throttle openings."

Scheduled for sale in Australia in late 2011, Honda has not released pricing on the new Fireblade but it's expected to remain at around its current $17,990 price.

The most obvious changes to the bike are cosmetic, which we first saw when Honda's Asian offices leaked the Honda CBR1000RR earlier in the year, with a new look front cowl that gives the superbike a touch more aggression.

This updated 'face' features an angular motif with a redesigned headlight cluster and sharply styled ram air intakes, the latter almost appearing like fangs which should appeal to the vampiric riders out there. The fairings have also been reworked and stay true to the angular redesign, and plenty of plastic has been removed, showing off more of the bike's frame and engine. This design cue is also said to improve the engine's thermal dynamics.

Honda it has also fitted an integrated chin spoiler in the nose, which is supposed to reduce lift and improve high speed handling characteristics.

Overall it's a more aggressive looking motorcycle and in combination with a new race-inspired LCD instrument display with lap timer, shift indicator and four different tacho readout styles, the Fireblade has a suitably more modern look and feel than its predecessor.

Mechanically the '12 CBR1000RR will retain the engine/gearbox combo of its predecessor, a 153hp (112kW), 106Nm proposition that may not be the most powerful in its class, but is widely regarded as one of the most intuitive. It's also yet to match the likes of the new Yamaha R1 and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R which both feature traction control. Tweaks to the ABS are designed to improve track work, says Honda.

What advances Honda has brought to the table, however, should increase the Fireblade's dexterity.

New 43mm Showa Big Piston Forks (BPF) are fitted to the bike's front end, which should give the bike more stability under heavy braking. The BPFs take advantage of a simpler, more effective design, one that is used in MotoGP bikes. The forks also provide better feedback to the rider and are lighter, due to fewer internal parts.

Unsprung weight has been reduced further with the addition of the new 12-spoke cast aluminum wheels, which are said to "provide more consistent rigidity".

The rear end suspension has also been given some love, with a new 'Balance-Free Rear Shock'. The new Showa unit Pro-Link system "incorporates a unique double-tube design" according to the Japanese company. This updated shock features a damper case with an internal cylinder "for more responsive damping and a smoother, better-controlled damping action" says the bike maker.

The colour palette for the new 2012 Honda CBR1000RR include Red, Pearl White/Blue/Red, and Black.

What do you think of the new Fireblade - should Honda have done something a little more special for the bike's 20th anniversary? Leave a comment below.