Over the last 16 years since its 1987 introduction, the CBR600F has maintained the greatest balance in race technology and street comfort. The CBR600F has always held the 'middle-ground' of combining comfort and proven race winning performance. The CBR600F class is renowned for its reliability, comfort, responsiveness and performance both on and off the track.
With
the introduction of the 2003 CBR600RR, Honda is reported to have left the
'middle-ground' behind in seeking the podium world-wide. The RR is
completely redesigned with the sole emphasis in being #1 across the finish
line. Built with numerous characteristics and advancements bred into the
literally untouchable RC211V, the CBR600RR will undoubtedly be found in
winner's circles everywhere.
Honda reports: "they set out to create an entirely new middleweight class machine designed to meet the hyper performance requirements of the more focused competitive end of the class spectrum, while leaving the CBR600F to continue in its traditional role."
That being said, one is left to wonder will there be an F5 to replace the F4i in the future???
From the reading I have done, Honda spent a great deal of
time doing wind-tunnel testing to ensure the most stabile, aerodynamic machine
available.
The sleek, narrow design of the front end allows for the RR to punch through the air with far less resistance than its predecessors. The attained goal is a major increase in cornering clearance and banking angle. This was achieved through a significantly narrower engine, which has provided an additional 3° increase in bank angles for each side, while ensuring more than ample cornering clearance at all-out racing speeds.
The
sleek, new 'ducati-esque' under-tail exhaust is not only an eye catcher, it
also plays an important part in reducing overall width (thus increasing
aerodynamic efficiency) and increasing cornering clearance.
The days of worrying about dragging the exhaust can are but a memory...
The newly designed 4-2-1 under-tail exhaust is perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the new 2003 Honda CBR600RR.
With
the CBR600RR and the CBR600F4i in the line-up for '03, Honda has aimed both
barrels at the middleweight class. The new CBR600RR is a masterpiece of
technological innovation, designed to supplement the wildly popular CBR600F4i.
The CBR600RR borrows heavily from Honda's very latest racing technology, in
the form of the V-5, RC211V that has practically worn a hole atop the MotoGP
winner's podium.