It's not very often that there is news you could exactly consider 'exciting' when it comes to the Honda CBR.  Every couple of years we get new designs or new features, most recently in the form of ABS, but we don't always get that sense of excitement.  However, today is a special day.  A day when we meet--and by we I mean me because I'm not quite in the loop as I used to be and that's pretty obvious given how late to the party I am on this one--the newest generation of CBR, the Honda CBR250R.

Equipped with a 250cc single-cylinder engine, fuel-injection, optional ABS and an estimated 77 MPG we don't have to talk this bike up.  It is available in two colors: black or red and silver.  The ABS model comes with a price tag of $4499 while the base model sits just shy of four Gs at $3999.

Head on over to Honda.com for the rest of the details on the new 2011 Honda CBR250R:
http://powersports.honda.com/2011/cbr250r.aspx


Photo credit: Honda.com

It's about that time of the year (again) where the new CBRs are revealed and we get all giddy like children on Christmas morning.  No major changes this year, next year we should see some major changes to the 600RR and minor changes for the 1000RR, but for now, just minor tweaks and new color options.  The 600RR will come in two new color codes, a black/orange as well as a new decal theme replacing the Phoenix.  The 1000RR will be available in a red/black as well as an orange/silver.  Hit the jump after the article for more details from Honda.com.




Photo Credits: Honda.com

From Honda.com:

What do you call a middleweight machine that's scooped up virtually every Best in Class crown from industry experts, not to mention World Supersport and AMA FX titles? Easy: the Honda CBR600RR. Or, as Cycle World magazine hailed it in naming the CBR600RR its Best Middleweight of 2009: “The benchmark is set. Again.”

Honda's tradition of winning continues for 2010, as the CBR600RR returns with its unbeatable combination of MotoGP-bred tech, power, light weight, and handling, highlighted by Honda's revolutionary Combined Anti-Lock Braking System (C-ABS), the first ever on a production supersport motorcycle. And with three trick new color schemes to choose from, you'll not only be on the best 600-class sportbike going, you'll also be on the best-looking machine as well.

The 2010 CBR600RR. Domination is in its DNA.

2010 CBR600RR
2010 CBR600RR Specifications
Options & Colors

2010 CBR1000RR
2010 CBR1000RR Specifications
Options & Colors

Earlier this week, Honda made an announcement that they will be withdrawing factory support from AMA Road Racing.  This comes as a shock after not more than a week ago they made a statement that they were not planning to pull support from other motorsports after announcing they were dropping Formula 1 support.  In their press release, Honda stated:

"The primary factor contributing to this decision is the current global economic situation and its impact on Honda. This was an extremely difficult decision to make as the racing spirit reaches to the very core of Honda.  While it is unfortunate that the current economic conditions led us to take this action, rest assured that Honda¹s deep-seated passion for racing has not been, and will never be, diminished."

Fortunately, The Erion Honda Racing and Corona Honda Racing teams will continue to receive support from Honda for at least the 2009 season.  The move will not affect Supercross or Motocross.  This just leaves us wondering one thing, what is to happen to already contracted rider Neil Hodgson for the 2009 AMA Road Racing season?

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/14/honda-pulls-out-of-ama-roadracing/

A Japanese news station, Mainichi, is reporting that Honda is in the works of producing a hybrid motorcycle due on the market in 2011.  The Japanese manufacturer is confident they can shrink their hybrid engines enough to fit into a motorcycle frame.  The new bikes will be available in displacements of 200-1000cc and are expected to achieve 50 percent better fuel efficiency.  Honda is also going to produce a line of smaller electric scooters with an engine size of 50-125cc.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20080927p2a00m0na020000c.html