Honda Australia PR:

Last year, Honda’s Championship winning CBR1000RR Fireblade laid claim to just about every prestigious award in the country. 2009 is a new year against new bikes, but the accolades just keep coming for one of the world’s most loved machines.

The manufacturer has now defeated six of the world’s most credentialled Superbikes to take out Australian Motorcycle News Magazine’s (AMCN) Australia’s Ultimate Sportsbike Test (AUSTest) for the second year running.

The CBR1000RR once again won the country’s most esteemed test after being pitted against four all-new bikes to the category, indicating what many believe to be the sheer perfection of Honda’s current model.

To even the stakes, AMCN incorporated control tyres (Bridgestone BT-003 Racing Street) as well as dyno testing to compare engine characteristics.

In regard to the Fireblade’s overall performance, the judges agreed. “Remaining the same as last year’s bike, the Blade continues to excel as an overall package and topped the rider survey in the gearbox operation, clutch actuation, fork, turn-in, mid-corner and comfort sectors, on its way to topping the survey overall.”

“Handling is undoubtedly the CBR1000RR’s strong point, with riders throughout the survey raving about the bike’s turning characteristics and its drive off the corners.”

“We said it last year and will repeat it again – the Fireblade has redefined the superbike class on the racetrack, but it is just as good in the high-paced company of its peers in the real world, proving easy to ride but outright quickest when the stopwatch is ticking.”

The Fireblade also holds the current trophy for AMCN’s Superbike and Motorcycle of the Year, Reader’s Choice award, Two Wheels Magazine’s Bike of the Year award, Rapid magazine’s Ultimate Sportsbike Shootout, and International Bike of the Year.

The 2009 version of the CBR1000RR is also available with ABS braking.