Honda has given its supersports weapon subtle tweaks for 2009, designed to give it more mid-range oomph and a smoother power delivery. New pistons, cylinder head and exhaust system have bolstered torque between 6000-10,000rpm, which makes the engine more flexible on the road. Luckily for us, this has been done without sacrificing any top-end power. The big news, though, is the optional electronically-controlled Combined ABS system, which is a world-first for a supersports machine. A new-style bellypan now covers the whole engine and the C-ABS valve unit for the front brake.
The C-ABS version doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of riding MCN’s supersport 2008 machine of the year, and it feels just the same to ride as the standard Honda CBR600RR, even on the track. The C-ABS stays in the background until you get into a difficult braking situation, then the ‘brake-by-wire’ kicks in and will save your bacon, so sportsbike purists need not worry about the system getting it the way.

Honda didn’t really need to tweak the 107bhp, in-line-four-cylinder 599cc motor as it’s a gem in the first place, with a powerful, screaming top-end and a decent dollop of mid-range. The engine is especially effective at delivering incredible performance, thanks to the Honda’s lack of all-up weight (it’s the lightest of all the 600s). The Honda CBR600RR’s motor is already more flexible than the ’08 Kawasaki ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R600 K8 and ’08 Yamaha R6, but the tweaks to the engine and exhaust have made it even nicer to live with

There are no changes to the 2009 Honda CBR600RR’s chassis: this is no bad thing as, like the engine, it’s class-leading. Stability in a straight line and through the corners is absolute, the suspension action and control is as fluid as pukka race kit and the standard model’s brakes are full of feel and power. This is a machine that loads you with confidence and flatters your riding like a Ducati 1098R. Honda’s optional electronically-controlled Combined ABS system is a thing of genius. In normal conditions the CBR works the same as a conventional machine, but in an emergency it takes over and stops the wheels from locking. It also distributes the braking between front and rear calipers to give maximum stability in all conditions.

The Honda CBR600RR comes with everything you need to hammer round the racetrack, including radial brakes, fully-adjustable suspension and an electronically-controlled, speed-sensitive steering damper. The only toy it’s missing is a slipper clutch. Add the C-ABS into the mix and it’s the complete package.

The CBR600RR is as rugged as a Tonka toy and built with the breathtaking precision of the finest Swiss watch. The build quality is superb, and the paint finish deep and flawless.

This is a lot of beautifully-built, high-performance machine for your money and worth every penny. The C-ABS system adds another grand or so to the price, but when you know it could save your life, can you afford not to have it

Top speed  165mph
1/4-mile acceleration  10.92 secs
Power 107bhp
Torque 44.6ftlb
Weight 194kg
Seat height 820mm
Fuel capacity 18 litres
Average fuel consumption 32mpg
Tank range  127 miles
Insurance group 15
Engine size 599cc
Engine specification 16-valve, in-line-four
Frame Aluminium twin-spar
Front suspension adjustment Fully-adjustable
Rear suspension adjustment Fully-adjustable
Front brakes 2 x 310mm discs
Rear brake 220mm disc
Front tyre size 120/70 17 in
Rear tyre size 180/55 17 in