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Honda’s CBR, CB, RR And RS - The Meaning And The History Behind The Names
Honda began their production in Hamamatsu, Japan, in 1948, as a small auxiliary engine manufacturer for bicycles. In 1954, Honda decided to compete in motorsports. 5 years later, Honda competed in their first Isle of Man TT race. 2 years later (1961), Honda claimed the top 5 spots in the 125cc and 250cc categories.
Taking advantage of its motorsport success, Honda decided to expand its lineup to cruiser motorcycles, sports bikes, ADV bikes, commuters, and scooters. Honda came up with a few brand names for its motorcycle lineup to differentiate between the various types - CBR, CB, RR, and RS. Here's the story behind those nameplates...
CBR: Cross-Beam Racer
CBR refers to performance motorcycles manufactured by Honda. CBR when expanded is either Cross-Beam Racer or City Bike Racer - a topic that's been debated for years.
According to Dan Hancock, a member of the Honda R&D team, CBR stands for Cross-Beam Racer. Hancock's statement makes any term used for CBR invalid, including City Bike Racer.
Hancock's reasoning behind the name CBR was the placement of the 4-cylinders across the various beams of the frame. While CBRs are known for their inline-4 engines, in India, the term reminds people about the 150cc and 250cc motorcycles that were on sale.
CB: City Bikes or Comfort Bikes?
CB stands for City Bike, or does it? Here we come to another one of Honda's abbreviations, which is often disputed.
Honda's CB models are focused on comfort and a peaceful ride rather than sportiness and an aggressive seating position. CBs are used as commuters, travelling to and from work comfortably in the hustle and bustle of the city. So, if you're in the group that feels CB is short for City Bike, practically speaking, you are correct.
C, CA, CB - what do you think these mean? These are all nothing but categories of Honda bikes from the past. Starting with the C-series bikes, Honda released the C70 Passport, Super Sub C65 and more. After this, the Japanese brand switched to the CA series - CA71, CA100 and more. Honda then transitioned to the CB series. So, this ends the debate of what CB stands for.
RR: Rebel Racers
Coming to the sportiest side of Honda, we have the RR moniker which is short for Race Replica. Honda's RR bikes are inspired and based on the brand's racing motorcycles. A prime example of this would be the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP which competes in the World SBK Series.
The main idea for the WSBK Series is to use factory bikes and tweak them to produce peak performance on track. Those who are looking for an actual race replica motorcycle have to put down a sum of around 5 million Euros! Trying to fathom that amount seems unreal!
In most cases, these bikes are not sold or auctioned out to the public as it is a massive part of the brand's racing heritage and technology.
RS: Race Sport or Road Sailing?
The RS is an India-specific Honda nameplate which came into existence with the CB350RS. The RS stands for Road Sailing signifying the comfortable ride of the motorcycle. However, RS is generally known as Race/Rally/Road Sport.
The RS, in this case, is sportier than the CB it is based on. But, it is also designed for ideal comfort. Not only for the rider but also for the pillion, on long journeys or while traversing the urban jungle.
Thoughts About Honda's CBR, CB, RR And RS Nameplate
Honda's motorsport success introduced the world to the CBR and then the RR lineup. However, the CB and the RS lineups showed us Honda hasn't forgotten about the comfort of the ride. With these four famous nameplates, Honda caters to every section of the riding community. Honda is one of the most prestigious vehicle manufacturers in the global market delivering products of superior quality and make.
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