2009 Honda CBR600RR - ABS

The 2009 CBR600 is also being offered with optional cABS and Honda had this to say on the subject in their press release.

"Electronically-Controlled Combined ABS The demands of a braking system for a Super Sport machine are different and more exacting than those of a more conventional road-going motorcycle.

Brakes on a road-going machine will most often be used only to a moderate level of intensity, with maximum braking reserved for emergency situations or perhaps very occasional fast rides. In these circumstances a Combined ABS system can be designed to deal with extreme braking as an emergency, rather than as a regular occurrence. The upshot of this is that Combined ABS on a road-based machine can be relatively intrusive to the rider - because in theory they will only use it in an emergency situation and will not mind.

The story is very different for a Super Sports machine, where extreme braking can be considered as one of the bikes regular performance requirements. A system that was insensitive or became invasive whenever a rider neared the upper limits of braking performance would be unsatisfactory. In short, for a Super Sports machine, a Combined ABS system must allow the rider to brake very close to the limit before activating, and when it does, the reduction in braking force must be very smooth in order not to unsettle the machine, or rider.It is for this reason, along with the possibility of adding weight, that Combined ABS has not been fitted to sports machines.

Until now, that is.

In addition the extreme pitching forward of weight under braking, which enhances the braking ability of the front wheel while reducing traction from the rear, calls for a very subtle and advanced system in order to provide an acceptable level of performance from a Super Sport braking system.Hondas new electronically-controlled Combined ABS provides just this level of performance. In exhaustive testing, both on the road and racetrack, development riders have found that the system exceeds their demands and out-performs the riders ability to brake on most occasions.

An average (non-expert) rider using a conventional braking system needs several braking attempts to attain braking performance approaching that of the Combined ABS. An expert rider using a conventional system will need fewer attempts to reach a similar level. However, only in an example such as a racetrack situation, where an expert rider repeatedly brakes into the same corner was it found that the tester could outperform the Combined ABS.The confidence benefits are tremendous for riders of all skill levels, especially on public roads, where riding circumstances differ vastly"