Australian Road Rider — August 2017

levels (1=Sport : 5 = Comfort), three levels of

engine braking (1 being the least and 3 the

most) and three rider modes (Track, Winding

and Street) with a further two custom modes

that you can program yourself.

Another key component of this “artifi cial

intelligence” loop is Bosch’s inertial

measurement unit (IMU), which is really just

a high-tech gyro about half the size of your

mobile phone that resides under the seat unit.

It adds another dimension of data for the ECU

to digest that really amplifi es the potential

for traction control, electronic suspension

units (only available on the SP model — see

breakout) and ABS braking systems. As the

bike moves from side to side while cornering,

or back and forward under acceleration and

braking forces, the IMU measures the angle

of trajectory on fi ve planes of motion (X, Y,

Z, roll and pitch) and this data is then cross-

referenced with information coming from the

r The new CBR1000RR has been comprehensively overhauled and retains only 10 per cent of components from the outgoing model.

36 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER

LAUNCH REPORT: HONDA CBR1000RR FIREBLADE

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