04-04-2015, 10:24 PM
we have discussed this before but for the benefit of those new to the board. The bike was originally intended for Japanese home market. Japan has a domestic national speed limit of 180 kms or 112 mph and the bikes ECU was set up for that. ALL bikes sold in the Japanese market are so enabled. Even the Kaw Z1000. Even the new R1M Yamaha. It's their law.
Most mfgs use a different ECU for exported bikes but ALL motorcycles outside of Japan are electronically speed limited by the European agreement of 187 mph. The race is how fast they can get to 187 mph. There are 200 hp bikes, but there are not 200 mph bikes, even if the mfgs are capable of producing them.
Why Honda chose to ship this one outside the US with the Japanese Domestic limit of 180 kmh is anyone's guess, but my guess is the nature of the riders Honda was going to sell it to. Their targeted demographic. I can imagine a discussion where engineers said "are we going to de-restrict this bike?" And another said "why? old guys are going to buy it. If anyone wants to go faster, they can buy our CBR 1000 which will go 170 mph."
Most mfgs use a different ECU for exported bikes but ALL motorcycles outside of Japan are electronically speed limited by the European agreement of 187 mph. The race is how fast they can get to 187 mph. There are 200 hp bikes, but there are not 200 mph bikes, even if the mfgs are capable of producing them.
Why Honda chose to ship this one outside the US with the Japanese Domestic limit of 180 kmh is anyone's guess, but my guess is the nature of the riders Honda was going to sell it to. Their targeted demographic. I can imagine a discussion where engineers said "are we going to de-restrict this bike?" And another said "why? old guys are going to buy it. If anyone wants to go faster, they can buy our CBR 1000 which will go 170 mph."