In 2008, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Honda CBR600RR, a compact and powerful machine loaded with technology developed for Honda's racing program, such as Dual Stage Fuel Injection (DSFI) system, a Unit Pro-link rear suspension, a Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD), and many more features engineered to deliver top performance.
The bike featured the same specifications as the 2007 model, with a smaller, sharper-edged new front upper fairing dominated by a large central ram-air duct and a similarly sharper-edged tail section that featured a restyled under-seat muffler.
As a new feature on the 2008 model, Honda introduced a new braking system called Combined ABS (C-ABS), which integrated combined braking, anti-lock braking, and brake-by-wire systems. The new system was controlled by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that ensured the correct balance of front and rear brakes, delaying the engagement of the ABS until the last possible moment.
The suspension was carried unchanged from the 2007 model, with the same 41 mm inverted fork on the front and the Unit Pro-Link rear configuration, coupled with a set of lightweight three-spoke cast aluminum wheels that enhanced the suspension performance.
As for the power, the 2008 Honda CBR600RR had its heartbeat set by a compact 599cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 118 hp with maximum strength at 13,500 rpm and 66 Nm (49 lb-ft) of torque available at 11,250 rpm.