American Honda introduced its 2006 sportbike line-up during its dealer convention in Las Vegas, Nevada Wednesday. Leading the way is the CBR1000RR, which Honda claims has been given a boost in horsepower, a reduction in weight and sharper handling. The 998cc (75.0 x 56.5mm, bore x stroke) liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline four-cylinder engine gets a new combustion chamber shape (which increases the compression ratio from 11.9:1 to 12.2:1), new cylinder head porting, new intake valves (still 29.0mm, the exhaust valves also remain 24.0mm), double valve springs on the intake valves (versus single springs), a new intake camshaft, a higher redline, a less-restrictive ram air intake screen and a lighter, freer-flowing center-up exhaust system. Wheelbase has been shortened from 55.7 inches to 55.2 inches thanks, in part, to a decrease in the rake (from 23.8° to 23.45°) of the inverted 43mm HMAS/Showa forks. Trail has gone from 102mm to 100mm. The forks’ settings will be re-calibrated, and the linkage of the Showa/HMAS Pro-Link rear suspension has been changed. The twin-spar, aluminum alloy frame and aluminum swingarm remain the same, but the dual front brake rotors have grown from 310mm to 320mm in diameter. The close-ratio, six-speed, cassette-style transmission is also said to have received improvements. In addition to the exhaust system, weight has been reduced with a magnesium left engine cover, a new subframe and new bodywork. However, the dry weight of the revised, $11,299 (up from $10,999 in 2005) machine was not announced. The VFR800FI/VFR800FI ABS Interceptors’ engine management systems get new CPUs that engage the VTEC variable valve timing system (changing the 781cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90° V4 from two-valve to four-valve operation) at 6400 rpm instead of at 7000 rpm and with a smoother power transition, according to American Honda. The sport tourer also gets a host of cosmetic changes, including: clear turn signal lenses, a new face for the tachometer, a new finish for the under-seat mufflers and new colors. The big news for the CB600F6 “599” ($7399) is new, inverted 41mm Showa/HMAS forks (which come with a new triple clamp and steering stem) to improve handling and a new front fender, mini fairing, instrument cluster and gold finish on the brake calipers (front and rear) to complete the new look. The bike is still powered by a liquid-cooled, 599cc (65.0 x 45.2mm, bore x stroke; 12.0:1, compression ratio) inline, four-cylinder engine that breathes through 34mm flat-slide CV carburetors and a four-into-two-into-one high-mount exhaust system and is mounted as a fully-stressed member in a square-tube, mono-backbone frame. Honda calls its new, non-street-legal NSF100 the “ultimate road racing starter kit.” The mini-machine is powered by a 99cc (53.0 x 45.0mm, bore x stroke; 9.4:1, compression ratio), air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder engine that is claimed to produce 8.7 horsepower at 9500 rpm and 5.6 lbs.-ft. of torque at 7000 rpm. The NSF100 also features a five-speed transmission, a twin-spar frame, conventional forks, a box-section swingarm, an under-seat exhaust, 12-inch alloy wheels, disc brakes front and rear, a wheelbase of 42.15 inches and a “semi-dry” weight of 164.9 pounds. The NSF100 will be available by special order for $4999. Other models that were not significantly revised but that will return in 2006 include: RC51, CBR600RR, CBR600F4i, 919 and ST1300/ST1300 ABS.