8/13/23
The very first sportbike in my garage was a 1996 Kawasaki ZX-7RR—a homologation special. I was only 19 and had just started working for Kawasaki. Keys for the preproduction 7RR model were tossed to me on my first week for “product familiarization.” For nine months I rode it every chance I got. It was gorgeous in a ’90s kind of way: sleek, very green, and very purple with massive ram-air intakes and bulging dual headlights. And right there on the tail inside the white number plate was the extra “R” that denoted it was something special. Just 500 of them were built with upgraded brakes, an adjustable swingarm pivot, an adjustable steering head, a close-ratio transmission, and flat-slide carbs. I loved the thing and it broke my heart to cut it up and dispose of it at the end of the year. Business must be done, and time marches on.
Homologation specials are built to supply a manufacturer's race teams with the best “stock” motorcycle possible, and a limited number of lucky owners get to benefit from the pursuit of race wins in their garage. And most break hearts when or if such specials leave those garages for good.
Recently our UK contributor, Adam Child, got a ride on BMW’s latest homologation special: the 2023 M 1000 RR. It’s got new slippery bodywork that also increases downforce at speed. Winglets are now a crucial part of any serious superbike—any sportbike, for that matter. But there’s much more to the beastly M 1000 RR, and it sounds like Child might have caught the same feelings I experienced 27 years ago. Check out his first ride for all the details.
Also, peruse some of our favorite homologation specials throughout the years below.
As always, there’s more than we can fit into this email. Check out cycleworld.com for additional tests, reviews, and news.
Ride on,
Justin Dawes
Executive Editor
