Anyone else ever wonder what CBR stands for? Or how about YZ, ZX, or GSX? In adition to my F4 I, I also own a WR250, WR for wide ratio, ok got that one. Ok and F4 I, I for injected, but how about the F. I get the 4, forth bike in the F serries. Just a stupid question by a self proclaimed idiot. Would like to know if anyone has any idea.

 

...ive wondered that too...
GSX? WTF?

 

from my understanding:

Honda:
CB= "city bike"
R="race"
F=series name w/1-4 & 4i (fuel injection)
VFR= V-4 racing
RC= Racing Chassis (although the RC51 was actually developed by the street side of Honda, not HRC like the previous RC models)
the RVT= Racing V-Twin

Suzuki:

GS= Grand Sport (originally meant for "standard" motorcycles but adopted to apply to Suzuki road legal motorcycles)
X-R= Experimental - Racing
so GS + X-R = Street legal high tech race replica

Yamaha:
Y = Yamaha
Z= Racing
F = Four stroke

R = Series
6 = 600cc
1 = 1000cc

Kawasaki:

Kawi quit using logic for their names a long time ago
as far as I can tell Z means road bike and R means race replica. It appears the X just designates the latest sportbikes.
So ZX-6R would be their latest greatest street legal race replica 600, while the ZZR-600 is more road than race and not as current

 

Acronyms they are most likely not. Both series started out as model designations, CB, GS, etc. Then new technology arrives and demands new monikers to make it more exciting while retaining family names: GSX, CBR. And then the world went 'R' crazy: GSX-R, CBR-RR, R-1, ZX-R.

It's possible, of course, that the original letters stood for something, maybe Soichiro had a pet emu named Chichi Bobo Ramirez, or it could have been boring like 'Clean Burning', say in comparison to all the dirty American gas guzzlers of the time, who knows.

Ferrari does it best, nearly always referring to the motor--the heart and soul of a car--with model names. Yes, I'll take an F430 please. And a 599. And while you're at it, a 360 Spyder and we'll call it even. Thank you.

 

C ool C aution C hick
B ike B rakes B ra
R ider R emoved R emover

C an't C ute
B e B itch
R etarded R eactor

These are the two common ones though
C ity C losed
B ike B ody
R acing R acer (cause of the farings)

 

I've heard the "Closed Body Racer" before but the problem is bikes like the CB750 that aren't "closed body"

also the "City Bike" designation was confirmed with Honda in Europe

 

So it's just coincidence that the off-road models have 'C' too? Obviously it wouldn't refer to 'city', but maybe the chicken came before the egg and they decided to keep the family name. Ha! CityRancher250? CowRangler125? Hahaha!

 

Interesting. I've always understood the R generally means race which is why a bike with a "R" in it is expensive on insurance.

I'd be interested in hearing acronyms that are funny. Don't have any good examples but here's a try...
GSXR - Get Squids Cross Roads
GSXR - Give a Squid an XRay
YZFR - Yank Zoom Fall Redo (Wheelie joke)
CBR - Can't Beat Resale
etc.

 

VFR= V-4 racing



Mmmmmmm..........I like that.

 

Not this again...........[8D]

CB is the designation for inline 4-cylinder engines.

R is the designation that it's a race or performance series.

RR stands for "Race Ready" or "Race Replica"