Blades – I’ve owned/had/used a lot of them over the last 25 or so years. And this model is one of the best – if not THE best, but I have a caveat when I say this, more of which later.
2021 marks this machine’s 17th birthday: check out the fresh looks? Yes, I know many of you/us are into 1970s bikes, or 1980s or you shade into the 1990s, and while I know that this is a decidedly modern machine, we here at Classic Motorcycle Mechanics follow the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club’s 15 year or older rule… so she’s a keeper…
So, let’s talk Honda FireBlade history. Back in 1992 the original 893cc machine was launched and it was constantly refined, through 1994-5, 1996-97 and 1998-1999. These sub-1000cc versions used powerplants of 893-918cc and went from being a wild sports machine of motorcycling with a twitchy 16-inch front-end to a softer, more gentle option compared to 1998’s Yamaha YZF-R1…
For the new millennium the CBR900RR-1/Y version had a 929cc motor with fuel injection, inverted front forks (for the first time), 17-inch wheels front and rear (at last) and a semi-pivotless frame. 2002 saw the 954cc machine released and, while it’s still a massive modern classic and one of the best road-going sports bikes ever developed, it was losing out on sheer grunt to the likes of the R1 and the new-for-2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Therefore it wasn’t until 2004 that Honda decided it needed a full ‘litre’ Fireblade. Yes, we’ve dropped the capital ‘B’ in the middle in honour of Tadao Baba (the capital ‘B’) in Fireblade as he retired when his work was done on the 954.
Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Honda VFR750R - RC30
If there’s a more worshipped V4 out there, we’ve yet to see it: welcome to our reboot of the awesome VFR750R RC30…
Mountain tension!
Award-winning motorcycle engineer!
Fazer set to STUN!
What do you get when you mix CRK’s lovely café racer kit to Yamaha’s budget middleweight and the recently-retired Martin Fox? Well, one helluva foxy Fazer!
Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!
This month, while we wait for backorder engine parts, we strip the chassis back to the bare frame, assess what is needed and plan the reassembly…
Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!
For the best finish on his Z900’s motor Ralph wants the best, so he visits Stephen Smethurst Casting Renovation to find out how it’s done properly.
Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!
We’re getting down into the nitty-gritty this time with component testing and loom building. What could go wrong?
Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…
Only The Beach Boys had good vibrations… so what’s Mark been up to, to sort out the bad ones coming from his TX750?
Splitting links
Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.
STAVROS: PRINCE OF PRANKSTERS!
It’s probably fair to say that Stephen JamesParrish’s persona and overall levity throughout his life have muddied the waters as to just how good a bike racer he was back in the day.
Metal magic!
Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox co uk so he knows what works.. .
