CBR 900 Advice

[Buster]

Im looking at a 94 fireblade. I really like the look of these bikes, but Im not sure how they go compared to some of the newer stuff out there. 12 years is a long time in sportsbikes. I also read that they were very twitchy in the front end and could dish out tank slappers quite a bit. Can this be cured with a steering dampner or different tyre sizes? What breaks on them? I need a bike that I can use every day to commute and play on the weekends. Any advice on known issues would much appreciated.

[ducatilover]

dont they have a 16 inch front? if they do perhaps a change of front rims would fix it. they look nice though

[ducatilover]

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cbr900rr%2094.htm


hope this helps:2thumbsup

[Marmoot]

I've ridden 96 Blade and have owned 99 Blade (for 4 years).
The 99 is probably the most underrated bike, as most reviewers dished it out when compared to the mental R1. However, the bike felt much easier to ride fast in the twisty bit compared to the 96, and obviously have more power. It is also more comfortable.
It handled midcorner bumps quite well and during the 4 years I only had probably 1 or 2 minor tankslapper. The steering handled them quite well too, dampening them out by itself as long as you are not fighting it. In other words, just let go and the bike will sort itself out.

The 96 felt more compact than the 99 bike, but it does handled a bit twitchier. It turned faster into the corner, but does not feel as stable as the more-refined 99. I believe handling and power between 94 and 96 is quite similar too.

Some UK magazines cited 96 as the best-buy Blade, and 99 as the most-refined Blade. However, if you want the wildest (more powerful feeling) Blade, it is the original 92.

I think you can get 99 Blade quite cheaply nowadays, seems like noone wants them. Probably because a lot of magazine painted them as 'sports tourer' instead of 'mental litre bike'. All I can say is, don't believe everything you hear until you try them out. Besides, that repsol-green + orange colour just fascinates me......

[Buster]

Just noticed the 16 inch front rim. Is there a selection of modern rubber available for these or just tyres from that era?

[moko]

If you`ve never tried a 16 inch wheeled machine make sure you get a test ride first,they turn in bloody quick if you`re used to a bigger wheel and you might well hate it,too twitchy for many which is why the manufacturers dropped them,even changeing rim size in the case of the GPZ900 during the model run.

[Buster]

If you`ve never tried a 16 inch wheeled machine make sure you get a test ride first,they turn in bloody quick if you`re used to a bigger wheel and you might well hate it,too twitchy for many which is why the manufacturers dropped them,even changeing rim size in the case of the GPZ900 during the model run.

Hmmm.. will definately ride it first. Had a go on one years ago but cant really remember what it was like. Stepping off a 250 so not exactly used to slow steering. Does a dampner help them?

[moko]

Well I reckon with dampers that on road bikes at least they`re helping a problem that shouldn`t have got out of the factory in the first place,on a track probably but that`s pushing a bike a whole lot more than anything you`ll do on the road.If you try one then you`re not happy with the bike in the first place,fit one and still dont get on with it and it`s been an expensive experience.I`d ask for a decent test ride,if you dont get one walk.Maybe someone here has one they`d let you try.

[WINJA]

Just noticed the 16 inch front rim. Is there a selection of modern rubber available for these or just tyres from that era?
NC 30 WHEEL FITS WHICH IS A 3.5/17
STILL SOME 16" RUBBER AROUND , THOSE BIKES ARE OK I HAD ONE BUT IF YOU CAN BUY A GSXR750 T OR V .
IF YOU BUY THAT BLADE TRY TO GET THE GUY TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT AND YOU START IT FROM COLD AND LISTEN FOR A DEATH RATTLE , IF IT HAS A RATTLE PULL THE CLUTCH IN IF IT STOPS ITS MINOR IF IT CONTINUES TAKE A WALK.
THE ZX9 OF THAT ERA WAS NOT A BAD OPTION GOT A HELL OF A MOTOR

[orangeback]

like the other guy i'd had one for 4 years as well, 99 rrx, great bikes under rated due to the R1 that knocked it off its purch in 98 but was the bike to have through 92-98 , its a honda not much evergoes wrong as long as it bean serviced, go to a site called rrzone , heaps of info there on them , dont fit a 400 front wheel but a vfr800 one :apumpin: and if you buy one run 010 bridgestone tyres :spudbooge

[Marmoot]

I never had any problem with 16" wheels, especially tyre selection as long as it's Bridgestone. I find 012 is much better than 010 especially in the wet.
If you insist on changing it to 17", for 99 Blade you can use CBR600F4 front wheels, fit's like a bolt-on (or so they say). I didn't really try this, but a lot of people swore on this.

As Winja said, if it rattles when the clutch is out then it is only clutch rattle and almost all Blade has that. That is normal.
If it does not go away when you pull the clutch in, it might be broken tensioner and would cost you a few hundred bucks to fix.

And....you just gotta look at this one down here.....Oh please someone buy that.....One of my favourite colour too.......
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=27226

[Marmoot]

like the other guy i'd had one for 4 years as well, 99 rrx,

LOL, both 900RRX and a Hayabusa owner.......what are the odds of that? :sunny:
I'd say you have a really good taste, mate.
Real sorry about the GSXR1000, though. :blah:

[Paulus]

I owned a 93 model for about 5 years. It's essentially the same bike but the 94 has some updates (foxeye fairing and compression adjustment on the forks). I got my bike second hand with about 8000km on the clock and sold it with about 45000km on it to my brother who still has it.

What went wrong:
- fuel pump died
- regulator/rectifier unit died
- hard chroming wore off the fork legs fairly quickly
- shock blew at 16000km

I was also stupid enough to let Casbolts service it once and it nearly killed me (they left the inspection cover over the crank loose and it fell out spilling oil all over the inside of the fairing where it ran down onto the back wheel)!

I spent many years on the original fireblade mailing list and saw most of the problems that other owners experienced and I must say that this really is one of the most reliable sports bikes ever made. One owner had over 250000 miles (not km) on his and was still on the original rings and bearings (although it had been through a few oil pumps, camchains and clutches). As with anything though it will depend on how it has been treated.

A lot of guys on the list bought 17" CBR600 wheels and found they didn't really have any effect on the twitchy handling but that they could get more access to 17" rubber. It is easier to change the 94 than the 92-93 as the speedo drive moved from the front wheel to the countershaft sprocket.

The handling isn't that much of a problem and it will only shake it's head hard when on the gas over bumps. Most newer sports bikes will do the same thing - we just accept it now. It isn't a tourer after all.

[orangeback]

LOL, both 900RRX and a Hayabusa owner.......what are the odds of that? :sunny:
I'd say you have a really good taste, mate.
Real sorry about the GSXR1000, though. :blah:

AS WE DO, BUT THE BUS IS NOT FOR ME, ALWAYS WANTED ONE BUT NOW I VE GOT ONE, WANT SOMETHIG A LITTLE TAMMER AND NIMBLER, SO THAT S WHY IVE GOT A 20TH ANVER GSXR750XK5 AS WELL , HEAPS BETTER THAN THE BLADE WITH A LITTLE MORE POWER BUT NOT AS MUCH TORQUE , I COULD GET THE BLADE ON THE BACK WHEEL A 3000 RPM BUT NOT THE XK5.
DONT HAVE A 1000 :moon: LIKE TO MIX IT UP A BIT

VFR FRONT WHEEL HAS THE SAME AMOUNT OVE SPOKES AS THE BLADE , CBR600 HAS 3 SPOKE WHEEL LIKE THE VTR1000, THAT WHY I SAY THE VFR , BUT STICK WITH THE 16 INCH

[klyong82]

I ride a 95 RRS model. It is overall quite a reliable bike never had a problem with it. Only issue is everytime I come out a corner or bend it tend to do little wheelies-the front tends to lift off the ground. A steering damper would always be good. I do recommend getting at least the 96 model and above as if I remember Honda improved the front forks/suspension and probably the stability. The later models 96+++++ happen to also be lighter as Honda was reducing weight to compete with the R1. If you can check the wheel bearings, steering head bearings for rear...all the best in your search/purchase