2004/05 HONDA CBR1000RR – 4/5 FIREBLADE WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

The first litre-capacity Fireblade (note the lack of the capital B in the name, signifying Tadao Baba’s retirement from the project) is a very solid used buy and one that has remarkably few faults. As with all used bikes, the exhaust valve seizes up and the generator can be a touch weak, but overall with this generation you are buying on finish. The paint on the plastic ‘tank’ cover is thin and can mark badly, and the fairing is a mass of irritating lugs and push-fit connectors, which means snapped brackets are a common sight. Always check under the pillion seat cover, as getting the tail’s plastics off is a nightmare and often results in broken panels. If you buy a 2004/05 model, consider swapping the rear sprocket from its 40-tooth to a 42-tooth item (Honda did this on the updated 2006/07 model), as it gives the bike far more sprightly acceleration and removes a bit of its lacklustre feel. Some owners also swap the camchain tensioner for a manual item, which isn’t recommended. However, upgrading the stock calipers for items from the updated model is worth considering as they deliver far more bite. That said, braided lines and high friction pads also boost the power for not a lot of cash. Finally, be very wary of any fault codes being displayed on the dash, as this bike not only has fuel-injection and an exhaust valve, it also has Honda’s electronic steering damper (HESD), which is known to fail over time.