Bike: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
We experienced the 2018 Fireblade alongside the original to find out if the legend is still alive
Istill remember the day when I first laid eyes on the original ’92 CBR900RR Fireblade. It was at a Honda dealer and a crowd formed round this outrageous superbike signalling a watershed moment in road-bike history. Compared with such powerful but portly opposition of the time as the Suzuki GSXR1100, it was tiny and had only a 893 cm3 capacity engine producing 86 kw. Its key attribute was weight, or rather the lack thereof. With a dry mass of just 185 kg (206 kg wet), it was lighter than most 600s and it ran rings around the opposition, especially in the corners.
Fast-forward to 2018 and a lot has changed in the biking world. The original ‘Blade, as aggres- sive looking as ever, now appears bulky compared with the latest iteration. This is confirmed when I swing my leg over the original version we’ve brought along and the wide tank pushes my knees apart. With its low, softly cushioned seat and comfortably positioned handlebars, the superbikes of the Nineties were as comfortable as today’s sport tourers…
I push the starter button and the engine catches with a flat bark through the aftermarket pipe. The fuelling, taken care by four 38 mm Keihin carburettors, is slightly fluffy at low engine speeds. Winding the throttle all the way round to fully open, the throttle plates allow the engine to breathe and produce lovely low-down torque that tranforms into a surprising amount of power as the needle swings towards the redline; yes, this bike still feels quick. There really isn’t any need for more power in a road bike than this. The suspension soaks up surface imperfections and the bike feels planted under cornering in an oldschool way, with the 16-inch front wheel aiding turn-in.
The 2018 Fireblade is a striking and sleek machine in the flesh, especially in this colour scheme. Some are divided on the new headlamp design, but I think it is an improvement. In typical Honda fashion, a notion of quality is evident in such tiny details as knee pads on the frame that are often absent on its rivals.
Climbing aboard, the advancements of 26 years in technology