Coming classic: Honda CBR954RR FireBlade
If you’ve read my rambling nonsense in April 2018’s MSL, you’ll know I’ve written a fair few lines about Honda’s seminal CBR900RR… Now, we all know that those first models are the ones that you need to tuck away for the future. Yes, those are the ones, the RR-N, RR-P with the twin headlight stare and I would say those first ‘Foxeye’ models, the RR-R, RR-S. It’s the FireBlade (capital B before 2004) in its purest form. But they are also already heading upwards in value big-time!
My suggestion for ‘coming classic’ turned up at the end of 2002… Now, Tadao Baba was the man behind the first FireBlade and every one up to what became known as the ‘954’ Blade, which is the bike I want to talk to you about. The name came from the capacity of the motor and overall the bike was considerably improved from the (aesthetically challenged) previous ‘929’ version.
You only have to look at it: you can see that the styling is a massive improvement. You have some sexy angles and curves which were set off with some brilliant, solid colour schemes interrupted only by the Honda wing motif.
The motor was updated, with an increased piston bore up by 1mm to 75mm which gave a 25cc hike to 954cc. Compression was also boosted to 11.5:1 while lots of reciprocating weight was shaved from the pistons and other moving parts to make the bike lighter and rev harder. Overall the motor was up by three brake horsepower, with more mid-range and the engine itself was lighter by two kilos.
The 954 overall was just 168 kilos dry which made it the lightest in its class of the time. It also pumped out a very healthy 154bhp at the crank. In today’s terms, that’s still pretty light today but unlike the mad power outputs we have now, that 130-135 or so rear-wheel bhp were under your direct control – without any electronics getting in the way.
If you’re still not convinced then let me tell you that this version of FireBlade was just so sweetly harmonised. The balance between power, weight and handling bewitched anyone who swung a leg over it. However, its competitors did things differently: Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 K1/K2 was more like a hammer and the R1 was the best-looking bike to come out of Japan for years, but the 954 Blade just had that sweet mix of all the best attributes and made for an (arguably) better road and track bike overall. It looked good, weighed little, went brilliant and cosseted you through the corners: be they on road or track.
Yes, the FireBlade had to go up to a full 1000cc to take on the likes of the K3 GSX-R and later models of R1 (and the 2004 ZX-10R Ninja from Kawasaki) but this snapshot in time shows a sub-litre sportsbike at its very best – and right now the used prices are showing this.
You’ll be hard-pushed to find one of these below £3000 to be honest, but a good one is a joy to behold. It’s such a balanced road bike that many called it ‘the best Blade of all worlds.’ If you want to scratch, track-day, commute (sarnies sit under the pillion boot/bonnet) there really is only one choice. Try one.
It’s a beautifully balanced bike and very well made…
It’s still holding strong money 16 years on, but what does that tell you?