Hmm. Think I want a Fireblade...

[Mudskipper]

Well I've been riding the NC29 just over a year now, and for the first time have started thinking about changing it.

I love it to bits, but the wringing it's neck constantly to get the power out is getting wearing, I do weekly long motorway journeys now as well as fun twisty rideouts.

I've always wanted a bigger cc bike eventually, but was hesitant about seat height (5' 1", 28" leg) but now having ridden/sat on various mate's bikes realise that I dont need to flatfoot to feel confident on a bike.

Annnnyway, so I think I want a 90's Blade, cause I love that styling that is similar to my 400. 1995 seems to be what I'm after (style and price wise)

I've done a little reading on models etc, but thought the good people of BCF could perhaps share their experiences/knowledge and hopefully clue me up a bit before I start searching.

Main questions at the moment:

What main differences will I need to get used to going from 400 to 900? Anyone here gone down that path and skipped 600 etc?

I've read there is about 80mm more height on the seat, but is the seat wider than the narrow NC29 seat too? Any shorties ridden/owned a 95 blade?

How is the power delivery different? How does the handling compare?

I assume fuel economy will be worse - but how bad?

Are there common problems with the 95 blades - like the reg/rec on 400s thing etc?

Being fairly common bikes I assume parts (new and second hand) will be easy enough to come by?

Finally how easy are they to work on - access to plugs etc being a nightmare on the 400, is the 900 similar?

Oh and regarding insurance, anyone here 'added' a blade or similar to an existing policy before? Is it the case that the higher CC bike on a multibike policy has to be the main bike, or would I get away with a nominal/admin fee to add a blade (well I can dream!!)

Any thoughts appreciated
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[RealNinja]

The 'older' 'blades are physically big bikes, seeing as you are only 5' ish I would think you would have problems.

My wife is the same height as you and she (used to) ride a ZXR400 (H) but couldn't even get anywhere near sitting on my 7, which are similar in size to the older blades.

The problem you are going to have is that not only is the seat height taller, it's also wider (which will take away from your height) and the tank is fatter (which will also take away from your height!).

Me, I would go and sit on one and make sure you feel comfatable with the size and with a bike this big, weight too.

I don't want to put you off, I love FireBlades, but those plastics are expensive!!
____________________
You will become my force of retribution. Where you tread, doom will follow. Go now and claim your destiny

[Blau Zedong]

As above - while not being super heavy in the vein of EXUP's and oil boiler GSXR's, old skool blades do have bloody massive fuel tanks and wide seats. Only way to find out is to sit on one and see how it feels. If you've been riding the 400 for a while I don't see the Blade being too big a transition - once you've got the hang of it you'll probably enjoy it more due to the extra grunt.
____________________
18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[craigs23]

I went from a RVF400 to a 92 Blade. Not too bad, throttle works both ways, and I adapted to the increase in power and torque quite quickly. The RVF was an awesome pocket rocket, where I could use most of what the bike had to offer on the road, without getting in too much trouble (relatively speaking). The Blade at 7k felt like the RVF at full tap, but the torque was the biggest change - lovely amounts of grunt from the big bore old skool motor. Ultimately, I sold the Blade as I found it a little unsatisfying - the time and place where I could try to use the bike's potential were a lot few and far between in comparison to the RVF. I was also getting too precious about the bike's condition, so traded it for what became my Konica Minolta rep.

[Kal]

I've had a '92 Blade out and it was the least exciting bike I've ridden at legal speeds. Putting through twisties at 60 was a case of leaning casually one way and then equally casually the other.

Gear changes were when I felt I should, rather than the engine requesting it. All in all it felt very lazy.

On the back of the same bike at 120 it became more interesting.

I do have it on good authority that the '92 and '93 Blades are the best to own.
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[virus]

Ive got no knowledge of fireblades, but Id say dont worry about the height.

I seem to remember you handling a Duke very well at R+S, certainly confused a few people.




Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Just remember to listen for the cam chain rattle, apart from that at rec-regs they are good.

They shouldn't have been used as race bikes since they isn't a class for them.
____________________
My Flickr

[craigs23]

[Moonie]

*steps in for McGee*

Do eet
____________________
Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[Kal]

Points for staying Honda though - you know it makes sense!
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[St0rmer66]

You can handle the powaaa! Go for it if you can get on! .
____________________
:: Honda XR 125 L ('53) => Kawasaki GPZ 500S ('02) => Suzuki SV650S ('00) => Aprilia RSV-R ('51) ::

[the grim reaper]

I've had 7 Blades and loved all of them. You can easily get them lowered, it may even be possible by rotating the triangles that mount the shock to the dogbones but you may screw up the rise rate of the rear shock.

Reliability wise, you won't go far wrong, it takes some serious neglect to kill one, however, you're looking at a 13 year old bike, so look for the obvious signs of a dog and budget on having to replace the rear shock etc.

Cheers

Grim
____________________
Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[veeeffarr]

[Polo]

I have a 97 Blade and love it.

Boring at low speeds?

Very confidence inspiring and not a issue to go from a 400. I went from a 125cc.

If you like to hear a engine squeal up near the top end then it probably isnt going to happen. I float around 6-7k. Going above that makes me place another small malteser like object in my kecks.

It has a habit of reminding you what your limits are.

Shame you are so far up t'north. You coulda happily taken mine for a spin.
____________________
My mum smells your fingers

[mark83]

I've often considered a Fireblade but the whole "1000cc IL4 is too much for the road" is starting to sound convincing.

Basically, I like accelerating hard, and you just can't do that on a blade on the public roads!!
____________________
Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Buy my Mercedes 350 Sport AMG Evo

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Do you like riding fast (to the bikes limits) on public roads?

If so then either:-

A) dont buy a bigger sportsbike

or

B) be prepared to pin it and run.

Sitting at half revsin top on my 600 is over the national limit. Sitting at 120-140 on open country lanes is extremely easily done.

Having ridden various bikes, there is no way I could legally run a superbike on the road (not enough self control). Fit an auxillary tank and run it without a plate etc then your talking.

[Hetzer]

[Ghost]

[Mudskipper]

Knew I could rely on BCF!!!

Loads of really useful info here, cheers guys.

virus - yeah the Duke was ace, had been putting off having a go for a year cause of the stupid height fear thing. Method was simple - on side stand foot on right peg, into first, then one flowing movement of tilting bike up at the same time as bringing left foot up and kicking stand up, and away!!!

Tried to wheelie it again last week, but as I was on thick grass it just fishtailed like a bastard

Anyway, it all sounds positive so I just need to find one to sit on to be sure I'll be comfortable with the size/weight.

Minty - yeah shame, cheers anyway

craig - 'controllable and predictable' - sounds exactly what I'm after, with more power in reserve than I would need most of the time.

I'm leaning towards 92 ones as well but with a mind as to the increased age and wear etc.

Do old blades tend to get traded in much? Wondering if it's worth trawling a few bike shops on the off chance one has one in.

Thanks again all
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Ant]

[Polo]

£4000 for a early nineties Fireblade? What is it? A ex-WSB factory one?
____________________
My mum smells your fingers

[Fawbish]

He said 954....2002 onwards I believe


4K would be a good condition, low mileage model

3K for an average used 954 methinks
____________________
"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Polo]

I stand corrected.
____________________
My mum smells your fingers

[MarJay]

[Ant]

you'd be lucky to get a track 954 for 3k, not even Marjays smashed up one
____________________
04 ZX10R ~