900 Fireblade, would it be the right decision?

[TimNorwich]

Afternoon, I'm on the look out for bikes, and was pondering between getting A V-Twin or another IL4, or sticking with a 600, but a cbr6f. Fairing is essential this time round. My restricted liscence runs out in April and I plan to upgrade.

I've had a big look into 900 Fireblades, either a 98/99 model, or maybe a fuel injected model if the price is right.

How good are 900 Blades? Reliability and build quality are essential, I'll be using it everyday, not so much through winter maybe but at least once a week at the least. It seems like a good choice as they do look more practical than other bikes about.

I'd need one with fairly low mileage as I crack up mileage like nobodies business.

What are the things to look out for in these bikes? I'm guessing a good service history, and old MOT certificates?

I'd be on a budget of inbetween 2-3K but preferably lower as I have insurance to pay for!

Thanks,

Tim.
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[craigs23]

Early Blades, up to around the 954 vintage, are all designed by Tadao Baba - the build quality and reliability overall, is excellent, and puts the newer CBR1000s to shame.

Areas to note are cam chain tensioners and gearboxes, as well as head race bearings from early 90s models, as they tended to attract certain nutters back then.

The 900s are quite practical as well. Comfy enough to tour on (would probably be hailed a 'sports tourer' in comparison to today's standards), good on fuel and easy to service. Piss easy to get the bodywork off too.

[TimNorwich]

It would certainly be a newer model (98+).

CCT's arent a big problem are they? I thought they can just be adgjusted.

It seems a bit daunting to me, selling my newer bike (2002) with lower miles to spend more on a older blade with more miles?
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[Alex A]

I bought an 98 model 2 months ago. I'm a year round biker and from 3000 miles or so I have absolutely no complaints. Very fast, comfy, nimble, light, great fairing (with double bubble), easy to ride, always starts first time every time, brilliant fuelling from the carbs. Great feedback in dodgy weather conditions. Dead easy to get to everything for maintenance purposes.

I wouldn't worry too much about an already high mileage. Properly and regularly serviced, they'll go on for well over 100k. FSH and good condition (never crashed) would be more important than low mileage - and it's better having a bike that's been regularly used than one which has only seen sparodic use inbetween long periods of sitting.

My only quibble would be tyre life - it's got through an almost new BT-014 in 3000 miles or so since I've had it. But that's true of all 'litre' sportsbikes, and sports touring tyres would fare better.

You could get a 929 within budget, but it's debatable whether they're an improvement or a sideways step compared with the 918. They're much smaller but not much lighter - offer less weather protection and are less comfortable. The 17" front wheel also made it less quick steering (good for people who hated the 16" front - personally I love the 16"). Honda came late to the game with FI too - and their first attempts weren't the best/smoothest. Whereas their carbs are brilliant, if more difficult when it comes to tuning.
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Current: Ducati Panigale R / Ducati Streetfighter S / Suzuki GSX-R1000 L5

[TimNorwich]

Thanks for your useful reply Alex, Is there a huge difference between 16 and 17" front wheel? My Hornet has the 17" as apposed to the earlier 16".

I'd be more worried about when it comes to selling the blade again as to the mileage on it.

Thankyou,

Tim.
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[Alex A]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[The Tot]

Speaking as a 929 owner and having used one in all seasons, I find it a joy. I had a ZX6R-F before hand and used to muscle the bike about, the blade is more composed and has better finesse. 2-up it handles no different to riding solo and it's a very capable machine. It's big but bloody light compared to the ZX6R. The weight disappears on the move but due to its size, i feel like i'm sitting on top of it rather than in it (i'm 5 ft 9 12 stone) but it's very managable. Storage space is ample and I manage to fit an alarm + PCIII + toolkit (my own selection stored in a lunch box) + large disk lock + can of WD40 and quart of 3 in 1 oil AND my bike cover under the seat.

In terms of handling, i'd say it's stable and composed, but that said, I'm using Dunlop Roadsmarts since I rack up 10k miles a year. The chassis give so much feedback and the agility to do quicker directional changes compared to the 6R is beneficial. Brakes are bloody good for its age. Clean out the pistons, fit new pads + braided hoses and it can stop on a sixpence. It might not be the fastest of the "thous" but i bought it for the ability of overtaking in 6th whilst on country roads and on motorways. Pulls up to a respectable 175mph on the clocks which isn't too bad with some in reserve (realistically 160ish mph).

OK, so here are my minor gripes with the bike. When I got the bike, the FI was very glitchy, so i bought a can off ebay and plugged in a PCIII. I still need to get it on a dyno to get the right mapping for the fuel, but makes it less glitchy in 1st gear <20mph. Even still, i get about 155-165 to the tank which averages to about 40-45mpg in motorway and fast A-roads. CCT rattles but all hondas sound like that. Consumables do tend to go quicker than a 600 and are more expensive. It goes squares off rear tyres in about 6000 miles (Roadsmarts that is, more sporting rubber will go quicker). You can pretty much tailor the handling of the bike purely on what tyres you use. Roadsmarts give it stability... ignore those that say that you need a steering damper! On B-roads and A-roads, it's still bloody composed when giving it some.

They're a bloody good bike for what they are, but the legacy of the earlier bikes seem lost on it which is why some earlier bikes tend to hold their value well. I got mine as a CAT-C for £2150 with 13000 miles and a load of extras and service history. Check that the fork bottom recalls and head bearing have been done on affected bikes (RR-Y models usually).

The 954 is often sought as the best Blade; it's just a refinement of the 929. Therefore, 929's are often thought as bargain buys for those who can't quite afford 954's. Eitherway, the 929 isn't spectacular by modern standards, but if you want an underrated bike that also performs, then I'd recommend it - Honda bulletproof quality shows after 8 years of use. It took a while for me to "like" mine, but I'm now in love with it. A do-it-all superbike... definitely need to take mine on the track..

A bit of whoring

https://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2009%5C05%5C11%5Cbikepics-1664062-800.jpg


Have you considered ZX9R-C's and E's by anychance?
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[the grim reaper]

As you can see from my .sig, I have had a fair bit of experience with Blades. The 98/99 Blades were my favourites and I would have one tomorrow if it wasn't my all year round, every day commuter. The finish is excellent and, as mentioned, puts newer Honda's to shame. I never really had any issues that weren't of my own creation, the reliability is absolutely spot on.

I did have the 929 Blade and while it was quicker and smaller, it was just too small for me to feel comfortable on, so I went back to the earlier bikes.

The common problems with the 98/99 Blades are as follows:

Cam chain tensioner does stick but a new one is cheap and is about 5 minutes to fit (literally).
Rear wheel bearings go fairly regularly but again are cheap and easy to fit.
Ham-fisted wheelies knacker the head bearings but that's the same of all bikes.

That's about it really, I can't recommend them highly enough, put a set of Pilot Road 2CTs on for extended mileage and away you go.

Cheers

Grim
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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'.

[TimNorwich]

Cheers for the replies guys, Grim, why wouldn't you have it as your all year round commuter?

Cheers,

Tim.
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[the grim reaper]

[Cptn. Awesome]

After what everyone has said, I now want a 900 Blade. Only one I've seen at the moment (until I can search more) in my area is a 918. CLICKY
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Rides - '60 Plate Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.25, '03 Plate Kawasaki ZX6R B1H and an '87 VFR400 NC24

Naughty Fawbish: "An eagle is but an eagle until the suns flare blinds his prey." - Fawbish, 2010.

[the grim reaper]

[Cptn. Awesome]

Okay, plan went t*ts up. I compared the meerkat erm...market and a years insurance was too much for me. They wanted at least 900 for the year and quite possibly a leg too. Sh*t.
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Rides - '60 Plate Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.25, '03 Plate Kawasaki ZX6R B1H and an '87 VFR400 NC24

Naughty Fawbish: "An eagle is but an eagle until the suns flare blinds his prey." - Fawbish, 2010.

[TimNorwich]

Really? How many ncd do you have?

I'm 19 and come April will have 3years (touchwood).

All tpf&t quotes for me are in the region of 400odd. Which is pretty good for my age i'd imagine.

The blade on that link does look good.

Anybody know the mpg of a VTR Firestorm?
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[chris-red]

[Alex A]

[TimNorwich]

Blade it is then, how many miles from a tank can you get out of a 98 blade? Average riding?
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[Blackwolf]

Yes they are bad, but they also have a small talk. but the sound... oh the sound.... :Drool:
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[Alex A]

[TimNorwich]

Thats good, so in conclusion, the 98/99 model would be best if I want a carb'd blade?
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[Alex A]

[TimNorwich]

I did mean out of all the fireblades pre 2001.

But I was looking at Firestorms too so that did help.
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[Alex A]

That's a whole other debate. Generally speaking, the 'blade was supposedly refined and softened up a little between 1992 and 1999. Over the years it became slightly less aggressive and raw, and easier to ride, but the performance improved over the years, and generally speaking all 90s 'blades are very clearly cast from the same mould. Unless you specifically want a classic (in which case you'd get a '92 model or a 94/95 Urban Tiger), then I'd go for the newest and/or best condition which would push you towards a 98/99.
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Current: Ducati Panigale R / Ducati Streetfighter S / Suzuki GSX-R1000 L5