Which fireblade for 3.5k ?

[hornetmike]

Fancy a fireblade as I like Hondas and want a litre sportsbike. In my price range 2.5 - 3.5k you can get a 94 - 2004 bike, and I like them all, a classis would be cool and I won't mind paying 2.5 to get a clean 1994 which is the same money as 954 which is apparently the one to get.

Any opinions or experience to help make my mind up ?
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Mr Nice Guy]

954 is definitely the prettiest, but I've only ever ridden an RR7 so I'm useless here.
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[G]

I'd definitely be looking at a RR4 - as that's the point they started to actually catch up, rather than being massively left behind by the R1 and GSXR1000 .

But, if you're looking for more of a 'tourer' style, the older ones may suit?

I think the newer style is quite pretty, though not quite up with the fox-eyes.

[hornetmike]

I am not after the fastest just the coolest/nicest thing to own
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[G]

Coolest - that'd be latest, for me. 'Cool' involves more than image; and a lot more than Honda for me!

Nicest to own is also very personal.

The former is definitely going to be based purely on your own perceptions.

The latter, not too much different either.

[robs321]

954, a cracking bike and the best all round blade!

[hornetmike]

954 is the clever choice
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[supZ]

[G]

[hornetmike]

Requirements

I've got an ER5 to go to work which does the job well so need something alot different and a bit specail to go out for a ride on. I've borrowed my mate's GSXR 1000 K3 for a while and really liked it, also a S1000rr at work but can't afford one which has given the 1000cc sports bike bug.
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[robs321]

if I didnt have so many health problems, eg knackered back and severe carpal tunnel syndrome I would have kept my 954. Mine was a minter and Kent bikes gave me a cracking trade in on it and sold it in a few days of it going in the showroom. If I was cureable id buy another!

Mine!

https://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/robs321/DSC00143.jpg

[G]

Any reason not to get a K3/K4 GSXR1000 then?

From my point of view, should be able to do everything the Fireblade can do and a fair bit more.

Infact, here's a K5 in budget - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260911777445 (could well be dodgy, but there's some possibilities) - I've got a K6 which is the same and it's a very accomplished fast 'do it all' bike. I got mine for in-town commuting, but it's handled trackdays and long days out just fine too. Well above what the Fireblade offers to my mind.

[hornetmike]

Everytime I look as GSXRs they are played with too much, I would buy a bog standard one, plus I am a Honda fan boy
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[G]

Only non-standard bit mine came with was an official Suzuki Yoshi can.

A few K3/K4 in your price range on ebay that are pretty standard.

Well worth getting a test ride on the GSXR and the blade and seeing what you think - I know I'd notice a difference, but you may not, or may just prefer the blade.

[The Tot]

954 because they are the most composed fireblade package for the road apart from the 08 model onwards.

I recommended big ham to get one and he's loving his. If I had an extra grand to spend, I would have got the 954 instead of the 929.

Budget on replacing your alternator & reg rec if you plan to use it intensively. Hondas were never great at electrical systems and these are the most common things that go according to bransons in gloucester.

Besides, they look nicest stock!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[0l0dom0l0]

Friend is selling a 929 atm.

Think its a 2000, 30k ish miles. Few little niggles, nothing major.

Around 2 grand ish I think he's after.
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[Noxious89123]

Don't buy a 954!Else there will be less around when I come to buy one.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[The Tot]

£2k is a good price for a 929, but things I needed doing at 30k were

1) Cam chain tensioner
2) New Clutch
3) New Batt/Reg-Rec/Alternator - so be sure to check that your charging system is fine and when one problem starts, just replace all of the components.
4) Cam position sensor - I've seen mine go, and 2 others on CBR600's go (600RR's)

So that's about another 500-600 you need to stump up if ALL of those things go wrong.

If I wanted to sell mine, I could but it would see for peanuts, not worth it considering the amount of effort I put into the thing to make it ride how I want it to.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[0l0dom0l0]

Alternator has been changed already to a smaller one so won't fry the reg rec. The batteries a motobatt and is fairly new.

Clutch is good as are the other things atm.

Think he's done 20k miles on it, never had a problem so far! Great bikes!
____________________
CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.