history of fireblade - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community

whacky_brains · 04-13-2004, 12:03 PM

Introduced in 1992, the CBR900RR Fireblade has come to dominate the litre-class Super Sports category with a heady combination of hard-charging engine performance and smooth, responsive handling, all in the remarkably compact weight and proportions of a 600cc-class machine. Originally introduced as a ‘no-holds-barred’ high-performance Super Sports machine meant to appeal to a relatively small segment of the motorcycle riding public, the Fireblade soon gained an astounding level of world-wide popularity, becoming a highly-regarded best seller that played a central part in reviving the 900cc SuperSports category.

One man with a vision for the future, first started his quest in 1989. Being disillusioned with the then, current crop of 'sports bikes' he set out to design a new breed of sports bike, one which was light in weight, had the power to thrill, and yet which was easy to control by the rider.

Honda chief's had originally wanted the bike to be a sport's 750 and only became the bike we now know and love because of Baba's insistence in a big bore sports bike, Babasan won out and the term 'TOTAL CONTROL' was born. somewhere in the bikes early development the name FIREBLADE came alone, through a misinterpreted translation from French to English for the Japanese word for lightening.

In March 1992 the bike that was to change the face of sports bikes forever was released on an unsuspecting public, The Honda FIREBLADE was here, and was a name that was to become permanently etched on the mind's of motorcycle riders for years to come. Happily for Tadao Baba and Honda motorcycles the Fireblade was set to dominate not only the hearts of rider's but also the sales charts for the next decade and then some.

The first 893cc Blade, sold like hot cakes, even at the list price of £7390, and demand soon out stripped supply, as riders could not believe just how fast, light weight, a class breaking 185kg and easy to ride this new bike was, but in the hands of rider's more used to the heavy weight bikes of the time; like the Kawasaki ZX10, Suzuki GSX-R1100, and Honda's own CBR 1000F, This new Fireblade soon found it's self with a fearsome reputation.

Over the next few years, the Fireblade saw some minor updates as the bike received some new cloths in the shape of a redesign to the bodywork, as the now familiar Foxeye/ Urban Tiger, came along in December 1993, and soon sold out, as it had the year before, even at the list price of £8195.

November 1995 saw a big revamp unusually for Honda, as the RRT model was released with an all new dedicated 918cc engine, not the previous Japan only bored out seven-fifty engine, the bike also received a revised suspension package and other updates to the riding position, giving the rider a little more civility. List price was a massive £9265.

In 1997 The RRV was released but little had changed from the '96 bike, except a new set of colour schemes and a slight weight loss now 183kg, due to a new aluminium silencer.

In 1998, Honda resisted the temptation to build a radical Blade in defence to the then released Yamaha R1, instead further refining the look, with a redesigned fairing and headlamp and a wider seat/ tail light unit. The biking press were unkind, giving the '98 Blade a sports tourer tag.

In 2000 the millennium year, while every one else was still partying Honda had been busy further refining the Fireblade, which now saw the Blade with an all new fuel injected 929cc
engine, Usd fork's and at long last a much awaited 17 inch front wheel. Baba had also given the bike a squarer look, with a dry weight of just 170kg, the bike had been on a serious diet, loosing 9kg in the process. But again lost out to the Yamaha R-1 in the sales charts that year. Was it time for a rethink for Tadaosan.....

2002 dawned, Honda had been busy once again This year Honda were taking no prisoners and released the "all new" 954cc Fireblade to a rapturous welcome, with an altogether much leaner sleeker, tougher look due to every body panel being altered from the previous years bike. The new 954 Blade also made serious power 149 bhp and 77 ftlb torque, due to a heavily improved Efi system with bigger injectors and more processing ability. It also handled better due to frame and headstock strengthening, and a more rigid swing arm. Weighing in at a class leading 168kg, it also weighed less than Honda's own CBR600. And for many (me included) is the best looking Fireblade since the first Foxeye model in 1994

rahulthegreat · 04-13-2004, 12:13 PM

thanks.. good info... but you forgot pictures... thats where I come in..

[img] http://www.2tausend1.de/motors/norma...Blade-1992.jpg [/img]

[img] http://www.hondaitalia.com/moto/uff_...900rr_1024.jpg [/img]

[img] http://www.hondauk-media.co.uk/honda...0rr-1997_4.jpg [/img]

Ken · 04-13-2004, 02:46 PM

Nice info Whacky

rash_rp · 04-13-2004, 07:41 PM

Great info whacky...
The Blades rule !!

ace619 · 04-13-2004, 10:27 PM

cool info man.......i still think its one of the best bikes ever...

Technocrat · 04-13-2004, 11:12 PM

Nice info whacky & gr8 pics rahul

rash_rp · 04-26-2004, 10:19 AM

I dont know why the CBR 400s in India heve Fireblade written on them...they were never Fireblades...Fireblades only come in 9xx cc capacity.

Ken · 04-26-2004, 01:54 PM

CBR 400s in India?? U mean imported ones or were they ever released officially sometime?

turbocharged · 04-26-2004, 11:46 PM

Imported ones...they were never ever released officially in India.

Ashu · 05-09-2004, 10:40 AM

Guys there is something abt HondA BIKES that makes me look no further
i don;t know why i Like Honda bikes so much over other manufacturers
don't know guys but if and when i'll purchase a SBK It will b Honda for Sure...

04-13-2004, 12:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
whacky_brains Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Posts: 51	history of fireblade Introduced in 1992, the CBR900RR Fireblade has come to dominate the litre-class Super Sports category with a heady combination of hard-charging engine performance and smooth, responsive handling, all in the remarkably compact weight and proportions of a 600cc-class machine. Originally introduced as a ‘no-holds-barred’ high-performance Super Sports machine meant to appeal to a relatively small segment of the motorcycle riding public, the Fireblade soon gained an astounding level of world-wide popularity, becoming a highly-regarded best seller that played a central part in reviving the 900cc SuperSports category. One man with a vision for the future, first started his quest in 1989. Being disillusioned with the then, current crop of 'sports bikes' he set out to design a new breed of sports bike, one which was light in weight, had the power to thrill, and yet which was easy to control by the rider. Honda chief's had originally wanted the bike to be a sport's 750 and only became the bike we now know and love because of Baba's insistence in a big bore sports bike, Babasan won out and the term 'TOTAL CONTROL' was born. somewhere in the bikes early development the name FIREBLADE came alone, through a misinterpreted translation from French to English for the Japanese word for lightening. In March 1992 the bike that was to change the face of sports bikes forever was released on an unsuspecting public, The Honda FIREBLADE was here, and was a name that was to become permanently etched on the mind's of motorcycle riders for years to come. Happily for Tadao Baba and Honda motorcycles the Fireblade was set to dominate not only the hearts of rider's but also the sales charts for the next decade and then some. The first 893cc Blade, sold like hot cakes, even at the list price of £7390, and demand soon out stripped supply, as riders could not believe just how fast, light weight, a class breaking 185kg and easy to ride this new bike was, but in the hands of rider's more used to the heavy weight bikes of the time; like the Kawasaki ZX10, Suzuki GSX-R1100, and Honda's own CBR 1000F, This new Fireblade soon found it's self with a fearsome reputation. Over the next few years, the Fireblade saw some minor updates as the bike received some new cloths in the shape of a redesign to the bodywork, as the now familiar Foxeye/ Urban Tiger, came along in December 1993, and soon sold out, as it had the year before, even at the list price of £8195. November 1995 saw a big revamp unusually for Honda, as the RRT model was released with an all new dedicated 918cc engine, not the previous Japan only bored out seven-fifty engine, the bike also received a revised suspension package and other updates to the riding position, giving the rider a little more civility. List price was a massive £9265. In 1997 The RRV was released but little had changed from the '96 bike, except a new set of colour schemes and a slight weight loss now 183kg, due to a new aluminium silencer. In 1998, Honda resisted the temptation to build a radical Blade in defence to the then released Yamaha R1, instead further refining the look, with a redesigned fairing and headlamp and a wider seat/ tail light unit. The biking press were unkind, giving the '98 Blade a sports tourer tag. In 2000 the millennium year, while every one else was still partying Honda had been busy further refining the Fireblade, which now saw the Blade with an all new fuel injected 929cc engine, Usd fork's and at long last a much awaited 17 inch front wheel. Baba had also given the bike a squarer look, with a dry weight of just 170kg, the bike had been on a serious diet, loosing 9kg in the process. But again lost out to the Yamaha R-1 in the sales charts that year. Was it time for a rethink for Tadaosan..... 2002 dawned, Honda had been busy once again This year Honda were taking no prisoners and released the "all new" 954cc Fireblade to a rapturous welcome, with an altogether much leaner sleeker, tougher look due to every body panel being altered from the previous years bike. The new 954 Blade also made serious power 149 bhp and 77 ftlb torque, due to a heavily improved Efi system with bigger injectors and more processing ability. It also handled better due to frame and headstock strengthening, and a more rigid swing arm. Weighing in at a class leading 168kg, it also weighed less than Honda's own CBR600. And for many (me included) is the best looking Fireblade since the first Foxeye model in 1994 __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ssiflag222.jpg

04-13-2004, 12:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
rahulthegreat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bombay, , . Posts: 97	thanks.. good info... but you forgot pictures... thats where I come in.. [img] http://www.2tausend1.de/motors/norma...Blade-1992.jpg [/img] [img] http://www.hondaitalia.com/moto/uff_...900rr_1024.jpg [/img] [img] http://www.hondauk-media.co.uk/honda...0rr-1997_4.jpg [/img] __________________ <b> rahulthegreat </b> http://www.mxwarezbb.com/download/rahulthegreat.png <b>projectw.org - <i>satisfying all your piracy needs</i></b>

04-13-2004, 07:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
rash_rp Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India. Posts: 353	Great info whacky... The Blades rule !! __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/rash_rp/sig.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/18649556@N00/

04-13-2004, 10:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
ace619 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: mumbai, maharashtra, India. Posts: 514	cool info man.......i still think its one of the best bikes ever... __________________ If Speed Is A Sin Then Am Guilty Of It!! Demonic Resurrections@High Speed..!! http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/...peedjunkie.jpg

04-13-2004, 11:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Technocrat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York Posts: 884	Nice info whacky & gr8 pics rahul __________________ Racing Throttle Response

04-13-2004, 02:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ken Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dubai, UAE. Posts: 713	Nice info Whacky

04-26-2004, 10:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
rash_rp Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India. Posts: 353	I dont know why the CBR 400s in India heve Fireblade written on them...they were never Fireblades...Fireblades only come in 9xx cc capacity. __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/rash_rp/sig.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/18649556@N00/

04-26-2004, 01:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ken Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dubai, UAE. Posts: 713	CBR 400s in India?? U mean imported ones or were they ever released officially sometime?

04-26-2004, 11:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
turbocharged Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Currently in Nagpur Posts: 143	Imported ones...they were never ever released officially in India. __________________ Setting off speedguns since 1984....

05-09-2004, 10:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ashu Eternal Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India. Posts: 120	Guys there is something abt HondA BIKES that makes me look no further i don;t know why i Like Honda bikes so much over other manufacturers don't know guys but if and when i'll purchase a SBK It will b Honda for Sure... __________________ Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway !!

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