’94 CBR900RR-R

HONDA must have received hundreds of complaints about the manners of its early bikes because the Blade changed markedly in 1994.

MCN’s first group test – against a Suzuki RF900, Kawasaki ZX-9R and Triumph Daytona 900 – saw test rider Kevin Ash proclaim it ” surprisingly good at playing the sports-tourer role ” as well as dominate the pure sports class, too.

The way the power was delivered was the same – little in the way of bottom-end pull, but stacks of mid and

top-end grunt. But it was the other changes which transformed the Blade’s abilities.

It still had the 16in front wheel and it was still a bit unstable, but the modifications that year, which included a revised gearbox and a 180/55 x 17 rear tyre in place of the preceding model’s 160/60 rubber, calmed it down considerably.

Suddenly, the list of FireBlade admirers grew as riders who had previously lusted after such bikes as Honda’s VFR750 woke up to the Blade’s potential to cover miles in comfort.

Yet more of them fell in love with the looks as the twin round headlamps gave way to a slinky ” fox-eye ” design.

And Honda got the colours right that year, too, introducing a bronze, orange and brown option known as ” Urban Tiger ” – still for many the classic FireBlade colourscheme.

The bike went on sale early in the UK – December 1993 – and the firm immediately sold out – again. And that was despite a list price of £8195, a substantial hike on the previous year.

Kev Beard bought an Urban Tiger new that year. He says: ” As soon as I saw it, I had to have it. I’d been whizzing around on FZRs and needed more. Then, boom, the 1994 model arrived, looking sharper than the original bike.

” I traded everything I had, financed the rest, then joined the waiting list. When I got it, I was in heaven.

” It handled better than anything I’d ever had, was effortless to ride, wheelied like a beast and even toured perfectly.

” I kept that bike until something better – Yamaha’s R1 – came along. But that was four years later, which shows how advanced the Blade was at the time. ”

Like virtually every owner, Beard fitted a shed-load of accessories.

” I had the usual coloured screen and lamp cover, super-sticky rubber and a steering damper, ” he says. ” But I also fitted a race can, then a race system and six-pot Pretech brake calipers.

” I didn’t do many miles because I was too busy at the time, but when I did, with mates, we always had mental burn-ups.

” There was only one speed on my Blade when I didn’t have a tankbag on – flat-out. ”

If you’re looking for a 1994 bike today, it’s unlikely to be standard. The garish orange screen and other cosmetic add-ons are purely a matter of personal taste, but be aware that some additions will have some bearing on your insurance premium.

Be prepared to pay a dealer about £3500, though you’ll pick up a clean, private example up for as little as £2700.