Motorcycle specifications Honda CBR 900 RR FIREBLADE 1993 The New Face of Sports Cars

If we set aside speed cameras, potholes, diesel spills, and failure to yield the right of way, motorcycles—and sports bikes in particular—have only one enemy: weight. It was with this in mind that Tadao Baba (former director of Honda’s R&D testing department) developed the CBR 900 RR project. His goal: to design the lightest possible machine.

With the goal of delivering a motorcycle with remarkable performance, the development effort focused on several key areas. The choice of engine displacement might seem surprising—why a 900 when the competition offers models like the FZR 1000 or the GSX-R 1100? Because the key isn’t to deliver a frenzied horde of horsepower. The CBR 900 came extremely close to an ideal balance thanks to its relentless pursuit of eliminating excess weight and the development of a lightweight, compact engine. Want some telling numbers? Brace yourself: 124 ch for just 185 kg. A record-breaking weight for a large-displacement sport bike. Are you starting to picture the picture?

The Fireblade’s development wasn’t a rushed affair and required a great deal of intellectual effort. Four years of careful planning and advanced computer-aided design made it possible to optimize the latest technical solutions to create a powerful, reliable, and sleek motorcycle without resorting to difficult (and costly) innovations. The engine is state-of-the-art: a water-cooled, 16-valve, dual-ACT 4-cylinder that weighs just 68 kg—barely 6 kg more than the CBR 600, without resorting to extreme techniques reserved for racing. Every component of the CBR has been designed with the same attention to detail. The frame weighs barely more than 10 kg—and yet it’s a classically designed aluminum perimeter frame. But as we’ve told you, the quest to shed every extra kilo was relentless. So much so that when you first see it, the 900 RR seems surprisingly small for a big bike.

Its dimensions are almost identical to those of the 600. That said, there’s no mistaking them: its design is more aggressive, its lines more generous, more flattering, and more “big-bike” in character, all while maintaining that compact look. The fuel tank, however, is a different story—it’s truly imposing. The other pleasant surprise with this bike is the rider’s riding position. The riding position isn’t overly aggressive. Although the seat is fairly high, it feels more like riding a solid sport-GT like the VFR than a track-oriented bike like the Kawasaki 750 ZXR. Pleasant to ride from the very first turn of the wheel, the bike has one obvious quality: it immediately puts the rider at ease. The engine, which is incredibly smooth, contributes greatly to the riding experience. The transmission is also a model of smoothness combined with great precision (Editor’s note: some Fireblade models have had less-than-ideal play in the shifting mechanism).
A hallmark of Honda motorcycles is that they respond instantly to the rider. No instruction manual needed—the bike is ready to ride right away. This trait is also present on this 900, a rarity worth noting since most sport bikes are more aloof.

Once up to speed, this featherweight bike literally captivates with its handling. For a sport bike in this class, its agility is simply incredible. Riding it feels effortless and natural, even when the pace picks up. The steering, which is easy to control, is impressively precise. You can position the CBR exactly where you want it; the front end takes care of the rest. It may be a bit too light at times during hard acceleration—watch out for the road surface—but it leaves plenty of room to maneuver, allowing you to correct your line, even while leaning, without much effort. This sport bike boasts exemplary handling. Its balance of weight, power, ease of handling, lightness, and efficiency is close to perfection. You might even wonder if it hasn’t already achieved it. These excellent Bridgestone tires—including a massive 180 at the rear—serve it perfectly in its handling.

We probably shouldn’t say this, but it’s really frustrating to have to settle for the 100 cv version in France. We’ve already seen that the engine is very smooth. You realize when riding it that it pairs very well with the chassis. Lively, it doesn’t hesitate to rev up and really comes alive at high RPMs. OK, it doesn’t have the punch of a 1100 Kawa or a 1000 FZR, but the bike it’s powering is much lighter than those models.As a result, it delivers impressive acceleration that’s right up there with the best. In a high-speed run, if you reach the same speed entering a twisty section, you’ll gain a decisive advantage with the Honda. Less weight means later braking, more effective corner entry, and higher cornering speed. Take on any other sport bike—even if the others keep up with you on the 400-meter straight, you’ll come out of the turn 3 seconds ahead.

Cheaper but just as effective and agile as a YZF 750 R, more so than a GSX-R 1100, less radical and far more versatile and user-friendly than a ZXR 750—the Honda CBR 900 RR Fireblade enjoys the luxury of being the lightest of the sport bikes, an advantage it uses to the fullest. The competition has been left in the dust, and it’s hard to see who could challenge it.

M.B.
(inspired by Moto-journal—manufacturer photos)