Honda CBR 954 RR - Peoples thoughts and experiences please

[Andy OH]

Chaps,

I'm seriously thinking about a Honda CBR954RR, 2003 model with not many miles on it. Has anyone any thoughts, experiences and advice on theses bikes. I know they need a steering damper as they can be a bit flighty and the particular one I'm looking at already has one fitted and a couple of other goodies.

My 2005 R1 has now done 65,000 miles and it's time for it to go. I'm thinking about the last real Fireblade as I've always liked this particular model and I don't want to spend much money on a new bike.

Your thoughts, experience and any advice at all would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Andy

Edited by Andy OH on Thursday 24th September 21:11

[996 sps]

Y2 will be along shortly, I can only speak on behalf of ownership of the 2000 model, easy to ride fast straight away, light, well built and if I had the money would love a Blade as a second bike.

[TallPaul]

I've had mine for about 3 years now & I love it. The only real "issues" are the forks should have been replaced due to a recall, if they havent been done, Honda will still honour the recall and do them for free. The engine does seem extremely noisey, especially when first started, but even when warm it sounds like a bag of nails! Not that much midrange, but plenty (for me, anyway) of top end power.
Good points- comfy, I'm 6"4 and happily took it round Europe. Fast enough, handles well, although as you said it does shake its head a bit, still looks reletively modern, good storage space under the rear seat. Honda build quality (whatever that means in this day & age).

[BladeAde]

I decided on mine after 2 VFRs as I was looking for something with more go-go juice, lighter, and just generally more exciting for the daily commute without spending a huge amount. Test rode quite a few bikes, but none ticked the boxes like the 954.

Imho, it looks fantastic - I park up everyday next to a couple of 58/09 CBR600RRs, and people are amazed to learn the 954 is the daddy by 6 years. Riding comfort is first rate - loads of room to move, and the position is more 'touring' than modern 2009 race bike. The lack of weight makes slow riding dead easy, and my wrists have no ache compared to the VFR when ridden along the same roads.

I went with a Blueflame titanium zorst which is a perfect blend of raw power in a velvet glove. Mine did not have a steering damper when I first bought it, but I put on an Ohlins damper which has smoothed things out really well. It does not impact the quick steering as long as you keep the damping settings on 2-3 instead of too high a setting.

The engine's a gem - it doesn't have the banzai power as on the current Blade which is simply mental (and too much for road riding imho). Compared to 2009 IL4 engines that are ultra smooth, the 954 engine has a rawness that lets you know it is there but is still totally refined for long distance cruising. It has a barely audible slight chatter at idle which makes you think the valves need checking, but they don't as Honda moved to the low profile pistons compared to earlier Blades and these make more noise. £15-16 of petrol and I normally get 150 miles mostly commuting along A/B roads, but this will drop to 130 miles when having a play.

And as already mentioned, the underseat storage is simply cavernous. I can get waterproofs, cable lock, disc lock, Honda tool kit and bungee net all stashed underneath! Otherwise, it's Honda reliability and typical well thought out controls etc.

Awesome bike for not much outlay, and they appear to be hardening in value given they are the last of the Baba-san Blades: values haven't moved at all this past year based on my weekly scan of the classifieds!

Oh, and Blue ones are the fastest

Edited by BladeAde on Friday 25th September 00:29

[Mellow Matt]

Can't comment too much on the bike, but I've got a 954 engine in my car! It's done a few thousand miles lugging people around at silly speeds and hasn't missed a beat, so I think it's pretty safe to say it's reliable

[y2blade]

the RRY-1-2-3 is prob the series of fireblades EVER

a LOT more fun on the road that the newer RR4-5

get a test ride..you will love it


i will post a proper reply later so this is just to make sure i kep an eye on this thread

Edited by y2blade on Friday 25th September 10:58

[davidn]

Agree with all of the above, you won't regret it. Very comfortable riding position for the over 6' and pleasantly light and very chuckable. Having recently aquired an Aprilia I'm now looking at ways to keep the Blade, it's just too good to let go.

Edited by davidn on Friday 25th September 13:49

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Mellow Matt said:

Can't comment too much on the bike, but I've got a 954 engine in my car! It's done a few thousand miles lugging people around at silly speeds and hasn't missed a beat, so I think it's pretty safe to say it's reliable

You callin' me fat?

[Andy OH]

I managed to sell my R1 for £3,000 on Saturday and then on Sunday morning bought a very mint 2003 954 Fireblade, it's done 4,400 miles and looks like new, well it does now after spending four hours cleaning it yesterday.

I'l try to get some pics soon and post them up here.

Thanks to all the guys who replied, there weren't many replies but they were very useful

[y2blade]

Andy OH said:

I managed to sell my R1 for £3,000 on Saturday and then on Sunday morning bought a very mint 2003 954 Fireblade, it's done 4,400 miles and looks like new, well it does now after spending four hours cleaning it yesterday.

I'l try to get some pics soon and post them up here.

Thanks to all the guys who replied, there weren't many replies but they were very useful

good on ya I look forward to seeing some pictures of it

enjoy

[Yoda.]

Andy OH said:

...there weren't many replies but they were very useful

I was going to bore you with stuff about mine (all good), but the weekend got in the way...count yourself lucky!

[y2blade]

Yoda. said:

Andy OH said:

...there weren't many replies but they were very useful

I was going to bore you with stuff about mine (all good), but the weekend got in the way...count yourself lucky!

ditto...I was going to do a "proper" reply but the weekend got in the way

Edited by y2blade on Monday 28th September 13:34

[fergus]

Andy OH said:

I managed to sell my R1 for £3,000 on Saturday and then on Sunday morning bought a very mint 2003 954 Fireblade, it's done 4,400 miles and looks like new, well it does now after spending four hours cleaning it yesterday.

I'l try to get some pics soon and post them up here.

Thanks to all the guys who replied, there weren't many replies but they were very useful

AOH
Did you let yours go with all the extras on it, or was it sold as stock?

PS Dave @ Bob Farmham is gas flowing mine in a few weeks (& some other tweeks). We're going for a true 180 rwhp!

[Andy OH]

Yoda & Y2Blade,

I'd be interested to read what your experiences are and also what you've changed on the bike.

Cheers,

Andy

[dern]

Why do they need a steering damper? I did nearly 40k on my 929rry and never felt it needed one... maybe I didn't go quickly enough.

[y2blade]

dern said:

Why do they need a steering damper? I did nearly 40k on my 929rry and never felt it needed one... maybe I didn't go quickly enough.

Edited by y2blade on Monday 28th September 16:23

[y2blade]

Andy OH said:

Yoda & Y2Blade,

I'd be interested to read what your experiences are and also what you've changed on the bike.

Cheers,

Andy

first job is to stick a steering damper on it, but then you knew that already

[Yoda.]

Andy OH said:

Yoda & Y2Blade,

I'd be interested to read what your experiences are and also what you've changed on the bike.

Cheers,

Andy

OK...first the mandatory pikky



Right.
Bought from new in March 2003 ('02 model). Now covered over 22k miles. My dipped headlight bulb blew 2 weeks ago, other than that there is nothing that has gone wrong with it.
Recalls are: Front fork lowers (where the forks go into the black bottom bits that the brake calipers are mounted to). I thought there was another recall for something else, but can't find anything
I don't (now) ride in the rain and never did on salty roads if I could avoid it!, but even if you do the build quality & finish is top-notch. I did about 15k commuting from Surrey to West London on it over 3 years, again without problem...although the cooling fan can spend a lot of time 'on' if sitting in traffic on a hot summers day.
I run 2CT's on it which may give me about 2.5k out of the back, the front has worn little in 2k miles really.

It has Gilles rear sets (getting a bit cramped for my old bones now), a micron street-legal exhaust, PCIII, CRG levers (normal length). I've experimented with various screens over the years...Fabbri being the favourite, although I have the standard Honda one fitted as I think it looks nicer but definitely doesn't offer as much wind deflection!
Ohlins steering damper (in need of a service now I think) - the front can definitely get flighty especially if hitting a little bump in the road under power. Single seat 'hump' which isn't fitted ATM , Harris exhaust hanger & Harris CF hugger.
I used to have an Akro race can set up with the PCIII both of which I bought off a PH'er in '05. This sounded gorgeous, but I sold it in favour of less noise Before that I had an Arrow (road legal) which didn't seem to seat properly on it's joining point...hence the Akro. The standard exhaust without PCIII is fine...but not so fine if 'fluffing' about in slow moving traffic (this is where the PCIII comes into it's own). Fully standard set up - keep 5k revs on the clock and you're away, there's a little kick around 10k IIRC too.
I have HEL brake lines which in all fairness made little difference ...but it's bling innit
My front brake calipers became sticky from I think around 20k miles...bit of a job to put new seals in, but not if you know what you're doing (I didn't so I paid a man!) and have EBC HH pads fitted which make a nice swishing noise, however lack initial bite until used a couple of times (possibly not good commuting pads?).
Don't be surprised to find the brake lever pulling a fair way back when not on the move...apparently Honda designed them to be a bit soft on 'first use' (though I'm not sure how they managed it!).
Mine's used a little oil over the years, but if you check once a month you should be fine.
Do not over-tighten the chain...you need about an inch of free-play at the loosest point so I'm told. I'm still running the original chain & sprockets with plenty of life left in 'em. Lube with Wurth 'Dry Chain Lube' to prevent oil from getting on your high-heels
I get around 140 miles before the 'reserve' light comes on (the PCIII definitely has increased the fuel economy a bit), but usually just fill up on 100 miles as it's easier that way. If you're caning it expect roughly 100 miles with the PCII before reserve.

The engine sounds like a bag of nails on start up, but apparently this is normal ('tho I'm sure it's got louder over the years).
For me I just love the way it (still) looks...despite 6 years of ownership I'm not bored of it. Sit it next to a modern 1000 & it looks big...but not dated IMHO And before anyone starts dissing the colour, that's the colour I wanted, and yes I know the exhaust looks big!...until the blue one came out a year later that is.
I assume after R1 ownership it will be a little down on power, but I'm sure you've already born that in mind.
If there's anything else you think of just ask...

Welcome to the 954 fold

Edited by Yoda. on Monday 28th September 17:33

[dern]

Yoda. said:

Recalls are: Front fork lowers (where the forks go into the black bottom bits that the brake calipers are mounted to). I thought there was another recall for something else, but can't find anything

If it's the same as the 929 then it'll be the clutch basket and the main fuel pipe although mine didn't need either of these.

The main weakness appears to be the stator coil and possibly the rectifiers. Having said that this only seems to manfiest itself at higher miles. There's plenty of talk on the subject on the fireblade forums but if you've got a garage queen you'll be fine.

I may have ridden mine below the limit most of the time but I honestly never felt that the front needed damping in all the time I had it even pressing on on uneven surfaces. It did move about a bit but nothing that I would consider to be needing rectification. Maybe if you do push it right to the limit its character suddenly changes.

The finish is good but it will suffer if you get salt on it and don't clean it. Mine did quite badly in the end although it held out for a good long time.

I loved mine for 7 years and nearly 40k miles through all weathers but towards the end it dumped me by the side of the road too often and I'd had enough. I replaced mine with a 2004 R1 which I like better but the last year really coloured my view of my blade.

[Yoda.]

^^^

The 929 recalls were different. The other one I'd forgotten about was steering bearings...they needed to be checked for replacement by a dealer, or something. IIRC it was as the factory had fitted the wrong type on some & a punch mark was given to the ones that were correct...sorry can't remember more than this, though a forum would tell you I'm sure.
The 954 was lighter than the 929 & [i[may[/i] have had a few geometry alterations making the front more flighty. In fairness when I first started thinking about a 'Blade this was the era of the 929, and I don't think steering dampers were talked about other than perhaps for a bit of extra bling