900rr blades
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Discussion

A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,546 posts

148 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
How good are these bike to ride? Its my dream bike but ive never been near one, Had an agreeable classic insurance quote so i could be tempted to swap my diversion for one in the summer.

Are they pigs to ride? Is the riding position awful? Are they reliable/easy to get parts for?

Im thinking latter 2000- 2003 bikes, but if the 90s ones are better than please say!

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Best classic is the "bugeye" rrn-p 1992-3 model. separate twin rounds, not a joined unit for front lighting. 893 engines. Getting a bit pricey now.

Later shape ofd this version went to a 918. Arguably better tech but heavier and not as "pure". Can get them cheap and they will take a kicking.

929 is the red headed stepchild. Nothing hugely wrong with it, but not massively desirable.

Best later pre-1000cc version is the 954 blade. Some colour schemes were bloody woeful though. Blue is nice and scandinavians got a gunmetal one. A genuinely impressive bike to ride and those who know, know.

Blades have always been my bike of choice.

A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,546 posts

148 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
biggrin

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Full disclosure. I have a 92 rrn, had it 20 years. and a 918 fighter. Best friend had a 954.


A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,546 posts

148 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
im getting itchy...

think i could be spending a while researching/ sourcing one.

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Other bikes are excellent, but I can tell you the build quality of all the blades is very good, the 929 might have the poorest finish quality. A lot lead fairly hard lives though as a result.

Post any you like on here.

A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,546 posts

148 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Along the lines of

https://www.rite-bike.co.uk/used-honda-cbr900rr-fi...

Ive got a thing about it having a standard exhaust, im not a fan of end cans

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
Along the lines of

https://www.rite-bike.co.uk/used-honda-cbr900rr-fi...

Ive got a thing about it having a standard exhaust, im not a fan of end cans
Clean bike, Id argue you might be able to get a 954 for the same money though. Worth a look about a bit.

Ilikemotorbikes

3,343 posts

191 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Owned a 1996 Blade but not ridden the 929 or 954.

The 918 series (think 96-99 bikes) were more "refined" as most models tend to be. Not as sought after as it wasn't the first generation so to speak but it was a great bike.
I did everything from commuting, touring and trackdays and it took it all!
Its comfortable for a sports bike but it is still a sports bike, I think I managed 45-50mpg relatively often if not thrashing it to death.
They're starting to go up in price so buy now and enjoy it for 6-12months and if you buy right, you probably won't lose much if any money.

Seat height is reasonably high but not silly if you're short in the leg.

Mate of mine has a 954 and has owned plenty of other similar bikes and is smitten with his but prices tend to start at 3.2k rather than 2k for a 92-99 bike.



That picture was at the end of a tour of Ireland.

I'd ridden from Somerset, through Wales to Anglesey. Did a track day, that evening got the boat to Dublin. Rode around Dublin and Wicklow mountains for a day, did a track morning at Mondello Park then set off for a trip around the South West of Ireland for a few days before heading home.

They have a few minor issues, mainly the reg/rec issue that plagues most Hondas of that era but otherwise pretty solid and dependable bike

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Ilikemotorbikes said:
Owned a 1996 Blade but not ridden the 929 or 954.

The 918 series (think 96-99 bikes) were more "refined" as most models tend to be. Not as sought after as it wasn't the first generation so to speak but it was a great bike.
I did everything from commuting, touring and trackdays and it took it all!
Its comfortable for a sports bike but it is still a sports bike, I think I managed 45-50mpg relatively often if not thrashing it to death.
They're starting to go up in price so buy now and enjoy it for 6-12months and if you buy right, you probably won't lose much if any money.

Seat height is reasonably high but not silly if you're short in the leg.

Mate of mine has a 954 and has owned plenty of other similar bikes and is smitten with his but prices tend to start at 3.2k rather than 2k for a 92-99 bike.



That picture was at the end of a tour of Ireland.

I'd ridden from Somerset, through Wales to Anglesey. Did a track day, that evening got the boat to Dublin. Rode around Dublin and Wicklow mountains for a day, did a track morning at Mondello Park then set off for a trip around the South West of Ireland for a few days before heading home.

They have a few minor issues, mainly the reg/rec issue that plagues most Hondas of that era but otherwise pretty solid and dependable bike
I'd agree with all of this. A good workaround for the reg/rec is a shindengen big bang R1 swap out with additional earth and fused battery return.

A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,546 posts

148 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
looks like one will be gracing my garage next year then

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
The 918 like in the pic above really is a great all rounder for what is essentially a hyper.

TwigtheWonderkid

49,171 posts

180 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
I has a 1995 RR-S, one of the last models with the 893cc engine. Urban Tiger colours, foxeye lights, it was just brilliant. Even today these are fast bikes, and for a normal rider like me without any supreme skills, my nerve always ran out long before the bike had got close to reaching its capabilities.

I did a stretch once at 125mph (on the autobahn of course) and you could have built a house of cards on the petrol tank. Just very stable and secure. At it was a doddle to ride around town at low speeds too. Get into top gear and ride it like a twist and go. You only need to change down when you get below about 20 mph. Selling it was the worst days work I ever did. Those Urban Tiger blades fetch proper money these days. weeping

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
here’s a picture of a picture of my rrn...


mike-v2tmf

889 posts

109 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
My last bike (18 years ago) was a 918RRV, I loved it , and I have short legs , edited to add , its the only bike I owned twice


Edited by mike-v2tmf on Thursday 24th December 16:27

TwigtheWonderkid

49,171 posts

180 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Here's my RR-S


A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,546 posts

148 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
does the scaffolding holding the screen up get in the way when riding?

Ilikemotorbikes

3,343 posts

191 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
does the scaffolding holding the screen up get in the way when riding?
Nope. Look how far forward it is, it's not even close to being in the way.
Even in full tuck on track your head is still clear of it and your arms are outside it

Stop finding excuses to dislike it and buy one already biggrin

A500leroy

Original Poster:

8,546 posts

148 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
Ilikemotorbikes said:
A500leroy said:
does the scaffolding holding the screen up get in the way when riding?
Nope. Look how far forward it is, it's not even close to being in the way.
Even in full tuck on track your head is still clear of it and your arms are outside it

Stop finding excuses to dislike it and buy one already biggrin
you cant see my search history!, i am looking, but ive never liked that scaffolding on any bike, it looks like a desperate attempt to hold the screen up and modern versions look cleaner.

V1nce Fox

5,508 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th December 2020
quotequote all
i actually consider it a classic stye feature of them, but then i am very old hehe

Edited by V1nce Fox on Thursday 24th December 18:22