The 1998 Honda CBR900RR-W – best bargain Blade?

The Honda CBR900RR Fireblade has been around for more than two decades. Designed by Tadao Baba and launched in 1992, it immediately made every other sports bike at the time look stupid.

Now 22 years later, the current CBR1000RR Fireblade is still cutting edge technology, but the impact of it is much less dramatic. Which is one reason why the early 1992-1993 CBR900-RRN and CBR900-RRP models are now classics, even though to most people they still look striking and modern. As a result prices have continued to rise – but if you go a little later, then there are still Blade bargains to be found. You just have to look beyond nostalgia.

I’ve owned various 900cc Fireblades up to the 2001 Honda CBR900RR-1. The thing I liked most about that one was the funny headlamp. And while the earliest models are still some of my favourite bikes, the prices make them increasingly painful in the wallet department.

 

1998 Honda CBR900RR-W – the thinking man’s Blade?

For me, the combination of technology, progress and budget makes the last of the carb models the right choice. Despite the fact there wasn’t a single decent colour scheme available, the RR-W models benefited from the improvements over each model which preceded it.

That included a comfier riding position for the road, and a bigger 918cc capacity motor for more practical road use. Not only was the braking improved with new calipers and larger front discs, but the frame was closer to the original in stiffness, the suspension was revised and it became a much better package.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect. Keeping the silly 16-inch front wheel size hinders modern tyre choices, but it’s easily fixed with a 17-inch alternative from a late Honda VFR750 or CBR600.

And possibly the best thing is that it’s still easy to find a reasonably priced, reasonably clean example for good money. For around £1,500 you can soon find something fairly tidy, whereas for a couple of grand or more you can expect a corker.

 

Honda CBR900RR Fireblade Model Years:

Note the broader American model designations in bold, and the European year designations below each one. Various special editions were produced over the years by both Honda and dealers to make the most of road and track success, plus the history of Honda. Two official examples include the 1998 EVO Blade/TT100, and the 1998 50th Anniversary Limited Edition.

• 1992-1993 Honda CBR900RR SC28
  1992 Honda CBR900-RRN
  1993 Honda CBR900-RRP
• 1994-1995 Honda CBR900RR SC28
  1994 Honda CBR900-RRR
  1995 Honda CBR900-RRS
• 1996-1999 Honda CBR919RR (SC33)
  1996 Honda CBR900-RRT
  1997 Honda CBR900-RRV
  1998 Honda CBR900-RRW
  1999 Honda CBR900-RRX
• 2000-2001 Honda CBR929RR (SC44)
  2000 Honda CBR900-RRY
  2001 HondaCBR900-RR1
• 2002-2003 Honda CBR954RR (SC50)
  2002 Honda CBR900-RR2
  2003 Honda CBR900-RR3

Buying tips for the Blade include checking the head races due to the ease of power wheelies for ham-fisted previous owners who may not have landed gently. Getting the front wheel in the air allows you to check for movement back and forwards – at least the  brakes tend to be fine aside from the normal checks for neglect. There was a recall for cracks in the lower fork legs on some of the European model Fireblades from 2000-2003, with letters sent out around 2006ish.

A slightly clattery engine from cold isn’t necessarily a problem, but if it continues with the clutch in, consider whether an oil change or tappet adjustment is needed.

 Check out Honda CBR900RR Fireblades for sale right now on eBay.