The famous 'Urban Tiger'.
MANY argue that this version is the
definitive Fireblade: great looks, challenging power delivery and
a riding position just this side of racetrack acute. Later versions
had higher ‘bars and a softer power delivery despite making more
power, and consequently lost that psycho edge.
This was the first major update for the all-conquering Fireblade.
The machine went straight to the top of the sales charts after its
release in 1992 and only got a change of paintwork the following year.
After a couple of years in the limelight what the emperor really needed
was new clothes, so a retailored set of threads graced the 1994 model.
Gone was the psychotic thousand-yard-stare of the original twin headlights
to be replaced by a smoothly feral Foxeye unit, which blended seamlessly
into a redesigned upper fairing. Sharpening the blunt looks of the
original also improved the aerodynamics and the higher screen deflected
the windblast better. This new superstructure was now anchored to
an aluminium-look fairing stay, rather than the dull black of the
original, to give the impression of even more lightness - if not the
actuality.
The engine remained unchanged, with the screaming top end still present,
correct and capable of sub-eleven second quarter miles or catapulting
the clocks into your face. With over 120 horsepower on tap and a top
speed on the naughty side of 160 its hooligan credentials were never
in doubt; and it could even manage 40mpg as well! Grammes were shaved
from the engine by making the cam cover from magnesium and the speedo
drive migrated from the front wheel to the gearbox sprocket cover.
This electrically driven alteration also meant that the rider’s
progress continued to be monitored even when the front wheel was nowhere
near the Tarmac – a frequent occurrence and useful for checking
wheelie velocity…
Minor modifications were made to the gearbox to improve the rather
notchy change from first to second, so snicking up a gear during those
wheelies was even easier. The front suspension benefited from the
addition of a stepless adjustment system and made accurate setting
easier and smoother, but didn’t altogether eliminate the chatter
that could be induced under braking. This makeover also saw the introduction
of the Urban Tiger paintscheme, which quickly became the livery (along
with red, white and blue) most synonymous with the Blade.
(Article reproduced courtesy of Motor
Cycle News)
The stonking
'Harris Magnum'
The Magnum 5 is an aggresive, hand built
cafe racer.
Mods include a nice twin headlamp set
up, 916 style exhaust, 25 degree raked forks (standard 24 degree)
45mm longer wheelbase and seating position that resembles a 96 blade.
Everything to build this Special is
available from Harris Performance at a very reasonable price, in fact
cheaper than a rebuild !
CHASSIS SPECIFICATION CBR954
2002 forks, disk & brakes, Harris Ally bars, Ohlins Kit rear shock,
Harris Magnum 5 nickel plated frame, Harris full Carbon/Kevlar YZR
rear subframe
ENGINE SPECIFICATION Std 1994
CBR900RRP engine 13,000 miles, Full Harris Stainless steel under seat
twin exhaust system including headers. Dynojet stage 2 kit and K&N
filter, Barnett clutch kit, 520 Anodised race chain with Renthal sprockets,
125 BHP at the rear wheel
An example
of a 'Turbo blade'. Fuel-Injected, Two Computers, Intercooled,
360hp 360 HP!
Not a 200 HP hodgepodge blow-thru carburetted
piece of rubbish! There is no point turbocharging your CBR if it can't
make more hp than anything on the planet.
Digital electronics, intercoolers, oil
scavenge systems, air-by-pass and turbo blow-off valves, pneumatic
billet diaphragm wastegates, dial-a-boost controls, ceramic coated
custom designed turbos, stainless feed and scavenge lines; custom
throttle bodies w/2 injectors per port; sophisticated idle air control
system; closed-loop operation; IBM PC programmability; large volume
plenums w/equal air distribution; digital Air/Fuel Ratio meters; sensors
for air temp, engine temp, throttle position, manifold pressure, IAC,
O2 Lambda, altitude compensation; and 600 HP fuel pumps.
The fabulous 'Evo Blade'. Believe
it or not, there was a fireblade that was built to outrun a Yamaha
yzf-r1, but it came at a price £22,000 - £25,000 depending
on whether you wanted the cheap or pricey model.
The Honda t100 Evo fireblade, was an
official “special” built at the end of 1998 to celebrate
Honda’s 100th victory in the Isle of Man TT Races. The
bike debuted at the NEC motorcycle show in 98, and was well received
by the crowds, even if the price tag gave most a heart attack. The
brains behind the project were Mick Grant (an ex racer turned Honda
bod) and Russell Savory (a tuner by trade) , both had been working
together in the RS performance / Sanyo Honda team. The
bike still looked very much like a stock blade, but had a more “purposeful
appearance” an exposed single-sided swing arm and two fresh air
scoops near the screen.
“Cash no object” seemed to
be the order of the day, in the design and build of the reworking,
better breathing for the engine was key to the CBR’s extra power.
The two huge air ducts above the
headlight, pushed large amounts of air into a large-volume airbox.
Carbs were changed to 41mm keihin
flat sides and the exhaust was a 4 into 1 titanium unit with a micron
carbon oval silencer.
All the major internals were balanced,
ie pistons, conrods and crankshaft along with the cylinderhead being
ported and gas flowed. RS performance
high lift cams operated standard valves closed by RS springs. The
stock gearbox was ditched in favour of a close ratio one, and the
ignition box changed to help the bike peak at a 12,200 rpm limit.
Ohlins suspension was added in
the form of 43mm inverted racing forks and an Ohlins unit at the back
that was compatible with the single sided swinging-arm. Stopping
power was supplied by brembos finest 4 pot calipers and 320mm discs
at the front, these were connected to lightweight dymags and the 17
inch hoops were Dunlop d207’s.
When a bike was purchased certain extra’s
were supplied – front and rear paddock stands, a riding jacket,
a bike cover and data sheets with recommended settings for road and
track riding. Alternate parts
such as, single and twin seats and high and low slung exhaust pipe
in road or race form, completed your return for £22,325 outlay.
And if you wanted to spend £25,000, a stealth version came with
fuel injection, carbon fibre bodywork, magnesium single sided swingarm
and carbon dymags.
Unfortunately not many of these beasties
got made, making it a true collectors item, power output was recorded
at 165bhp at the crank, and 150bhp at the back wheel, compared to
the 118bhp standard model of 1998. As
can be seen, the bike was an absolute stunner, and amazing to ride
– but at £22,000, it had to be.
The 'Resol'
race-replica. What can one say?
A standard(ish) fireblade in the famous
Repsol MotoGP colours. Get the matching leathers and pretend you are
Dani Pedrosa!!
One of
many 'Streetfighter' blades. Believe it or not, there are
some people who don't want their blade to look like the thing of beauty
that Tadao Baba invented, but prefer the sort of thing pictured above.
Each to their own???
Why not send us a photo of your special?
Send to cbrf (at) cbrfirebladers.co.uk
