{"id":8564,"date":"2021-01-11T08:46:01","date_gmt":"2021-01-11T08:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/?p=8564"},"modified":"2021-01-11T08:46:01","modified_gmt":"2021-01-11T08:46:01","slug":"honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/","title":{"rendered":"Honda CBR Series &#8211; Cuts like a Fireblade"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There have been many motorcycles in the years since the first powered bicycle emerged in the late 1800s and, in that time, only a few have been truly deserving of the term \u2018Legend\u2019. However, when it comes to the litre-class sportsbikes (with engine capacity around 1000cc), there is one that springs to mind; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\">Honda Fireblade<\/a> or, to give it its proper name, the CBR900RR and latterly, the CBR1000RR.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/310812honm-800x474.jpg\" alt=\"Fireblade, Honda Fireblade, Honda CBR, sportsbike, superbike, performance bike, motornike, classic bike, retro bike, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive,\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/310812honm-800x474.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/310812honm-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/310812honm-765x453.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/310812honm-1020x605.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/310812honm.jpg 1584w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Blade re-defined the sportsbike genre \u2013 and helped create the superbike one &#8211; with racetrack handling and performance combined with accessibility and usability for the road. A measure of its longevity and the love for the model is that, almost 30 year since the first Blade was launched, Honda is still developing the Blade and introducing new models.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\">Fireblade\u2019s<\/a> story begins in the late 1980s, when sportsbikes were becoming fast but generally, only in a straight line. Honda wanted a new model, so engineer Tadoa Baba was tasked with designing it. The original thinking was to make it 750cc, as was the general trend at the time but Baba realised that he could extend the stroke of the company&#8217;s 750cc motor to give 893cc and squeeze that into the narrow, lightweight 750-based frame he was working on.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">1990s<\/span><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The result was the 1992 CBR900RR FireBlade, the name apparently coming from erroneous translations from Japanese to English of \u2018lightning\u2019, via a couple of other languages on the way. Whatever the route, the name stuck and the new bike celebrated Baba-san\u2019s concept of mass centralisation, low weight and providing the rider with a bike that not only performed well but also responded to inputs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Honda-CBR900RR-92-800x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Honda-CBR900RR-92-800x498.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Honda-CBR900RR-92-768x478.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Honda-CBR900RR-92-765x476.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Honda-CBR900RR-92-1020x635.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Honda-CBR900RR-92.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The original RR re-defined the sportsbike genre overnight, with it\u2019s large twin round headlights and aggressive bodywork reminiscent of the racers of the day. Performance was exceptional, better than the then-standard 750cc default sportsbikes, with 120bhp claimed from the quad-carbureted engine and, with a weight of just 183kg and dimensions closer to a 600cc sportsbike, it was a joy to ride \u2013 and ride fast. It wasn\u2019t long before every budding racer was hanging off the bodywork, trying to drag their knees, toes and elbows on British tarmac just like their heroes.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two years later, the bike\u2019s evolution began with the RR-R\/S version, incorporating some minor changes to the engine, resulting in an imperceptible 2bhp gain but more importantly, the forks gained compression damping in an attempt to stabilise the bike\u2019s flighty front end. There were also small changes to the fairing, including what many called the \u2018Foxeye\u2019 headlights. The \u2018Urban tiger\u2019 colour scheme \u2013 of orange and black &#8211; also became available for the first time.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There were more tweaks to come; in 1996, the RR-T\/V got a slightly larger engine \u2013 up to 918cc and a bit more power, to 128bhp. However, the engineers had also changed the ergonomics. A new seat and fuel-tank design meant the rider was sat more upright and, as a result, many felt the bike had lost a little of its edge, its rawness.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/12-RC30-800x562.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/12-RC30-800x562.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/12-RC30-768x539.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/12-RC30-765x537.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/12-RC30.jpg 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By 1998, the competition had caught up; Yamaha had introduced the R1, a 150bhp bike with handling to match and which had stolen the Blade\u2019s thunder. The latest version of Honda\u2019s offering, the RR-W\/X was no slouch \u2013 its power too had grown, to 130bhp, but the bike was, by now, a softer version of its former self and this proved to be the least popular model in the Blade\u2019s evolution.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">2000s<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So it was back to the drawing board for Baba and his team for the 2000 model, to take the fight back to Yamaha and the R1. And boy, did they deliver. The all-new Blade used a 929c four-cylinder motor but for the first time, fuel injection to bring power up to 148bhp and deliver smooth and accurate fuelling. Front suspension changed to upside-down forks (where the damping units were fixed to the bike, at the top of the leg) to reduce unsprung mass and improve suspension response. The original bike\u2019s 16-inch front wheel was also changed for a 17in version. The result was again a huge step forward from the predecessor, with nimble and precise handling that worked superbly on the road as well as the track.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8572\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Honda_Fireblade.jpg\" alt=\"Fireblade, Honda Fireblade, Honda CBR, sportsbike, superbike, performance bike, motornike, classic bike, retro bike, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive,\" width=\"755\" height=\"572\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, though it led the field, the competition wasn\u2019t far behind and Suzuki introduced the GSX-R1000, spurring Honda on to yet another Blade in 2002. This would be the last created by Baba-san and, as a mark of recognition, the last to feature the upper-case \u2018B\u2019 in FireBlade. Dubbed the \u2018954\u2019, capacity grew to \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 954cc and with it, power to the magical 150bhp mark. There were updates to the bodywork and the bike remained sharp and precise to ride, becoming one of the most popular iterations of the Blade.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2004, the Fireblade went through another complete redesign; the CBR900RR became the CBR1000RR, as the bike was new from the ground up. Partly intended to provide a base for the 1000cc-class in World Superbike racing and partly for the road, a new 998cc engine developed 170bhp and was fitted into a chassis bred from Honda\u2019s MotoGP racer by the works team. The rear swingarm was elongated to help with traction, the exhausts moved from low-down to under the seat and the front brake calipers were mounted radially, as per the race bikes. The styling was by now much more angular than its predecessors and though it was the best Blade to date, it was facing stiff competition from the other Japanese manufacturers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/30777hon.jpeg\" alt=\"Fireblade, Honda Fireblade, Honda CBR, sportsbike, superbike, performance bike, motornike, classic bike, retro bike, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive,\" width=\"787\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/30777hon.jpeg 787w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/30777hon-768x577.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/30777hon-765x574.jpeg 765w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 787px) 100vw, 787px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2006, the eighth-generation Blade added a few minor engine modifications for a smidge more power and on the road, the bike was still a great hit. However, on the track, things weren\u2019t quite so rosy with Honda struggling to achieve the success it wanted, though it did manage to snap up the World SuperBike title in 2007.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was another all-new model introduced in 2008, the CBR1000RR-8. Developed under the stewardship of engineer Kyoichi Yoshii, the concept was to return the Blade to its original ideal of low weight and good power without introducing insulating electronic assists. This version is easily identified by new bodywork and the return to low-mounted exhausts and it kept the 998cc inline four, though by now, power was up to 175bhp. It also got new, more rigid and responsive monoblock front-brake calipers for improved stopping power and feel a year later, it was also fitted with Honda\u2019s C-ABS or Combined ABS.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">2010s<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2012, 20 years on from the debut of the original, the Blade was joined by the SP \u2013 or Special Production \u2013 variant. The base model was by now fitted with Showa \u2018Big Piston\u2019 forks, giving improved damping response and lighter alloy wheels. The SP was fitted with Ohlins dampers front and rear and Brembo brake calipers were also fitted. The SP was some \u00a33000 dearer than the base model but that\u2019s the price you pay for premium performance components.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8571\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/065125300_1254829817-800x600.jpeg\" alt=\"Fireblade, Honda Fireblade, Honda CBR, sportsbike, superbike, performance bike, motornike, classic bike, retro bike, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive,\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/065125300_1254829817-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/065125300_1254829817-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/065125300_1254829817-2000x1500.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/065125300_1254829817-765x574.jpeg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/065125300_1254829817-1020x765.jpeg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/065125300_1254829817-1600x1200.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By this point, the Blade was beginning to feel a little behind the times and so Honda went for yet another ground-up redesign in 2017 with three models available; the base RR, the uprated SP and the homologation special, the SP2. The engine was still a 998cc inline four but by now produced 189bhp at an ear-splitting 12,500rpm. The base bike used Kyaba suspension and Tokico suspension while the SP used semi-active Ohlins dampers and Brembo brakes, like the previous SP. However, what set this model apart from its predecessors was electronic control.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the first Blade to use a ride-by-wire throttle and this, in conjunction with a five-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that knew whether a bike was leaning or pitching forwards or backwards, meant that the bike could theoretically use as much of of its engine or braking power as the tyres could handle at any given time. There was nine-level traction control, wheelie control, three rider modes, five levels of engine power and three levels of engine braking to prevent rear-wheel lock-ups.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/160710honm-800x544.jpg\" alt=\"Fireblade, Honda Fireblade, Honda CBR, sportsbike, superbike, performance bike, motornike, classic bike, retro bike, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive,\" width=\"800\" height=\"544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/160710honm-800x544.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/160710honm-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/160710honm-2000x1360.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/160710honm-765x520.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/160710honm-1020x693.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/160710honm-1765x1200.jpg 1765w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most road riders, the bike was a return to form; it handled well, the engine was superb and the range of aids, once the manual had been digested, was generally useful. It wasn\u2019t perfect but it was well on the way. The SP2 version had a less successful start though, largely off the back of a disastrous outing at the Isle of Man TT, where Guy Martin and John McGuiness both had what can only be described as a nightmare; McGuinness crashed following a technical issue on the North West 200 in the run-up to the TT and could not compete and Martin also crashed in the TT Superbike race when the bike selected neutral instead of a gear. He eventually withdrew from the remaining races with an injured wrist.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #036300;\">2020s<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For 2020, there was another Fireblade but this one moved farther away from the road than ever before. The bike still has a four-pot motor, now based on the MotoGP engine and breaching the 200bhp barrier with 215bhp horses, though this occurs at 14,500rpm. It still had an impressive suite of electronics, now based on a six-axis IMU instead of the previous five-axis one. Suspension on the base model was firm, though the SP with its electronically controlled damping was more compliant for the road. Bodywork is also new, with MotoGP-inspired wings to help stabilise the front end.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8568\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305675_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Fireblade, Honda Fireblade, Honda CBR, sportsbike, superbike, performance bike, motornike, classic bike, retro bike, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305675_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305675_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305675_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305675_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-765x510.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305675_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305675_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-1800x1200.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, on paper, it\u2019s the most advanced Fireblade yet. But on the road, it simply doesn&#8217;t add up. The previous bikes\u2019 glorious midrange performance is now gone, replaced with a cacophony of throttle and revs \u2013 the big-bore, short stroke engine needs to get towards five figures before much happens. Sure, when it does it really happens but this means that by the time you\u2019re making the most of it, you\u2019re probably going too fast to even think lucidly.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305688_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Fireblade, Honda Fireblade, Honda CBR, sportsbike, superbike, performance bike, motornike, classic bike, retro bike, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive,\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305688_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305688_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305688_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305688_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-765x510.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305688_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/305688_HONDA_E_AND_FIREBLADE_TAKE_CENTRE_STAGE_AT_PRESTIGIOUS_RED_DOT_DESIGN-1800x1200.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest Blade has lost what made it so successful; road relevance. Regardless of its place in relation to its peers, it was first and foremost a road bike and it worked on the roads. Sure, it worked just as well on a racetrack if you were lucky enough to be able to take it there but if not, you could still get your kicks on the Queen\u2019s Highway. This latest version has lost its way and while it is a fearsome track weapon, it\u2019s not the glorious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/classic_cars.php?category=15&amp;type=&amp;make=501&amp;keyword=fireblade&amp;min_price=&amp;max_price=&amp;country=&amp;region=&amp;era=&amp;S=Search\">Fireblade<\/a> of old. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There have been many motorcycles in the years since the first powered bicycle emerged in the late 1800s and, in that time, only a few have been truly deserving of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":8566,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[792],"tags":[15,963,13,793,2582,2584,2583,14,2586,2585,1625,846,845],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Honda CBR Series - Cuts like a Fireblade - Car &amp; Classic Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Honda Fireblade is a legend of motorcycling; so much so that the manufacturer is still developing it and introducing new versions to this day.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Honda CBR Series - Cuts like a Fireblade - Car &amp; Classic Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Honda Fireblade is a legend of motorcycling; so much so that the manufacturer is still developing it and introducing new versions to this day.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Car &amp; Classic Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/79358_17YM_CBR1000RR_Fireblade_SP.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"619\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"465\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jim Blackstock\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jim Blackstock\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jim Blackstock\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/2a15153c20babec0f9780015df80e8ac\"},\"headline\":\"Honda CBR Series &#8211; Cuts like a Fireblade\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/\"},\"wordCount\":1767,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"automotive\",\"Car and Classic\",\"carandclassic.co.uk\",\"classic bike\",\"Fireblade\",\"Honda CBR\",\"Honda Fireblade\",\"motoring\",\"motornike\",\"performance bike\",\"retro bike\",\"sportsbike\",\"superbike\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Classic Bikes\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/\",\"name\":\"Honda CBR Series - Cuts like a Fireblade - Car &amp; Classic Magazine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"The Honda Fireblade is a legend of motorcycling; so much so that the manufacturer is still developing it and introducing new versions to this day.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Honda CBR Series &#8211; Cuts like a Fireblade\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/\",\"name\":\"Car &amp; Classic Magazine\",\"description\":\"The latest in the classic car world - articles, news, how to&#039;s, advice and more\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Car and Classic Limited\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Car-and-Classic-Square-Green-Background-Large.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Car-and-Classic-Square-Green-Background-Large.png\",\"width\":4262,\"height\":3881,\"caption\":\"Car and Classic Limited\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/2a15153c20babec0f9780015df80e8ac\",\"name\":\"Jim Blackstock\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e66afd52fb851b8f90ecf875d0840473?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e66afd52fb851b8f90ecf875d0840473?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jim Blackstock\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/author\/jim-blackstock\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Honda CBR Series - Cuts like a Fireblade - Car &amp; Classic Magazine","description":"The Honda Fireblade is a legend of motorcycling; so much so that the manufacturer is still developing it and introducing new versions to this day.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Honda CBR Series - Cuts like a Fireblade - Car &amp; Classic Magazine","og_description":"The Honda Fireblade is a legend of motorcycling; so much so that the manufacturer is still developing it and introducing new versions to this day.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/","og_site_name":"Car &amp; Classic Magazine","article_published_time":"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/79358_17YM_CBR1000RR_Fireblade_SP.jpg","width":619,"height":465,"type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jim Blackstock","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jim Blackstock","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/"},"author":{"name":"Jim Blackstock","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/2a15153c20babec0f9780015df80e8ac"},"headline":"Honda CBR Series &#8211; Cuts like a Fireblade","datePublished":"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00","dateModified":"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/"},"wordCount":1767,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#organization"},"keywords":["automotive","Car and Classic","carandclassic.co.uk","classic bike","Fireblade","Honda CBR","Honda Fireblade","motoring","motornike","performance bike","retro bike","sportsbike","superbike"],"articleSection":["Classic Bikes"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/","name":"Honda CBR Series - Cuts like a Fireblade - Car &amp; Classic Magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00","dateModified":"2021-01-11T08:46:01+00:00","description":"The Honda Fireblade is a legend of motorcycling; so much so that the manufacturer is still developing it and introducing new versions to this day.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/honda-cbr-series-cuts-like-a-fireblade\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Honda CBR Series &#8211; Cuts like a Fireblade"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/","name":"Car &amp; Classic Magazine","description":"The latest in the classic car world - articles, news, how to&#039;s, advice and more","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#organization","name":"Car and Classic Limited","url":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Car-and-Classic-Square-Green-Background-Large.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/app\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Car-and-Classic-Square-Green-Background-Large.png","width":4262,"height":3881,"caption":"Car and Classic Limited"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/2a15153c20babec0f9780015df80e8ac","name":"Jim Blackstock","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e66afd52fb851b8f90ecf875d0840473?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e66afd52fb851b8f90ecf875d0840473?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jim Blackstock"},"url":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/author\/jim-blackstock\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8564"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8564"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8576,"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8564\/revisions\/8576"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}