These might not be everybody's Dream rides but they're still a couple of iconic bikes, the Honda Fireblade CBR900RR and Yamaha R1. For Bemoto motorcycle insurance, head to bemoto.uk/moto... #hondafireblade #yamahar1 #bikeworld
The 900rr was a hugely popular stunt riding bike amongst my friends in the early 2000's. The abuse I've seen them take and still keep going is unreal, damn near indestructible.
2000 model r1 is still one of the best looking bikes ever in my opinion, you need to see it I the flesh to really appreciate the lines!! Also you definitely don't need to spend 7k to get a mint one. Nice try bike specialist lol
Passed my test on a Honda CB 125 in 1992 and went out and bought a brand new Honda Fireblade for my first ever road bike, it was the black and silver. Absolutely loved it
It's funny ,, I sold my 96 900 RRT when I moved over here to Turkey and over here bought a 2000 R1 😁 Both really are great bikes , even just to wheel out of the shed and look at while drinking a cuppa.. Have a great day everyone 👍
Great video 👍🏻 I have a 98 and it was my poster bike. I remember standing in the kitchen when the first ad came on during a break on Eurosport, and blew me away. Never thought I’d own one, and it absolutely lives up to the hype and more 👌🏻 Love the 90s 🙌🏻
I have owned both a 96 blade and 2001 r1 and 100% agree with all the points you made. Highlights…many comfortable long trips on the blade and the r1 was the best standard bike I rode on track.
Nice feature! 😎 I passed my direct access aged 21 in 1999. I’d read all the reviews of the first R1 and had to have one. As soon as I got a years NCD I bought a ‘99 R1 (4XV). Kept it until 2013. Other bikes came and went but the R1 stayed until I gave up riding. Awesome bike. I came back to biking in 2021 and it had to be an R1. This time a 5JJ as in this vid. I prefer the looks slightly. Always did. It’s fantastic. As with my cars I’m not interested in new stuff. Analogue all the way for me. 👍🏻
Got my R1 in 98, ended up having the engine tuned and blue printed by Bob farnham, Marvic 6 spoke wheels, ohlins, Full brembo wsb brake set up, Acro titanium system. Rode that bike all over europe following WSB for 6 years and it never missed a beat. Wish I hadn't sold it.
this is by far the best review of these two bikes i have ever seen. It is just spot on. You can feel the passion of these two men and they understand what makes the bikes so great. Often times it really infuriates me when people say that the old R1 is slow compared to a current R1. IT IS NOT. It might be on the track, but on the road where all those people are riding, both, the R1 and the Fireblade are more than what most men or women are able to ride.
Finally...the last of the Analog. Bikes that involve just you and your machine. No computers, analog. You launch, You brake and You corner. No launch control, no ABS, no TC. Now just waiting to see when they test ride an old Yamaha FZ 750 1FN/1FM...
I owned both of these bikes when they were new. Rode on the street and track days. Both great, but the R1 always seemed a little more special. Thanks for the video.
Still have my 01 R1, like the one in the vid (just with the fake carbon fender some came with) but she is now a garage queen. I should put her back on the road, its been 6 years. Still to this day think its one of the best looking bikes.
That was brilliant to watch, these legends will never die. New bikes just aren't the same, would have been nice to see the Kawasaki ZX9R in the mix also!, so underrated for the time. Would have made a great classic trio comparison between the brands!
Hi, I've placed a video up of my extremely original 1994 ZX9R B1. The colour is Candy Wine Red/ Pearl Gentry Grey/ Ebony Black. Check it out please. (I only started my channel 2 days ago) Best regards.
loved that R1. Still my all time top speed at 176 could hardly take my eyes of the road to read the speedo, White line looked solid, Good times indeed!
I did 165 on my mates gsxr1100 when it was easier, back in the day. I’ve got a cheeky little ZZR1100D7 now, and that feels crazy fast. It was still pulling like a train at 130, at which point I let off the throttle.
My cbr900rr 97 was my fastest at 190mph stack and turned erien racing full exhaust carburetor jet kit and my cbr1000 was a 1987 also 190 mph this cbr were stoning
I had the 5JJ R1 in those colours ! Loved it, raced it, won on it, crashed it, rebuilt it, crashed it again, sold it in carrier bags ! Now 17 years later I want one again !!
Thanks for taking me back to younger days lads! I had an urban tiger blade and the first gen. R1, superbikes back then were so much more comfortable and compliant, I used both to commute and for fun at the weekends, also with 90s bikes short arses like me didn't need a step ladder unlike todays litre bikes, my bike before the blade was a Yamaha FZR1000 which was like an elephant on ice compared to the blade and the R1 raised the bar higher again.
Too bad a 954 wasn't in house to go along with the r1! That would have been interesting to hear your thoughts. Back then we had a duc, gixxer, r1, and blade to swap out between friends. Hoons to the end!
Like to hear thoughts on the 2nd generation Triumph Daytona 955... w/ the 147 BHP triple, single sided swingarm model.. surprised me ..bit 'bland' certainly not a "dream ride' but neither is a CBR 900RR or R1 .. they are everywhere.. at least Daytona are few and far between.. and that "triple howl" induction noise ... can't stop giggling when you go WOT .. great for an old bike review ..Cheap to buy, insure and repair
@@lentilsouper yup, got mine in 02. As far as on road, the others couldn't touch it. 22kg lighter than the gizzer to boot. Best wheelie machine ever invented with that flat torque curve!
I have a 2000 5JJ R1 with 20k miles that has been tucked at the back of my garage and SORN since 2014 but seeing this really makes me want to get it back on the road in the spring.
Thanks for the video, I passed my bike test abroad and bought myself a CBR 400 RR in 1994, I still have it after not riding for years but thinking about getting it back on the road for next year. Mate of mine also had the blade so we had loads of fun riding in Cyprus.
I owned 2 RRT 918cc in black and yellow blades from 1998 to 2002. First one N reg / then a P reg. Went to the first Fireblade day at Silverstone back in June 2000. I'm in the photos taken by Honda. Good bikes 👍.
2nd gen of R1 nailed it. Raw af, but handled so much better than 1st gen. The Fireblade with the 17 inch front conversion and some fork tuning...spot on. Love both
I absolutely love 90's sports bikes. I've done 400+ miles in a single day on my fireblade without getting tired, it just makes you want to keep on riding!
I owned first generation versions of both bikes, i could never feel comfortable with the Honda, as a small person at five foot five it just felt for me the fuel tank and seat was to wide, i traded it in for a new R1 and that bike fitted like a glove, the fun and entertainment i got from it was unreal.
Had both, great wheelie machines. Never really got on with the 16" front wheel on the Blade though in corners, being used to 17" fronts it was like falling off a cliff tipping the Blade deep into corners...
Owned my 2001 R1 for 17 yrs, and still blows me away how good that engine is. Last of the carb feds till it went all injection. When 1000's without rider aid's where lairy hairy and a little scary to ride . 🤪
I bought my 01 brand new, in 02, after trying both the 954 and the GSXR1000, the R1 just won me over, felt better and looked better. Didn't get an 02 R1, because the sales guy wanted to get rid of the last, still in its crate, 01, and gave me a deal i couldn't refuse. Still have it, its absolutely mint with only 14,000 km (6500 miles) on it.
Had a '98 Blade. Beautiful machine. Spent time on a '97 R1 (white & red)... Thing was a beast! Low, sexy roll on wheelies in first or second a breeze... Stonking motor. Fond memories.
You guys are making me want my first bike ever even more now! At 50, wife is not too happy about my new addiction. Had my license for about a year, can't seem to pull the trigger on one.
Been commuting daily for 35 years! first a 96CBR900RR,then a 954.I will retire in four years and will sell the bike.Who wants to be on a crotch rocket at 70 years old! And only two very minor low speed low side crashes.
That Fireblade is the exact model I owned in the same colours! Still a weapon today. Didn’t rate the handling on the early R1 and bought a gen1 Mille which was the first bike I had that ran rings round the fireblade on handling. Very similar performance to the RRT too. Blades then were great engines only let down by weak gearboxes and an appetite for steering head bearings probably because of all the wheely antics owners pulled😂
Great Video!!! The 2001 R1 and 97 Blade you have look absolutely 💯 Beautiful and the way they sound ..They are Proper Machines and the Colour Scheme on them look Awesome 👍.. I have to buy a 900rr and 1st style R1 up to 2001 with the carburetors... Truly. iconic Machines!!!
Still own a 96 blade. Have had it for 20 years, nothing out there really interests me in the sport bike department. Yes everything since is faster and handles better. But it still feels special every time I ride it. It's my two wheeled friend. Love that R1 as well, took the blades crown and advanced it back in the day.
The roadbike mags over the years spotted the Kawasaki GPZ900, then the CBR900Blade, then the Yamaha R1, then the BMW S1000R as the bikes that moved the generation on in power, and more importantly handling. Also, even after all this time they look modern, a lot more attractive than some modern sports bikes, Kawasaki I'm looking at you ...
My brother had both of these in the same colours and I borrowed them a few times. The blade was a beautiful bike but I loved the R1. He eventually street fighter'd the R1 which I wasn't so keen on. Great bikes... 🤘
The r1 first came out for sale in 1998, the press bikes ,first shown in milan in 1997 ,( September), im sure were re- instated and sold as 98 bikes, so im pretty sure you cannot get a 97 r1, although im sure you can still get a 97 thunderace .
I part exed my 93 fireblade for a new 00 R1 - this was when you could still buy grey imports for £6.5K - the R1 repeated the make it lighter trick of the 92 Blade but with more POWER.
I've owned both these bikes and I have to disagree with you guys. The R1 didn't handle well at all and you had to ride it aggressively, pushing and forcing it into a corner, whereas the Blade you just looked at a corner and you was round it, like mind control. Night and day difference to me and I found the blade a much better bike. I do recall wide open throttle on the blade and thinking, meh, would like a bit more power, but I never wanted more power when I had the R1. Straight line R1 is king, throw some corners in and the blade would clear off. That's my experience of it anyway.
Lovely bikes! Random and possibly boring request, but I'd love to see you guys cover the bandit series of motorcycles. For many budget minded folk, that was the bike to have with the smiles per £ with those being off the charts and so they too got the reputation of being hooligan bikes. They're still super cheap today, and yes most of them are in bad condition but they are still a popular first "big bike". I know as I have a final generation 650 naked :)
Both great looking bikes. I think the blade would be the classic from these two. It has a much more distinct styling whilst the R1 is the now traditional sports bike shape. Ive got a 2004 GSXR1000 which is also a 2nd generation under looked model. People want the original or the 3rd gen which improved in almost every aspect. The 2nd gen makes a great value road bike though, 160bhp with decent torque, lots of room and very stable.
The 1997 (+-) Fireblade model is the last true classic supersport. No fancy electronics. No fuel gage. But still room for 2 pints and a (slightly squashed) big mac.
If you want to buy the R1 to ride then you're better off with the cheaper 2nd gen anyway as the front end is so much better, the original R1 understeered a bit - loads of grip and lean angle - but with some understeer due to flexing in the engine cradle..
Nice! Got a Silver 2003 Yamaha R1 (3rd Gen) it’s way too fast for the street but very very very smooth, the exup valve cuts power so it’ll go soon lol and a steering dampener because the front loves to wiggle
This model of R1 is such an improvement from the first gen, longer 1st gear ratio and better looking headlights, everything else is the same. Took the best bike at the time and made it better.
Thanks for the video guys. Very nice love the blade and the R1 but I see two 2017 CBR 1000 RR fire blades I think they’re both SP1’s or maybe even an SP2 along with it would absolutely love please if you did a review on those two bikes, please that would be great and please notify me if you do. Thank you so much.
I still have my 2001 Champions R1. Brembo, Ohlins, big JE pistons, Yosh cams, ported head, flat slides, ram air , ti Akro and the list goes on including carbon fiber everywhere including the wheels. Godspeed to all.
I’ve got an 06 50th LE in Kenny Roberts colours in my living room beside my 996S, both are stunning beyond words and in better condition than when they left their respective factories. Every guy that comes in loves them every woman thinks it’s ridiculous including my wife!!
I can relate, i have my restored 86 GSX-R1100 and my 01 R1 in my lounge😆 I have a friend who bought a brand new, last model (04 i think) TZ 250, and has it in his lounge, still unpainted in the white gell coat it came from the factory. He hasn't even started it😲and has all the full spares kit it came with, its like a work of art. But christ i want to hear it run🤣
I love this series.. These bikes are my era and passion. I have 6 ‘90s early ‘00s Sportbikes, including a later 900RR. I have just bought another bike, a 1999 Suzuki TL-R. I sold my Ducati 916 back in 2002 for an ‘01 R1, and whilst it really was a better bike in nearly every way, I regretted it. Saying that, I am on the lookout for a red/white ‘98 R1😄 Another brilliant video guys 👍🏼
Love these video's. SUGGESTION!!! Can we get a slabby test, with the 750 and the 1100?? Also, I'd love to see the GPZ900 with an early FJ1200 please. And if I'm being really greedy, a stroker fest with RGV250m, KR1s, TZR250 2ma, and Aprilia RS250. I know, I'm dreaming, but that's what these clips are for right? Dream away, then make it reality :) .
Love my 1999 CBRR 919 ex track bike. Only sports bike I've enjoyed, never get board ridding it and it will be back on the track next April, it's just screaming TRACK🤣👍
There is more than 5 years between them in reality. That blade is a 918cc up from an 893cc with very little extra power and otherwise its very similar to the 1993 original. Thats a gen 2 R1 which was a decent upgrade over the early carb bike and it would have competed with the last of the 954 or the underseat 1000rr. I'm not going to knock it though. I'd take either but probably the R1. I already had a few of that shape blade back in the day but even having ridden a few I never owned an R1.
The 2000/2001 were only slightly upgraded from the 98/99 model, and still carbed, i think they listed only 250 changes over the whole bike from the 98/99, most parts swap straight over, unlike the 02/03 R1 which was the first injected model, what they should have had was a 929 Blade to go with the R1, as they were sold together at the same time.
@@uhtred7860 You know you're right. For some reason I thought he said it was a 2004 R1 but watching the vid back its a Y plate so 2001? Thats 100% the 929 age. I'm a bit of a sucker for a carb R1. I rode an early one at launch and couldn't believe it did massive wheeliles in 2nd just because it felt like it. Both great bikes.