Honda CBR 919 RR Fireblade, 1997

There's no denying that the Honda CBR 919 RR completely revolutionized how sports bikes were developed and perceived globally. This is because the select bike was not only powerful, but it was also lighter in weight when compared to the rival bikes of the same category. Similar bikes from other manufacturing companies roughly weighed around 200 kilos. However, the original Honda FireBlade was designed to entertain around just 185kg, effectively helping it to run smoothly on the road.

Honda Cbr 919 Rr Fireblade Motorcycle

It won't be wrong to claim that the CBR919 RR Fireblade is arguably one of the finest sports bikes that have come out of the house of Honda. Launched back in 1996, the vehicle packed a 919 cc inline-four power layout. To put this into context, the Honda variant was in the same league as Honda's CBR600F2 in the era.

Here's a detailed breakdown of why the Honda CBR 919 RR Fireblade is one of the finest in the business and still holds relevance in 2021.

The Lightest Honda Fireblade

It is essential to mention that the Founding father of Fireblade, Baba-San fashioned CBR919RR to be extremely lightweight. He chose a 900cc engine to fit inside a 750cc chassis in his pursuit for power and precision in this bike. This ultimately resulted in the subsequent generations of the FireBlade be both powerful and lightweight.

There's no denying that the power-to-weight ratio continued to rise once Baba-San departed. However, it was CBR919 RR that chose to be categorized as a lightweight sports machine rather than a robust heavyweight engine.

Reason 2 —Not Uncomfortable

Regardless of engineering and designs or even generations, there's no denying that a rider can never experience absolute comfort while riding a sports bike- something that is very much the case with a cruiser or a touring adventure bike. However, ever since the turn of the century, sports bike manufacturers hit the reboot button and started paying more attention to the comfort quotient of their designs. This meant that they had more relaxed riding positions, effectively suiting the demands of everyday use.

Unsurprisingly, the CBR919RR was one of the very first motorcycles to join this change. Manufacturers like Honda always wanted their flagship series to be more general-purpose with the primary mission to benefit ordinary people with quick and comfortable rides.

Reason 3 —Baba-San's Favorite

Thirdly and most importantly, the Honda stalwart Tadao Baba had a special place for CBR 919 RR in his heart. The father of the FireBlade, as mentioned already, he stepped down from his role as a designer soon after the Fireblade series was done. In his own words, a few of his very last works became his most favorites. However, there's no denying that the CBR919RR has forever been one of his most memorable designs.

General Specifications

Engine

·      Max Power    130 Hp (@10 500 RPM)

·      Max Torque  67 Lb.-Ft (@10 000 RPM)

·      Displacement 919 Cc

·      Layout DOHC Inline-4

·      Valves 16

·      Redline          11 000 RPM

·      Idling Speed  1 100 RPM

·      Management Carburetor

·      Compression 11.10:1

·      Bore X Stroke 71.0 Mm X 58.0 Mm

·      Throttle Bore 38.0 Mm

·      Oil Capacity   3.41 Quart

·      Spark Plug Type        NGK CR8EH-9

·      Cooling          Liquid

·      Weight To Power      3.46 Lbs./Hp

·      Power To Weight      722 Hp/2500lbs

Brakes

·      Front Brakes  Two Discs

·      Front Caliper 4 Pistons

·      Front Brake Diameter 296 Mm

·      Rear Brakes   Disc

·      Rear Caliper  1 Piston

·      Rear Brake Diameter 240 Mm

·      Tires

·      Front Tire      130/70 ZR16

·      Rear Tire        180/55 ZR17

Gearbox

·      Type   Sequential

·      Clutch Wet

·      Drive  Chain

·      Gears Count  6

·      Primary Ratio 1.52

·      Final Drive     2.625

·      1. Gear          2.769 ( 73 Mph)

·      2. Gear          2.0 (102 Mph)

·      3. Gear          1.6 (127 Mph)

·      4. Gear          1.368 (148 Mph)

·      5. Gear          1.227 (166 Mph)

·      6. Gear          1.13 (180 Mph)

Dimensions

·      Height 44.69 In

·      Width 26.97 In

·      Length 80.31 In

·      Wheelbase    55.31 In

·      Seat Height   31.89 In

·      Dry Weight    397 Lbs.

·      Wet Weight   450 Lbs.

·      Max Payload Weight 417 Lbs.

·      Tank Capacity 4.8 Gallon

·      Rake   24.00 °

·      Trail   3.74 In

Chassis

·      Frame Type   Twin-Spar Aluminum

·      Front Sups.    45mm Showa, 120 Mm Travel

Rear Sups.     Showa Monoshock, 4.92 In Travel