[mojo1094]

It was a transition much akin to rough sex. I was a little apprehensive at first, maybe a little turned off. I knew the croud but mostly from the outside. Then came the day. It started off raw and scary, but afterwards, i was sold. It's not the only kind out there, but it's definately fun.

Never was a honda fan. Arrogance spewed forth from the moto gp team and it just kinda bugged me. The riders around here, kinda assy. The dealerships, even worse. Prices higher, seats harder, numbers, not as impressive.

But, then i rode it. A 2k2 954rr, I rode it down the street, a straight flat one, with only one slight turn. The position was much more upright, and slightly more forward. i turned around, went back to the place where i started from. Got off the bike, walked over to my other one, removed the money from the tail section and bought my honda.

The next five hours i spent riding that bike, and got a feel for it. wider more angled body than my suzuki. more nimble, although heavier. I just can't place a finger on it, but there is something about that bike. it's just, just, wonderful. you know? a sheer pleasure to ride. quick, fast, unique, classy and ... well, i don't have to tell you all.

So, I packed up my pride and predjudices and now I ride the honda. It's lovely. really is. I know there's another 900 in the area, and maybe a 929, but i think i have one of the only 954's. I will be riding this till the end, and will recomend it to anyone with an open ear.

I guess there is only one question i have right now, what qualifies a bike as a Fireblade?

[NinerPilot]

Welcome to the snobby group as well as the board. I honestly think that the arogance that some see with Some honda riders is more just the fact that we know we are happy with the bikes. Though they dont always put out top #s, we know that they are a better bike overall. Now its your turn. Personally I think that Honda is the better bike, and I used to trash talk Suzuki all the time until I went to the WERA GNF last year at Road Atlanta. Suzuki picked up the tab for lunch, refreshments, and other goodies for racers (regardless of their ride), their crews, and track staff. Plus all the money that they put in to amateur racing as prize money coupled with the hp # they put out I gotta hand it to them.

Anyhow, welcome aboard. A Fireblade is the European name given to the CBR 900/929/954.
Chris

[mojo1094]

awesome. good to know.

also, something i've come to notice about numbers. I am, by far, a newbie. I learn, and I learn quickly, but I've had some hard and harsh lessons about riding. For instance ... don't ever EVER buy shatty tyres, but the biggest lesson?

Numbers are for one thing, a squid.

My friend proclaims his 180hp R1 from the rooftops. It's a phenominal machine, but it's just that. A machine. With an aquatic animal aboard. Instead of learning how to launch the bike to use all avalible hp's, he would give me lines like "you are gonna roast that clutch, and need a new one" as he does rolling burnouts and wheelies in traffic, 80-90 mph wheelies, mind you.

i rode a gsxr 750. a fast bike regardless, but devistatingly fast if you know what you are doing, which in a straight line, i definately did. This brings me back to the point. A squid will wine about numbers, a rider will go out there and show you just how much those numbers really mean. I saw a goldwing ROAST a 600. i guess 40 yrs of experience really accounts for something, eh?

SO, if all the modern sportbikes are within 1 second of eachother, who cares?!? Get on what is comfortable. And ride at your own pace. I do. I have been trashed by other riders because of it. Forget them. I ride how I want to. If you want to take off and race thru the country, do it. If I have a passenger, I'm not going to do that. I don't want the death of someone on my concious. I'm alive because I ride how I want to. I ride and try to keep groups together.

Anywhom, Thanks for welcoming me, and i know we are all over the country, but hey, sometime in the future, i hope we all get together and shake hands in person.


be safe, and keep the shiny side up.

[Scratch]

Couldn't agree more mojo. 954's and 929's are some great bikes, as were the 900's of earlier years. Although I do love my new Suzuki, and it's nice to have change every once in a while, the 929 I briefly owned was one of the more fun bikes to ride through the twists. Light, agile, could give it plenty of throttle with no worries, a true joy to ride. Though the new bike would beat it out in almost every aspect(not just #'s on paper, means nothing) it was still a great bike to ride and I wish I could have held on to it and still purchased the new one. My '96 CBR900 was an awesome machine, though squirrly on hard accleration it cornered great, and gave the (back then) more powerful ZX-9 a good spanking on the twists. At that time the ZX9 was the most comfortable sportbike I've ever ridden, that was the only thing I liked about it. The only sportbike I've never owned is a Kawi and I don't see one in the near future.

I've been a Honda owner before for long periods of time. I am glad I wandered and saw what Yamaha and now Suzuki had to offer. What I like about Suzuki is that they seem to give you more for your dollar. Little things like throwing in a seat cowl, dampers before everyone else started putting them on. They generally seem to care more about the consumer than some of the other manufacturers out there. They also seem to care more about privateer racing. Yamaha opened my eyes to the fact that it doesn't have to be a Honda to be reliable. I loved my '01 R1 and wish that I never killed it, what a terrific, confidence inspiring machine that was!

I do have a question for you though, as someone who's coming off a GSXR 750. I have a friend that purchased a 2000 F4 brand new in 2000, and now has 34k+ miles on it. He loves the bike but it's getting a bit dated now and he's thinking about the new 750, can you offer any advice I could pass on to him? Some of the bikes quirks, strenghts and weaknesses? Anything to look out for or just generally any info you'd like to share. I'm sure he would appreciate it.

Good luck with the new ride, you've made an excellent choice. If the bike fits you well and just basically "feels good" then there's no worries. I've yet to meet anyone un-happy with their 954 or 929's. All things being equal, they're usually "keepers".

[KJ's RR]

Welcome to both Honda world & the Org
As far as dealers in your area.I picked up a sweet deal last yr off E-bay from Garrell Bros. Ever deal W/them? They treated me great on my 954.

By the way the BLK/SLVR is the fastest/best look'n no matter what you read here & I've been a Big Red fan for, oh about 35+ yrs too

[mr_rua]

Honda owners arrogant?

In an English accent: Wadsworth could you please fetch me my crumptets and tea. I plan to have a cracking day on my Honda CBR 954.

Seriously, I owned a 2002 954 and must say that it is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever ridden that can perform canyon carving just as good as any other bike out there.

In an English accent: Just smashing!

[ND4SPD]

You're in luck. We are having our annual event at Grattan Raceway in Michigan about 10 days from now...still have time to scramble your stuff together and go meet everyone. It's one of the friendliest and best events you can attend

Hey mr_rua...did Wadsworth make enough tea for me as well?

[HondaGalToo]

Welcome!

[ConqSoft]

Welcome!

Just last week I finally got around to adding an entry to the FAQ for "What is a FireBlade?":

http://www.fireblades.org/forums/faq...t_is_fireblade

[ReaperAZ]

To not only the .Org but to Honda as well.

[Mojave954]

Used to own 2 2002's. Was never meant to be though. Good rides. Recommend a damper as the front end gets twitchy. Otherwise, stable, dependable, nice.

[EDDIE110171]

to the .org

[sheepofblue]

Baa

Warning stay away from 1KRRs and RCs or you will find one is not enough....

[rumpy]

[mojo1094]

have the steering dampner. it's great. have a micron exhaust (full system) and a pcIII.

as far as a reco for the gsxr 750? yeah. get it. keep it. love it. be careful on 2nd gear. beyond that, man. it's will keep up with the 2k4 literbikes. it's insane, but stable. i just can't complain about hte bike. mine i was dissapointed in because 2nd gear went out of it, so yeah. but beyond that, no, i loved it. and will probibly love another 750 again.