Bonelorry's Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

[bonelorry]

And onto the next Bike/Project 
 

As some of you know I have just sold my 2020 BMW S1000R Sport last Week and have been scouring the Used Bike Market for something no replace it with, I had a shortlist of about 10 Bikes all differing in age and style of Bike.
 

I had a 1999 Honda Fireblade a few Years back and always promised myself a 2006/2007 Model if the right example popped up and in the Red/Black Colour Scheme.
 

In my opinion these are one of the best looking Fireblades with the Underseat Exhaust and Upside Down Forks, The Styling changed post 2008 and I have never been much of a fan of those later Bikes.

Well last night the stars aligned and the right Bike in the right Colour located at a Dealership I know very well came up.
 

Spotted the advert during my Break last night, Finished my Afternoon shift at 1am and drove up to Leeds this morning for when they opened as I have missed out on Bikes like this in the past so wasn't going to let it happen this time.
 

Did all my usual poking around and for a 15 Year old Bike it has the usual very minor age related marks here and there but it really is superb and I had to remind myself of its age when I was been hypercritical.

I decided I was having it and got the Deal I was happy with, The Bike is getting a Interim Service including Oil & Filter, Spark Plugs, Brake Fluids. They are removing the Datatool Alarm as they are a PITA and I hate them, They are Delivering the Bike and knocked £200 off the price. Happy Days!
 

Comes at some point next Week so will be going straight into the Garage for some usual Bonelorry treatment.

The Bike...
 

2006 Honda CBR1000RR-6 Fireblade, Last of the Lightweights 176KG/170BHP. No Electronics, No Rider Aids etc. 
11300 Miles
4 Previous Owners
Very good Service History with about 8 Stamps
 

Has a few really nice extra's too
 

Akrapovic Carbon Can with Titanium Link Pipe £700 Worth
Genuine Colour Coded Rear Pillion Seat Cover
Genuine Honda Tank Protector
R&G Aero Frame Protectors
Powerbronze Screen
Rear Paddock Stand Bobbins

Future Plans...
 

The Bike is already very well prepared and is a credit to its previous owners but I want to go through it all.

I want to replace the Front Screen for an MRA or something like that, The Powerbronze one fitted is showing its age.

Replace the Paddock Stand Bobbins for some Evotech Items.
 

Other than that just leave it alone and enjoy it, Obviously it will be for Summer use only and on a limited Mileage basis but I am planning on getting a Second Bike of similar age but that offers a totally different riding experience to keep my options open but we shall see.

Couple of Dealership Images, Will post some fresh ones when I get the Bike...

 


 

 
 

 
 

 

[bonelorry]

Its here!
 

Every now and again days go just how you want them to, Worked early this morning and halfway through my shift got the call to say the Bike was ready for delivery.
 

I had been home 20 Mins and the Van pulled up outside 
 

Just want to say that Jordan Bikes who I have been dealing with now for a number of Years have really gone above and beyond, In addition to the Major Service they have done on the Bike and removing the Alarm they have also fitted a Brand New Chain & Sprockets free of charge as their Technician said there was a couple of tight links and they wanted it right for me so replaced the lot. Superb!
 

As always, The bike was put straight onto the Ramp in the Garage and the deep cleaning commenced. Spent around 5 Hours this Afternoon on the Bike and its not yet finished.
 

Not found anything unexpected on the Bike, It does have the odd age related mark but its 15 Years old so this is no surprise. It is already looking much better after a bit of TLC.
 

So far I have...
 

: Removed the Lower Fairings ready for deep cleaning tomorrow.
: Removed the Rear Hugger & Chain Guard, All Degreased, Cleaned and refitted.
: Rear Swingarm area all Degreased.
: Front Engine Area & Exhaust Cleaned, ACF-50 Applied.
: LHS Rear Set removed, Full degreased, New Genuine Footpeg fitted as old item was damaged slightly.
: Replaced RHS R&G Frame Bobbin, It was slightly scuffed from the previous owner getting the Bike down the side of his house. Did its job and protected the Fairing.
: Fitted some R&G Paddock Stand Bobbins, Found these in my toolbox.
: Replaced x 5 of the M6 Fairing Panel Push Clips.

Its coming on, Will be doing some more on the bike over the coming days.

 

Some pics of todays efforts...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 13 May, 2021 by bonelorry

[bonelorry]

Did a bit more on the Fireblade yesterday Afternoon after work, Went through the rest of the Bike...

 

: Removed RHS Rearset & Pillion Footpegs, Stripped, Fully Degreased and re-assembled.
: Replaced the Front Brake Pads as they where around 60% Worn, Rear Brake Pads are like New and are Sinters. Went for some EBC HH Sinters which I won on ebay. They where bought in error by someone and I paid 50% of what they normally sell for. Happy days.
: Brake Calipers & Pins degreased, Cleaned, Pistons pushed back by hand. 
: Lower Fairings Degreased, Cleaned and Hand Polished.
: Re-Aligned the Exhaust, It was slightly off centre as can be seen in my pictures earlier in this Thread. Cleaned the Carbon Fibre and Titanium Link Pipe.
: All Plastics/Fairings and Tank Hand Polished, Touched up a few Small Chips here and there.
: Noticed a Bolt Head Cover/Cap was missing just below the Seat, Popped onto Fowlers to look at the exploded view of the Parts and found a Genuine Honda item for £2.80.

 

Couple of pictures...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missing Cap/Cover...

 

 

 

[Robshaw]

Lovely attention to detail! 

[bonelorry]

Managed to finally put my leg over the Bike and got out last Week for the first ride!
 

It had been Sunny and the Roads had dried out the Day before but I knew I wouldn't get out for too long as more heavy Rain was forecast at Lunchtime, I literally got back into the Garage and 10 Mins later the first clap of Thunder was heard! 
 

First calling point was my nearest Shell Petrol Station to fill up with some V-Power, Took it steady and kept the ride urban for the first 10-15 Miles as I was mindful of the New Front Brake Pads I had fitted needed bedding in a bit and they don't exactly inspire confidence during this period.
 

Also I have never ridden one of these so the entire Bike feels very different from the last couple I have owned, It has quite an aggressive seating position with high foot pegs and low bars...Typically Superbike. Low Speed they can be quite clumber some and hard work but they are not really built for 30MPH riding 
 

First thing I noticed within Minutes of riding was how light and agile the Bike felt, Literally tips itself into a corner and is as stable as you like. Also as its a bit more old school the Throttle actually has a Cable instead of the Fly-by-Wire that my BMW had so you feel instantly more connected to Throttle inputs and the Engine responds with every small input you ask for.
 

Once I was a bit more settled on the Bike after around 30 Mins of riding I headed out to a few decent twisty riding roads which I know pretty well and picked up a bit of pace, Think I was in 3rd Gear and gave it the beans for the first time to pass a couple of Cars and I was impressed with just how tractable the Motor was even at low RPM. Sounds superb too with the Akrapovic Exhaust.
 

It doesn't have that explosive instant hit that the BMW S1000R had but the thing with older Bikes from this era is that they are very turbine like in the Power Delivery and the Gearing is considerably higher on the Fireblade so 3rd Gear on this is equivalent to 4th Gear on the BMW.
 

I don't want to make out like the Fireblade is a slouch, Its far from it! I will admit coming from the Modified Hayabusa in 2020 and then a virtually brand new state of the art BMW S1000R Sport earlier this Year I didn't expect too much from a 15 Year old Fireblade but I was silly to think that because in reality it is still a 180MPH machine that will do a 10 Second 1/4 Mile and hit 100MPH in 5 Seconds from a standstill. I should no better as I had a 1999 Fireblade a couple of Years back which was a superb machine even today.
 

You quickly realise though that there's no ABS, No Rider Aids, No Electronics to get you out of the **** and you are going get out of this Bike what you put into it. This all adds to the experience though and I think it will take a few more rides to get to know it better before I can get the best out of it.
 

Am I glad I bought One, Yes absolutely! Its a Bike I have always loved the look of and promised myself I would own one if the right example came up.
 

I would still like to get a second Bike though so I have a bit of choice and it will keep the Mileage down on the Fireblade too but nothing has come up as yet. I will keep you all posted though.

[bonelorry]

Another small but satisfying job done on the Fireblade this Morning, Something which bugged me from the day I purchased the Bike was the Front Casing on the Instrument Cluster.
 

At some point in the Bikes lifetime I can only presume a Fluid of some sort has been spilled onto the Clear Acrylic Part which you view the Speedo/Rev Counter through and unfortunately it has left behind some marks which would not polish out.
 

I noticed it when I purchased the Bike but as I got some money off the asking price and the fact that the rest of the Bike was in superb condition for its age I didn't worry about it too much and put it on the list of To-Do's.
 

A quick glance on Fowlers Parts Website shows a full schematic breakdown of my Bike in Parts with the associated Part Numbers and availability for each item (Right down to every Nut & Bolt) I saw that the Instrument Cluster came in multiple parts but that the Front Piece was detachable and could be purchased on its own.
 

The price for this part was £150 though which is a bit steep, Decided to stick the part number into Ebay and a couple came up in the States and also quite a few Chinese non Genuine offerings but I didn't like the idea of that.
 

Anyway I kept looking and on Saturday and Brand New Genuine Honda item came up for £60 in the Box, I didn't mess about and bought it straight away.
 

A quick search on the Fireblade owners group showed a guide on how to remove the Speedo from my Model of Bike which someone had done to replace some of the Bulbs within the Cluster, This guide to be honest looked very long winded and involved removing the Fairings, Front Nose Cone and took about 2 Hours.
 

Anyway the Part arrived this Morning so I had a look at what was involved, I quickly realised I didn't need to remove any of the fairings at all! 
 

Unbolted the Mirrors, Removed the 6 x Screws that secure the Front Windscreen and then with the Steering on Full Lock and there are 2 x Securing Bolts that go through the Frame to hold the Mounting Bracket that the Speedo sits on. Undo these Bolts, Remove the Wiring Harness multiplug from the back of the Cluster and the entire Bracket with the Cluster can be removed in One piece. Then I simply removed the Cluster from the Bracket off the Bike and Split the Speedo to fit the New Front Piece.
 

45 Mins in total and job done 

Original Casing, Marks can be seen...
 

 

Cluster removed from Bike, New Genuine Honda Casing...
 

 

New Front Cover fitted, Old item below...

 

 

Back on the Bike, All working as it should...
 

 

[bonelorry]

Bit of an update on this Thread,

I sold the Fireblade this Morning, Been using it regularly and done around 800 Miles on it since May but made the decision to sell it now rather than store it over Winter and then have to MOT, Service it and fit a Pair of New Tyres to sell it next Year.

Anyway I put it on ebay on Monday Morning and it went Mental, I had a best offer sent which I accepted and the chap came this Morning and was blown away with it. No haggling and just took it away :)

On the look out for a cheap Honda Hornet or Yamaha 600 Fazer to keep my Insurance going and to have a Bike that I am not too anal about to use over Winter if we get some reasonable Weather.

[bonelorry]

Bought a 10000 Mile, 2002 Honda Hornet 600 which I collected yesterday.

 

Needs a bit of cosmetic TLC but will keep me busy in any spare time I have, I probably wont be making a thread on it though.

Edited 9 September, 2021 by bonelorry