I have been meaning to write about some flagship motorcycles for a while now; and having written some 200+ paragraphs on my Instagram about various bikes, I'm sure I can do this justice; and having written about the VT250 series a while back, Honda's flagship superbike, the Fireblade, would be the first to write about.
What started the flame that would be named the Fireblade came from the thought of Honda's Chief Motorcycle Engineer, Tadao Baba, riding other brand's competitor superbikes and said "There was a Suzuki GSX-R1100, a Yamaha FZR1000 and our own CBR1000F. How could these be called sport bikes when they are so big and heavy." Sure there were smaller, sporty bikes that were lighter and were used on track at the time, like the Kawasaki GPZ600R, but that was more of an all-rounder, and Honda's only more specialized motorcycle was the extremely expensive RC30. So how could Honda make a bike that was fast and light, while not being a race replica and was more for the road?
Enter the 1990 Honda CBR750RR Prototype:
This prototype had a lot of features and design elements that would later reappear in the production CBR900RR; but why the jump in displacement? Baba said that because the objective was to build a road-going superbike, the motorcycle did not need to follow the 750 cc race replica restrictions and so the engine was stroked to 893 cc. Honda did not need another 1000 cc at the time since they already had the VFR and CBR1000F, and so this bred the new 900-class!
1992 - 1995 Honda CBR900RR Fireblade (SC28)
The 900RR was the first high displacement Honda motorcycle to bear the RR suffix and rightly so, as not only was it powerful, but it was also very light; with it being only 1.8 kg heavier than the CBR600F2 and the next lightest large-displacement bike, the Yamaha FZR1000 being a whole 34 kg!
Engine: 893 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 122 hp @ 10,500 rpm
Torque: 88 Nm @ 10,000 rpm
Dry Weight: 185 kg
Wet Weight: 206 kg
Standing Quarter Mile: 10.3 s @ 211.5 kph
Top Speed: 264 kph
It might look like the bike has inverted forks, but it actually has conventional forks designed by Baba to look like inverted ones. Its 16-inch front wheel was also that size because it was the lighter option. The drilled fairing and cowl was also because of reduced weight and aerodynamics too!
Fun fact: The name "Fireblade" wasn't the original name intended for the bike, as it was a mistranslation of the word "Lightning" instead. (Though I think Fireblade sounds a whole lot cooler!)
1992 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRN Colours: NH1F Black with Dark Grey and Brown; and NH196 Ross White with the Honda Motorsport livery.
1993 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRP Colours: NH1 Black with White and Red; NH1E Black with Red and Purple; and NH196 Ross White with the Honda Motorsport livery.
1995 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRS Colours: NH1I Black with Dark Blue and Yellow; NH196K Ross White with a Red to Blue gradient; NH343K Sparkler Black Pearl with a Grey to Red gradient; and YR125K Sandy Beige Metallic with Orange to Black gradient.
Engine: 919 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 130 hp @ 10,500 rpm
Torque: 92 Nm @ 10,000 rpm
Dry Weight: 182 kg
Wet Weight: 204 kg
Standing Quarter Mile: 10.5 s @ 211.5 kph
Top Speed: 259 kph
The third generation Fireblade had a more relaxed riding position with 1 cm taller handlebars and seat height. The front mudguard was the same one used on the Honda NSR500 GP motorcycle. The swingarm and frame also had improved rigidity.
1996 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRT Colours: NH1A Black with Red and White; NH1B Black with Yellow; NH254A Blitz Grey Metallic with Red and White; P9Q Uranus Violet; R127A Sparkling Red; and R158 Pure Red with Yellow, Blue and White.
1998 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRW Colours: NH1 Black with Red; NH1D Black with Grey; YR196D Candy Blaze Orange with Black; Y124P Pearl Shining Yellow; R127H Sparkling Red with Blue and White; and R158P Pure Red.
1997 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRV Colours: NH1B Black with Yellow; NH1D Black with Grey; NH1Q Black; NH196K Ross White with Red, Black and Blue; R158 Pure Red; Y140I Pearl Citron Yellow with Black.
1998 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRW Colours: NH1 Black with Red; NH1D Black with Grey; YR196D Candy Blaze Orange with Black; Y124P Pearl Shining Yellow; R127H Sparkling Red with Blue and White; and R158P Pure Red.
The 1998 model was the 4th generation Fireblade and again, was redesigned with a more 'arrow'-shaped headlight design, windscreen, mirrors and rear cowl.
1999 - 2001 Honda CBR929RR Fireblade (SC44)
Engine: 929 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 152 hp @ 10,750 rpm
Torque: 103 Nm @ 9,000 rpm
Dry Weight: 172 kg
Wet Weight: 194 kg
Standing Quarter Mile: 10.4 s @ 214 kph
Top Speed: 283 kph
The 5th generation Fireblade has lighter internals with fuel injection and larger valves set at a narrower angle. The front fork this time was actually an upside-down one instead of a conventional one.
1999 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRW Colours: NH1 Black; NH193 Pearl Crystal White with Red; R258 Winning Red with Purple; Y124 Pearl Shining Yellow; and Y160 Sunrise Yellow.
2000 Honda Fireblade CBR900RRX Colours: NH1 Black; B154B Jerez Blue Metallic with Black and Red in the colour scheme of the NSR50 with its Repsol livery; PB257H Lapis Blue Metallic; R127A Sparkling Red with Blue and White; and Y124P Pearl Shining Yellow.
2001 Honda Fireblade CBR900RR1/Fireblade Erion CBR900RE1 Colours: NH1 Black with Red; R258 Winning Red with Black; PB257 Lapis Blue Metallic with Silver; Y163 Pearl Flash Yellow with Silver; and R157 Italian Red with Blue
2001 Honda Fireblade CBR900RR1/Fireblade Erion CBR900RE1 Colours: NH1 Black with Red; R258 Winning Red with Black; PB257 Lapis Blue Metallic with Silver; Y163 Pearl Flash Yellow with Silver; and R157 Italian Red with Blue
2002 - 2003 Honda CBR954RR Fireblade (SC50) 
2003 Honda Fireblade CBR900RR3 Colours: NH1 Black with Dark Orange; NH1B Black with Red; NH1Y Black with Yellow; PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue with Blue; and YR183 Titan Metallic
2004 - 2005 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade (SC57)
With the displacement increasing, it was only a matter of time before the motorcycle became a liter bike. With the team that was in Moto GP, Honda used many new technologies that was found in the CBR600RR, which was a direct descendant of the 990 cc RC211V race bike, like the use of a longer swingarm, Unit Pro-Link suspension and a Dual Stage Fuel Injection System.
2005 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR5 Colours: PB123 Pearl Siren Blue with a Repsol livery; PB215 Candy Tahitian Blue over White; PB215H Candy Tahitian Blue with Black and White; NH1 Black; NH1E Black with White; NH341 Pearl Fadeless White with Red and Blue; R258 Winning Red with Black; R258B Winning Red over Black; R258H Winning Red with White and Blue; and YR183 Titan Metallic.
2005 also had the CBR1000RR Repsol Special Edition (pictured above).
2007 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR7 Colours: PB123TA Pearl Siren Blue with a Repsol livery; NH341KA Pearl Fadeless White with Red and Blue; NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic over Black; NHB01DB Graphite Black; and R258BB Winning Red with Black.
2007 also had the CBR1000RR Repsol Special Edition (pictured above) and also the CBR1000RR Isle of Man TT Special Edition (pictured below), with only 10 built; with a single-seat configuration, Akrapovic exhaust, dark screen, headlight covers and was painted to look like McGuinness' bike which won at the 2006 100th Isle of Man TT race.
The 2009 tenth-generation bike was relatively the same as the 2008 mode, but it included the addition of a Combined-ABS system originally found of the CBR600RR Combined ABS Prototype. Newer lightweight indicators were also added. 2009 also came with the same Tricolour-HRC as the 2008 model. It also came with the Repsol Replica (pictured above).
2011 Fireblades also came with the Repsol Replica and Tricolour-HRC Special Editions.
The 2014 model was retuned with more power, a different windscreen and rider position.
This model also came with a new CBR1000RR-SP (pictured above) and the return of the Urban Tiger Special Edition, which makes tribute to the CBR900RR with the same paint scheme for its 20th Anniversary. It features an Akrapovic exhaust, an upgraded cylinder head and a newer PGM-DFSI with boosted settings for top-end power and low-end torque!
2015 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRF Colours: NH196 Ross White with Red and Blue; NHB01 Graphite Black; NHB53 Pearl Glare White; R334 Victory Red; and YR250X Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2015 models did not have any change from the 2014 model but there was the inclusion of the CBR1000RR-SP Marquez Replica (pictured above), which pays tribute to MotoGP rider, Marc Marquez's No.93 Repsol race bike.
2016 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRG Colours: NH196 Ross White with Red and Blue; NH196K Ross White with Red and Light Blue; NHA86 Matte Ballistic Black Metallic; and YR250X Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2016 models also did not have any change from the 2014 and 2015 models, but had the CBR1000RR-SP Black Edition and the CBR1000RR-SP TT Limited Edition models (both pictured above).
2017 brought about the 25th anniversary of the Fireblade and with it came a newly designed successor, with new bodywork, fly-by-wire throttle and traction control with selectable ride modes.
2018 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRJ Colours: NHA30 Matte Ballistic Black Metallic with Red; R380 Grand Prix Red with Black and White; and R380X Grand Prix Red with White and Light Blue with Gold Wheels.
2018's CBR1000RR-SP had the same livery as the previous year, but was in a brighter shade of red.
2020 saw the Fireblade change its name to CBR1000RR-R and RR-R SP respectively with new bodywork and engine derived from the RC213V race bike. Every year's model has an SP variant.
Engine: 954 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 154 hp @ 11,250 rpm
Torque: 101 Nm @ 9,000 rpm
Dry Weight: 168 kg
Wet Weight: 192 kg
Standing Quarter Mile: 10.4 s @ 214 kph
Top Speed: 286 kph
The engine was yet again enlarged, and the headlight design dramatically increased with more aggressive styling bodywork. The fuel injectors and radiator were larger, the ECU was more powerful and the frame and swingarm were yet again strengthened.
2002 Honda Fireblade CBR900RR2 Colours: NH196 Ross White with Dark Blue; R258 Winning Red with Black; Y163 Pearl Flash Yellow with Dark Blue; and NH146 Accurate Silver Metallic with Black.
It also had a race-inspired cassette-type six-speed gearbox, an all-new ECU-controlled ram-air system and a computer-controlled butterfly-valve center-up exhaust. The frame was also an aluminium 'organic' die-cast design.
Engine: 998 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 172 hp @ 11,250 rpm
Torque: 115 Nm @ 10,000 rpm
Dry Weight: 179 kg
Wet Weight: 205 kg
Standing Quarter Mile: 10.1 s @ 226 kph
Top Speed: 290 kph
2004 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR4 Colours: NH341KB Pearl Fadeless White with Red and Blue; NH1 Black; NH1E Black over Silver; NH411B Force Silver Metallic over Black; R258B Winning Red over Grey; and R258BB Winning Red over Black.
2005 also had the CBR1000RR Repsol Special Edition (pictured above).
2006 - 2007 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade (SC57-II)
The SC57-II had revised front fairings and was also lighter. The redline was also increased from 11,250 rpm to 12,200 rpm.
Engine: 998 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 172 hp @ 11,250 rpm
Torque: 115 Nm @ 10,000 rpm
Dry Weight: 176 kg
Wet Weight: 202 kg
Standing Quarter Mile: 9.9 s @ 232 kph
Top Speed: 303 kph
2006 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR6 Colours: PB284Y Candy Phoenix Blue and Yellow; NH167EA Iron Nail Silver Metallic; NHB01BA Graphite Black; R258 Winning Red over Black; and R258BA Winning Red with Black
2007 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR7 Colours: PB123TA Pearl Siren Blue with a Repsol livery; NH341KA Pearl Fadeless White with Red and Blue; NHA30 Digital Silver Metallic over Black; NHB01DB Graphite Black; and R258BB Winning Red with Black.
2007 also had the CBR1000RR Repsol Special Edition (pictured above) and also the CBR1000RR Isle of Man TT Special Edition (pictured below), with only 10 built; with a single-seat configuration, Akrapovic exhaust, dark screen, headlight covers and was painted to look like McGuinness' bike which won at the 2006 100th Isle of Man TT race.
2008 - 2016 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade (SC59)
The ninth-generation Fireblade was introduced at the 2007 Paris International Motorcycle Show and was powered by an all-new engine with a 13,000 rpm redline. The exhaust was replaced by the side, instead of center-up, center of mass would be lower, and therefore, the bike would be more stable.
Engine: 998 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 175.6 hp @ 12,000 rpm
Torque: 115 Nm @ 8,500 rpm
Dry Weight: 179 kg
Wet Weight: 205 kg
Standing Quarter Mile: 9.9 s @ 230.33 kph
Top Speed: 311 kph
2008 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR8 Colours: NHA66 Pearl Sunbeam White with Blue and Red; NHA66P Pearl Sunbeam White with Black; NHB01 Graphite Black; NHB01K Graphite Black with Red; NHB01Y Graphite Black with Yellow; R101 Glory Red over Silver; R101CU Candy Glory Red; and R258 Winning Red with Black.
2009 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RA9/CBR1000RR9: PB123EA Pearl Siren Blue over Silver; NH124 Achilles Black Metallic; NHA30T Digital Silver Metallic and Orange; NHA66D Pearl Sunbeam White and Black; NHA66H Pearl Sunbeam White with Blue and Red; NHA66K Pearl Sunbeam White; NHB01 Graphite Black; R101D Glory Red; R334 Victory Red; and YR250HA Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2008 also came with the CBR1000RR Tricolour-HRC (pictured above) in the red, white and blue; and also the Track Special (pictured below), which was also featured in the CBR600RR lineup too. It was made to be a racetrack-only motorcycle that didn't include anything that didn't make the bike go faster. It had new fork springs, shock absorbers, racing exhaust, close-ratio transmission with an HRC clutch kit, a higher-revving engine with new cams and valves, and a lap-timer!
2010 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRA Colours: NHA30TB Digital Silver Metallic with Orange; NHA66A Pearl Sunbeam White with Red and Blue; NHB01 Graphite Black; NHB01FA Graphite Black with Gold Wheels; NHB01K Graphite Black with Red; NHB01XB Graphite Black with White
2010 was the eleventh-generation of the Fireblade, and it had a larger diameter flywheel for more inertia, which helped smooth out lower rpm and idle. The 2010 model also came with a Repsol Replica and Tricolour-HRC Special Editions; and also an Isle of Man TT Special edition! They were built as a tribute to John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson.
2011 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRB Colours: PB308XD Pearl Spencer Blue with White and Red with a Gold accent; NHB01 Graphite Black; R334 Victory Red with Black; and YR250HB Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2012 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRC Colours: NHA66E Pearl Sunbeam White with Red and Blue; NHB01 Graphite Black; R334KA Victory Red; R334XA Victory Red with White and Black; and YR250HB Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
The 2012 CBR1000RR was the twelfth-generation Fireblade, with Showa Big Piston technology, Showa Balance Free Shocks, new 12-spoke wheels, and an all-LCD display. It also came with a Tricolour-HRC Special Edition and also the Casey Stoner Repsol Replica. Only 170 of these were made by Honda Australia.
2013 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRD Colours: NH196KB Ross White with Blue and Red; NHB01B Graphite Black; R334 Victory Red; and YR250HB Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2013 also came with a Tricolour-HRC Special Edition (pictured above) and a Repsol Replica Special Edition.
2013 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRD Colours: NH196KB Ross White with Blue and Red; NHB01B Graphite Black; R334 Victory Red; and YR250HB Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2014 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRE Colours: NH196 Ross White with Blue and Red; NH196K Ross White with Red and Blue; NHB01 Graphite Black; and NHB53 Pearl Glare White.
Horsepower: 178 hp @ 12,250 rpm
Torque: 114 Nm @ 10,500 rpm
Wet Weight: 199.5 kg
Quarter Mile Time: 9.8 s @ 232.98 kph
Top Speed: 309 kph
This model also came with a new CBR1000RR-SP (pictured above) and the return of the Urban Tiger Special Edition, which makes tribute to the CBR900RR with the same paint scheme for its 20th Anniversary. It features an Akrapovic exhaust, an upgraded cylinder head and a newer PGM-DFSI with boosted settings for top-end power and low-end torque!
2015 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRF Colours: NH196 Ross White with Red and Blue; NHB01 Graphite Black; NHB53 Pearl Glare White; R334 Victory Red; and YR250X Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2016 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRG Colours: NH196 Ross White with Red and Blue; NH196K Ross White with Red and Light Blue; NHA86 Matte Ballistic Black Metallic; and YR250X Vibrant Orange with a Repsol livery.
2017 - 2019 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade (SC77)
Engine: 999 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 189 hp @ 13,000 rpm
Torque: 114 Nm @ 11,000 rpm
Wet Weight: 196 kg
Top Speed: 344 kph
2017 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRH Colours: NHA86 Matte Ballistic Black Metallic with Red; R334 Victory Red with Black and White; and R334X Victory Red with White and Dark Blue with Gold Wheels/Victory Red with White and Light Blue.
2017's CBR1000RR-SP Fireblade had a Tricolour livery (pictured above) in the Red with White and Light Blue and had an increased torque of 116 Nm and was 1 kg less. There was also a CBR1000RR-SP2 version that was identical to the standard SP, but had 1mm larger diameter intake valves, 1.5mm larger diameter exhaust valves and improved cooling technology derived from the RC213V MotoGP motorcycle.
2019 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRK Colours: NHA30 Matte Ballistic Black Metallic; R380 Grand Prix Red with Black and White; and R380X Grand Prix Red with White and Dark Blue with Gold Wheels.
2019 had some electronic upgrades, like how the traction control was now separate from the wheelie control; the ABS tweaked for no interruption past 120 kph and 15% more deceleration; and a quicker response fly-by-wire throttle. This year also had an SP version.
2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade (SC82)
Engine: 999 cc, 4-stroke, 16-valve, DOHC, transverse 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 215 hp @ 14,500 rpm
Torque: 113 Nm @ 12,500 rpm
Quarter Mile Time: 10.4 s @ 260 kph
Top Speed: 303 kph
2020 - 2021 Honda Fireblade CBR1000STL/SPL/STM/SPM Colours: NHC33 Matte Pearl Morion Black; and R380 Grand Prix Red with Blue and White.
2023 - 2025 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RRP/SPP Colours: NHB53 Pearl Glare White with Yellow and Red; NHC33 Matte Pearl Morion Black with Black Wheels; and R380 Grand Prix Red with Blue, White and Black Wheels/Gold Wheels.
2022 Honda Fireblade CBR1000STN/SPN Colours: NHB53 Pearl Glare White with Blue and Red; NHC33 Matte Pearl Morion Black with Gold Wheels; and R380 Grand Prix Red with Blue, White and Black Wheels/Gold Wheels.
2022 was also the 30th Anniversary of the Fireblade, and so there was a Special Edition for the Fireblade in White (pictured above). The colour scheme pays homage to the original Fireblade.
2023 had another John McGuinness Isle of Man TT Special Edition, with only 30 built, all numbered and signed by the racer. The livery is incredibly special with pictures of McGuinness's 100 Isle of Man TT starts intertwined throughout the bike. Each customer that bought also received a custom Fireblade garage mat, an indoor dust cover, a 3D laser-engraved crystal with the design of the aforementioned motorcycle, and also got to meet the man for an official handover.
So far there have been no reports of a new CBR1000RR-R, but I will keep updating this reference if there is any news for a successor.
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