The Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade has got massive power – a claimed 172bhp - and is sharp and light enough to break lap records. So, on paper at least, the new CBR1000RR Fireblade looks like it might be a handful. But that's not the case at all. In fact the best word to describe it is, FRIENDLY. In fact, the latest incarnation of the world famous sportsbike is so easy to ride you'd put your mother-in-law on it.
A beautifully balanced chassis, fitted with a motor that produces its grunt so smoothly you'd think it had 25% less bhp than it does, makes for a fantastically effective package. And armed with superb radial brakes and
Honda's HSED electronic steering damper, the latest Blade feels virtually unflappable.

Now the super-efficient nature of the Honda, so typical of the Japanese giant's hardware, might actually feel slightly bland to some. But as big Al said at the launch; “with the performance of current litre bikes getting
positively excessive for both licence and limb,” many will welcome the user-friendly Blade.

Another possible downside for some might be the styling; like the ride itself it could be described as a bit on the sensible side. But deputy editor Al reckons none of that will put people off the CBR, by saying, “I'll be surprised if anything else will top it in 2004.” Clearly Al was drunk on the Honda press launch booze when he typed that one, but it's a massively under-rated bike nonetheless.

We ran one as a long termer, as it happens, so you can read more about it here. and god knows that there are enough fans of the Blade on the web, like this lot here. Or this bunch.