Special 30th Anniversary Fireblade announced
The Fireblade is turning 30… are you feeling old yet?
Let’s be honest - the ‘blade was introduced in 1992 and has continued to evolve over the decades - but for some people, their views in regards to Honda’s flagship bike have wavered.
When it was first launched, it was considered the premier hooning machine of its time. But as time has gone by, bikers grew to feel that it had become… dare we say it? Boring.
No one can deny how good the ‘blade is (and has always been) but many a rider felt that it - and the majority of the Honda range - was well built, reliable, and fast but… a tad dull (at least in comparison to other bikes in the same field).
But the year is 2022 and there’s a new generation.
Leaning heavily on the engine and chassis technology of the RC213V-S, with aerodynamics drawn from the RC213V MotoGP bike, Honda has promised that the new Fireblade has been designed from the ground up – with a focus on outright track performance.
And being that it’s the 30th Anniversary, Honda has paid homage to the original 1992 model, with a tribute paint scheme. Although, beauty is only skin-deep. So what’s underneath the retro plastics?
Well, the press release is rather meaty but the headlines are; a 14,500rpm, inline four-cylinder engine centred on mid-corner acceleration and drive. There are tweaks to the torque control system and rear tyre traction management, a new final driver sprocket with three extra teeth, and some slight improvements to the brake calipers. However, the swing arm, chassis, steering damper and suspension are all the same as the previous model.
So in reality, has much changed? No - but small refinements can make big improvements. And so far, pretty much every road test has put the ‘blade right back up at the front of the pack in the 1000cc class. The big question is; is it any closer to the BMW S 1000 RR?
