| 1992-95 Honda CBR900RR |
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| Performance |   |
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| The CBR900RR (aka 'Fireblade,' a name officially used only outside the USA) was tractable, linear and strong. Though not quite on a par with liter-plus bikes in terms of max horsepower, the original had a ferocious delivery and an unmatched power-to-weight ratio. |
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| Handling |  |
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| It weighed little more than a CBR600, and was even stiffer, with better components. The only drawback was a 16-inch front wheel, which robbed stability in high-speed sweepers. |
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| Looks | |
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| From its unique, drag-reducing perforations to the artfully sculpted tailpiece, the original 900 version clearly set itself apart from the usual blandness of cookie-cutter fully-faired race replicas. My personal favorite is the original '92 U.S. model (pictured), with round headlights and red-white-and-blue graphics that were dramatic without being gimmicky. |
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| Reliability | |
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| It was built to handle the stock power with the least weight, so it doesn't have the reserve strength to be excessively hot-rodded. But there are very few issues when kept stock and ridden sanely. |
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| Practicality | |
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| The thin seat and low bars are painfully uncomfortable on the street, and the power-to-weight ratio and compact wheelbase mean it can easily overwhelm anyone but an experienced racer. |
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| Desirability | |
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| The 900 was a game-changing bike with a great backstory. Unfortunately, it's conceptual and visual purity was watered down with each successive redesign. |
