what are you talking about lol dont be bitter because youre old. Old bikes can look amazing, new ones can look amazing (and go faster for longer with safer options if you prefer them)
@@lsixty30 I think older bikes, like older cars look at bit more distinctly different but old superbikes are getting a beating on track. Out in the real world it's all down the rider. Seen plenty of modern bikes with chicken strips.
@@1000sofusernamesbut older bikes are really fast too Zach took was it k4 gixer and he was on par with what was the very new bike with all new fancy tech riding that. Proves that fast rider can be really amazingly fast compared to new ones. But for sure new ones are generally easier to ride for not pros, which like 99,9 are.
Both these bikes are special. In fact pretty much every motor cycle is to someone. I started in 1963 with an AJS 250 and ended in 2015 with a Fireblade having had GSX 1000s, 2 Blackbirds, numerous Honda 1000fs and a lot in between. I cannot think of a single one that I didn't enjoy. On being told I was too old at retirement I bought a Caterham HPC, but didn't keep it long as it was too slow and too noisy. Now I can only look back and dream and envy you lucky young people on all these splendid machines.
Chris Pritchard I’m a new rider, 29 years old, and I got my hands on the CBR900RR model that’s reviewed here. It truly is a beautiful machine and because it’s my first motorcycle, I won’t sell it.
I was 3 years old when you started , before I had a 1990 CBR 600 I had time on a dirt bike, and I'm an original push bike rider and helped start putting Auburn ca. On the map has one of the best riding areas in the world rhere are guys that ride the tour de france . Come and train out of Auburn california, I had a 94, CBR 900 I built it after it was wrecked. I now have that 7 bikes 2012 CBR 1000 , 2016 Aprilla RSV4RF BMW s1000rr I loved 2 bikes the most , that 94 cbr can make a turn for sure . We are talking a 90 degree 15mph turn at 60mph it was the quickest turning back that i have been on. Full race kit 175mph . The other Aprilla RSV4 RF it was made for me ! 208mph over 200hp to the rear tire. I never liked that BMW it just does not have the low end power and punch out of the corner and can't turn has well. All my biks have been set up for track riding .
@@apollomorris9920 I learned how to ride the twisties on a 700S going up salmon falls, then cut to Auburn, stop at the In-n-Out, then head back home. Sometimes I'd cut south to Placerville. Pretty amazing riding areas all thru there. Ice House road, George town... Nearly got nailed by a dear once :D
@@karljay7473 I have a home in Christian Valley, during my divorce I rented a home in Greenwood 6 miles out of Cool , I would ride the 193 loop to placerville hit 49 and come back home about 4 days a week, One time I was passing a truck when he hit his breaks I hit my breaks too , dear crossed right in front of us, i've had two friends hit dear at about 60 miles an hour that's a good speed to hit a dear they both stayed up , I loved my Aprills RSV4RF I thought it was much better then the BMW S1000RR both 2016 models. I can't wait to get back to the states again and start riding again, here in the Philippines iv seen some vary bad accidents one guy lost his head riding a BMW S1000RR , full decapitation. His eyes where open still in his helmet.
yeah , put ohlins on mine and that stopped the pogo effect and almost doubled rear tire life. i hated the 98 blade , it was the only bike ive ever hated
@@teds4983 Yup. Even though it's not the same as modern ones and doesn't make as much power, I love the simplicity and rawness of gravity fed carbs, Akra full titanium, lack of driving aids.. And despite it's old, it does have enough oomph to break the rear loose accidentally past 100km/h, sometimes even closer to 200km/h.
peter Kwakman I don’t know what your talking about my 2001 ZX900RR handles like it was on rail’s and was as fast as any liter bike out there! The 900 engine in the 750 frame was a fast bike that was light!
@@tammyforbes2101 it must be down to tyre and suspension setups. I never had the chance to drive one new sadly. My neighbour let my have a go of his last year. It was like a fridge on two skateboards and I've got a 1999 hayabusa. "Yeah, I got it setup for the track!" He said. So some people can have a negative experience on other people's bikes. I had a 636 ninja, from 1200 miles and that was rubbish lol.
People are coming back to the bikes of this era a lot now.Todays machines are computerized to hell with a ton of safety features to counter balance the bhp.Would take a YZF RI from 2000 or either of these 2 any day in preference.
I've had a Fireblade for years(96, converted to a 99s fairings after an accident. I'll never get rid of it.) I'm seriously considering getting a 99 ZX9R(a customer had plenty of work done on it and never paid for it. Basically gave us the bike) So, Hopefully here soon I'll be adding this to my stable soon(Gonna convert the fairings to a 2000 though)
Ross the zx14r is definitely my dream bike. I’ve only gotten to ride one a few times but it’s the most comfortable bike I’ve ever ridden and one of the fastest!🤣
A stock ZX14 isn’t a scary bike at all as long as you take it easy. The motor has a ton of low end torque and the power comes on predictable. A 600 or 1000 super sport is much peakier on power delivery
Robert Smith modern day liter bikes can be ridden slow just fine, the issue is they accelerate super quick, and with all these new rider aids, you can find yourself suddenly going faster than you intended on going.
Kawasaki H2 750 as your second street bike!!!!!!!! Bloody hell you must have had well soiled denims back in your younger days, mine was a more (at times) sedate z650b1.
I never realised until watching this video how small the FIREBLADE looked! But the design was a 900cc engine in a 600cc frame it`s a no brainer to be honest:)
We had a 2001 ZX900RR and it was a beast super quick bike first bike to do 9’s form the factory and mine had all the go fast bits and flush turn signals! I loved it my favorite bike to this day!
I owned the ZX9. My friend the CBR. He nearly died when he was thrown off when the notorious head-shake issue threw him off at triple digit speeds. I'm surprised Honda kept selling the thing. The ZX9 was rock steady and faster than it should have been. Missed that bike when I sold it to bro in law for the ZX11.
@Gordon Gekko Not on the early blades mate . lt was caused by radical steering geometry which made for very sharp steering at the expense of stability which is why a lot of people who do mostly road riding generally (but not allways) prefer bikes like the zx9 which has a reputation for being rock steady at speed on roads
I had the cbr900rr urban tiger foxeye loved that bike ever since i was a young lad and went to the NEC and saw it with my dad when it first came out going around on a stand. Always said id have one then a chance came along with an old boss who had one for sale so i took it straight away.Rode it all the way to Le mans to watch the moto gp never once had a ache or bad back. Great times 😎.
I don't really do lime green. That said, if I we're to ever purchase a Kawasaki I'm getting the bike with their green and white colors. It just feels right
I had a cbr900rr back in 1999 and I'll tell you from experience that the zx9r would walk all over a cbr900rr back then (drag racing) . All the drag racers in the south had 1998 and up zx9r's and would even beat up on the R1 from back then (the R1 in 1998 was suppose to be the top of the motorcycle food chain back then) ...
I have an 04 CB 919 Hornet it has a detuned fireblade motor. I LOVE IT!!! The motor is somewhat bulletproof and keeps up the CB Legacy quite well!! And the harder you push it the harder it goes!!
lol, I can't get over the little bum fluff moustache but this video has made me feel old as I have watched and listened to this geezer bike reviews up to this day, but to some differences!
Great days when big performance was relatively cheap, I think the ZX9 had the edge with its induction roar and that incredible motor which produced serious wallop 😀
I have a 1998 zx9r Ninja with a Muzzy Big Bore kit and full Muzzy Titanium exhaust. It's a hand full sometimes but so much fun to ride. Bought it new in 98 and still have it.
Wrong Fireblade was 130 BHP and 118 Hp at the wheel for this model i own a 96 918 have to say zx9r was slightly livlier and 10 bhps ahead but the fireblade handled zx9r didnt
Annoyed they never mentioned the 'DODGY' front end of theC1,but it was a great machine apart from that,Steve Hislop (RIP) said it didn't inspire confidence in a fast bikes video back in the day,but i loved the power it delivered!
Dylan, European bikes have different specs. Even different countries in Europe have different specs. Horsepower/Torque/Carb Size/Compression/Cam timing etc. Not trying to bully you, only help. Besides my Harleys, I build, race, and restore 80z and 90z Suzuki GS and GSXR.
@@t.s.racing im in europe pal ireland all the blades here from that era were 130 bhp from factory standard these videos are known for quoting wrong figures and i dont need help im a qualified motorbike mechanic i dont disagree on certain specifications being different. My point is the figures stated here are incorrect and alot of these old videos quoted wrong BHP and topspeeds. And no im not talking about the gentlemans agreement between honda kawasaki yamaha and suzuki to limit bikes to 299 kmh on the clock hope i seem knowledgable enough to not be "bullied"by you any longer 👍👍👍
Did it really handle that much better than a zx9r? I am a bit sceptical, lap times of standard bikes at the time certainly didnt show it if that was the case.
the zx9 is a beast the cbr 900 is like riding a electric motor. if you remember the zx was the first production bike into the 9's. sure they do feel bigger than a cbr ring in the canyon but a straight line they are fun
Both of those bikes are higher quality overall than new sport bikes,stock the 7X9 would pulverize that Honda in straight line but maybe not when it gets really swoopy.
How awkward it's looking when a six foot odd inch person sitting on fireblade, Proportionately Kawasaki ZX9R looks much better and knee tuck inside rather two knees protruding outside .Very often Kawasaki has rattled everyone with new technology and features. Many may diagree. Anyway interesting comparison.
I would love to “blast around the Welsh hills on my 98 zx9 Have to settle for the Birkshires or tha Cabbot trail. Maby one day. Great video watched more than once in two or three years.
I don't think a damper would have sorted the 9R, it was more complex i believe,like a frame building issue! BTW the titanium can wieghed a ton,so i stuck a gold ART can with goldy other bits to 'UNBLAND' the look of it. I saw silver rimmed wheels others did,they looked cool
The rear brake is useful on a motorbike, but it's not THAT useful in scrubbing off speed. I mainly use it for slow speed control, use it a fair bit in the wet as I'm wary of locking up the front in low traction, also for some slight reductions in speed and to adjust my line in a bend, but it's really not that effective a stopping tool. They say that 70 percent of your braking is from the front (I wouldn't be surprised if it was even more, and I've heard of a lot of trackday riders nearly exclusively using the front brake). When you brake, the weight shifts to the front which has the most traction, while the rear has very little traction due to this weight shift. Even a single piston caliper can lock up the rear quite easily, whereas it's a lot harder to lock up the front in this condition. I will use both brakes in an emergency stop, but really my priority is the front brake as that is what's going to be the most effective tool, and any additional braking from the rear is a bonus. The front brake is what is going to really stop you. If there's one thing that I want to get on early and get right in an emergency stop situation, its my front braking. It's a progressive squeeze, and as more weight shifts forward you can squeeze harder and harder. If there was a failure, I would be perfectly comfortable riding a motorbike without a functional rear brake even at decent speeds. I would only do a slow speed limp home without a functioning front brake, and even then that is pushing it.
@@bluezedd Brilliant answer! Thanks for taking the time. The reason I asked was because of my bicycle days where using the front break hard meant a trip over the handlebars!
@@wesmatron It didnt, that was just a common myth. Try it yourself, if you have anything like a reasonable cycling/riding position there is no way you, or anyone else for that matter will go "over the bars". Dont know where that myth originated, heard it a lot myself when I was a small child from many people. Certainly the older bicycles that they were talking about didnt have close to the braking power to lock the front wheel even on gravel or anything similar. I can guarantee not one of them had ever even used the front brake. Funny how things can perpetuate.
I'll never use the HP lol ! I used to come into corners so fast on the breaks they would fade . And that CBR could corner like stink ! With a kit in it its 175mph , I HAD the same bike your showing her 94 CBR . I was grinding pegs on both sides !
In my opinion the Blade was always the best looking bike out there especially in that black and burgundy colour they had on the fox-eye RR versions i believe. If you wanted a bike that was more user friendly then the ZX9-R wins but I always again IMO thought that Honda build quality was always superior to Kawasaki. An example of that was a bike I had prior to both these bikes really becoming available was a ZXR750 and my mate had a GSXR750. Now the build quality on the Suzuki in comparison to my bike just wasn't funny. Small things that niggled like the Suzuki gear shift was milled thick brushed aluminium and my Kwackers gear shift was some flimsy tat scrap metal that you could knock up in your shed. The decision for me would have been easy back then based on looks and a cooler name the Fireblade wins.
Forget the paperwork...the zx9r has been underestimated, yet that's good if you are going to buy one. They wont be beat up and abused like the leader bikes such as the r1 or other leader bikes.
My mate had the zx9, I had the fireblade, to me the kawasaki always felt cheaply made, not as nice or refined as the blade, abit faster yes, but not a comfortable ride, me mate sold his zx9, after a couple of years, I kept my blade for 12yrs and covered just short of 90k miles
I think it’s not about quality , probably more about different way of engine engineering . Kawa always looking to be faster and explosive , Honda to be durable with more mild rpm power curves and that’s why their engines have better longevity.
Don't make large sports bikes like this. They say the population is getting taller but they still churn out small sports bikes. I see a bloke on an Aprilia RSVR4 he looked ridiculous! 😂😂
@@adaptiveagile Yeh both ZX-9R and YZF-R1 launched in '98,i test rode the R1,uppety uppety all the time.....NUTS,then after beind knocked off my C1 i got a 2000R1! Pure bliss
@@adaptiveagile I rode the '98 on a test day,my thought's were how do keep the flighty front down,i was knocked off me C1,it was written off,then i got a 2000 R1....WOW! Total love and respect for that bike
After being wrecked off me C1-9R(in 2000), i chose to get the GIXXER on it's stat's,but it was just a grand over my budget,years later i got a '96 SRAD,YEH what a bike
I have a 9 and I won’t sell it❤ but or say that this bike in standard form did the quarter in the 9s is complete 💩. Modern 200+ bhp bikes struggle to do this. Watch the vids on TH-cam.
What is the miles per hr, cant they simply talk kmph. Its sounds like frm other world n then u have to do all that conversion in ur head to... Miles to Km
I cringe every time he says, "swinging arm". It's a noun, not a verb... "swing arm". I know, The Queen's English is different from American English, but still.
that 98 blade is a steaming pile of shit , i traded a 96 blade on a brand new 98 blade and it was a step backwards , i ended up trading the 98 blade on a 98 zx9 and the difference was huge , most people wont notice the difference as most people cant ride that fast but when you start pushing it the zx9 is far far better
Ahhhh...... Kawasaki. That annoying kid who always tries too hard to prove himself with others. They've always been that way, especially now too trying to one up when it comes to displacement.
The Zx9R was a great sports bike for the road. Plenty of character, wonderful engine and comfortable, never got any aches or pains.
New super bikes look embarrassing compared to these older classics
All from the same cookie cutter.
what are you talking about lol dont be bitter because youre old. Old bikes can look amazing, new ones can look amazing (and go faster for longer with safer options if you prefer them)
@@lsixty30 I think older bikes, like older cars look at bit more distinctly different but old superbikes are getting a beating on track. Out in the real world it's all down the rider. Seen plenty of modern bikes with chicken strips.
@@1000sofusernamesbut older bikes are really fast too Zach took was it k4 gixer and he was on par with what was the very new bike with all new fancy tech riding that. Proves that fast rider can be really amazingly fast compared to new ones. But for sure new ones are generally easier to ride for not pros, which like 99,9 are.
Old super bikes are beautiful. New ones are ugly.
Both these bikes are special. In fact pretty much every motor cycle is to someone. I started in 1963 with an AJS 250 and ended in 2015 with a Fireblade having had GSX 1000s, 2 Blackbirds, numerous Honda 1000fs and a lot in between. I cannot think of a single one that I didn't enjoy. On being told I was too old at retirement I bought a Caterham HPC, but didn't keep it long as it was too slow and too noisy. Now I can only look back and dream and envy you lucky young people on all these splendid machines.
Chris Pritchard I’m a new rider, 29 years old, and I got my hands on the CBR900RR model that’s reviewed here. It truly is a beautiful machine and because it’s my first motorcycle, I won’t sell it.
I was 3 years old when you started , before I had a 1990 CBR 600 I had time on a dirt bike, and I'm an original push bike rider and helped start putting Auburn ca. On the map has one of the best riding areas in the world rhere are guys that ride the tour de france . Come and train out of Auburn california, I had a 94, CBR 900 I built it after it was wrecked.
I now have that 7 bikes 2012 CBR 1000 , 2016 Aprilla RSV4RF BMW s1000rr
I loved 2 bikes the most , that 94 cbr can make a turn for sure . We are talking a 90 degree 15mph turn at 60mph it was the quickest turning back that i have been on. Full race kit 175mph . The other Aprilla RSV4 RF it was made for me ! 208mph over 200hp to the rear tire.
I never liked that BMW it just does not have the low end power and punch out of the corner and can't turn has well. All my biks have been set up for track riding .
@@apollomorris9920 I learned how to ride the twisties on a 700S going up salmon falls, then cut to Auburn, stop at the In-n-Out, then head back home. Sometimes I'd cut south to Placerville. Pretty amazing riding areas all thru there. Ice House road, George town... Nearly got nailed by a dear once :D
@@karljay7473 I have a home in Christian Valley, during my divorce I rented a home in Greenwood 6 miles out of Cool , I would ride the 193 loop to placerville hit 49 and come back home about 4 days a week, One time I was passing a truck when he hit his breaks I hit my breaks too , dear crossed right in front of us, i've had two friends hit dear at about 60 miles an hour that's a good speed to hit a dear they both stayed up , I loved my Aprills RSV4RF I thought it was much better then the BMW S1000RR both 2016 models. I can't wait to get back to the states again and start riding again, here in the Philippines iv seen some vary bad accidents one guy lost his head riding a BMW S1000RR , full decapitation. His eyes where open still in his helmet.
@@apollomorris9920 Sounds awesome, I'd love to try the Aprills. I've got a Honda 919 now.
Had both, still have the zx9r.
Simply a top machine once you sort the rear shock.
Beast of an engine to this day.
yeah , put ohlins on mine and that stopped the pogo effect and almost doubled rear tire life.
i hated the 98 blade , it was the only bike ive ever hated
I remember when the original Fireblade was seen as this scary superbike, but now I just use a 93 model to commute to work.
My 96 will do 175mph. Ya it's just a grocery getter
My work commute is 5 min. Gs500f was a good commuter
@@teds4983 96 here too and I love it!
@@MKylander its a great bike, WAY ahead of its time.
@@teds4983 Yup. Even though it's not the same as modern ones and doesn't make as much power, I love the simplicity and rawness of gravity fed carbs, Akra full titanium, lack of driving aids.. And despite it's old, it does have enough oomph to break the rear loose accidentally past 100km/h, sometimes even closer to 200km/h.
I've had both these bikes in my opinion the zx9 was more of a beast
It's a KWAKA that's it, allbeit the dodgy handling,was still a great bike
peter Kwakman I don’t know what your talking about my 2001 ZX900RR handles like it was on rail’s and was as fast as any liter bike out there! The 900 engine in the 750 frame was a fast bike that was light!
@@tammyforbes2101 it must be down to tyre and suspension setups. I never had the chance to drive one new sadly. My neighbour let my have a go of his last year. It was like a fridge on two skateboards and I've got a 1999 hayabusa. "Yeah, I got it setup for the track!" He said. So some people can have a negative experience on other people's bikes. I had a 636 ninja, from 1200 miles and that was rubbish lol.
People are coming back to the bikes of this era a lot now.Todays machines are computerized to hell with a ton of safety features to counter balance the bhp.Would take a YZF RI from 2000 or either of these 2 any day in preference.
I like ABS and safety things that is not the problem for me. But the lack of I4s, ugly exhausts, increased prices and the look are.
I've had a Fireblade for years(96, converted to a 99s fairings after an accident. I'll never get rid of it.) I'm seriously considering getting a 99 ZX9R(a customer had plenty of work done on it and never paid for it. Basically gave us the bike) So, Hopefully here soon I'll be adding this to my stable soon(Gonna convert the fairings to a 2000 though)
Oh baby my second street bike 1972 H2 750 I'll never forget them teenage days now with ZX14 turbocharged
Ross the zx14r is definitely my dream bike. I’ve only gotten to ride one a few times but it’s the most comfortable bike I’ve ever ridden and one of the fastest!🤣
A stock ZX14 isn’t a scary bike at all as long as you take it easy. The motor has a ton of low end torque and the power comes on predictable. A 600 or 1000 super sport is much peakier on power delivery
Robert Smith modern day liter bikes can be ridden slow just fine, the issue is they accelerate super quick, and with all these new rider aids, you can find yourself suddenly going faster than you intended on going.
Kawasaki H2 750 as your second street bike!!!!!!!!
Bloody hell you must have had well soiled denims back in your younger days, mine was a more (at times) sedate z650b1.
I never realised until watching this video how small the FIREBLADE looked!
But the design was a 900cc engine in a 600cc frame it`s a no brainer to be honest:)
Karl Walker bikes are tiny. The new models today are impossibly thin and razor sharp. I love motorcycles
@Rick Simpson we're you drunk writing this.. locked down?
We had a 2001 ZX900RR and it was a beast super quick bike first bike to do 9’s form the factory and mine had all the go fast bits and flush turn signals! I loved it my favorite bike to this day!
Not heard them called "Green Meanies" for years.... a bit of nostalgia there
Cruising at 35 mph is putting a bike through its paces apparently
I owned the ZX9. My friend the CBR. He nearly died when he was thrown off when the notorious head-shake issue threw him off at triple digit speeds. I'm surprised Honda kept selling the thing. The ZX9 was rock steady and faster than it should have been. Missed that bike when I sold it to bro in law for the ZX11.
@Gordon Gekko Not on the early blades mate . lt was caused by radical steering geometry which made for very sharp steering at the expense of stability which is why a lot of people who do mostly road riding generally (but not allways) prefer bikes like the zx9 which has a reputation for being rock steady at speed on roads
ZX9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9RRRRRRRRRRRR OH YEH
When bikes were priced reasonably... where as now the prices take the piss in 2019
I wanna be 27 again in '90 on me H2
josh786manchester so true lol , whats your ride bruv
If you take into account inflation, those were equivalent to ~£17500 in 2019. So not as cheap after all.
MotoQuickShifter had the 2016 suzuki intruder m1800R. Sold that beast last year now i just recently bought the new Honda CB1000R+.
MSTR-RPTR really..? No way..😱
I bought a zx9r c2 in 1999 still got it and it still makes me a little bit scared
"I liked it around that welsh village Dangergoslow". Jeff "That wasn't a village it said Danger go slow"! Classic! 😂😂😂
I had the cbr900rr urban tiger foxeye loved that bike ever since i was a young lad and went to the NEC and saw it with my dad when it first came out going around on a stand. Always said id have one then a chance came along with an old boss who had one for sale so i took it straight away.Rode it all the way to Le mans to watch the moto gp never once had a ache or bad back. Great times 😎.
I don't really do lime green. That said, if I we're to ever purchase a Kawasaki I'm getting the bike with their green and white colors. It just feels right
Me neither. UNLESS. its a real Ninja. Then it really is the only right color.
Had a streetfighter 1999 zx9r C2 - what a machine
I had a cbr900rr back in 1999 and I'll tell you from experience that the zx9r would walk all over a cbr900rr back then (drag racing) . All the drag racers in the south had 1998 and up zx9r's and would even beat up on the R1 from back then (the R1 in 1998 was suppose to be the top of the motorcycle food chain back then) ...
ZX9R. So good I have 2. 20 years old and still more enjoyment than anything modern
Japan makes the best sport bikes hands down my opinion tho love both of these bikes.
Almost bought a ZX9R in 98, the the Yamaha dealer got in an R1, went for a ride on the demonstrator and bought one.
I have an 04 CB 919 Hornet it has a detuned fireblade motor. I LOVE IT!!! The motor is somewhat bulletproof and keeps up the CB Legacy quite well!! And the harder you push it the harder it goes!!
The good days when the cat box wasn’t bigger than the exhaust
Trumpets!
lol, I can't get over the little bum fluff moustache but this video has made me feel old as I have watched and listened to this geezer bike reviews up to this day, but to some differences!
I have the same blade in the same colour and it wasn't as refined as the 9r but damn it was evil looking and it made it for me.
I had the same blade too, wanted a zx but couldn't find one so i got the Honda. Tuned her a bit and she really became alive. Miss it still
Still have mine in this colour. Had it since 2004.
L620ryb 1994 model, was my blade...fond memories.
the same year that yamaha dropped the 150bhp R1
Z9r was 144hp and torquey.
These bikes and the 2000 996 ducati and R1 are legit, dream bike is Honda R30 but those things are like 50K
I had a chance to buy a zx9r turned it down now I regret it.
I've an Aprilia Mille. Nice big roomy bike with decent overtaking power. Doesn't need 140/200bhp.
Does me for in and out of traffic.
Great video! Really enjoyed watching!
Great days when big performance was relatively cheap, I think the ZX9 had the edge with its induction roar and that incredible motor which produced serious wallop 😀
Just recently bought this zx9r c1 after my last zx636 b1h both beasts 😎🤓😎
The Blade was awesome, and lighter, I just haven't got a late 90s one yet.
I have a couple of Kawasaki’s, a ZXR750 H2 & ZX12R.. both great bikes. The 12R stomps all over the ZXR, but it’s the ZXR I love the most 😊
Maybe it's time for an updated review? 🤔 What do you think? 😎
@@Menandmotors Absolutely, 90s sportbikes still have plenty of fans and are still relevant.. It would make a great series 👍
I have a 1998 zx9r Ninja with a Muzzy Big Bore kit and full Muzzy Titanium exhaust. It's a hand full sometimes but so much fun to ride. Bought it new in 98 and still have it.
2 great bikes ! Nice video ! Well done !
Thanks! 👍😎
Wrong Fireblade was 130 BHP and 118 Hp at the wheel for this model i own a 96 918 have to say zx9r was slightly livlier and 10 bhps ahead but the fireblade handled zx9r didnt
Annoyed they never mentioned the 'DODGY' front end of theC1,but it was a great machine apart from that,Steve Hislop (RIP) said it didn't inspire confidence in a fast bikes video back in the day,but i loved the power it delivered!
Dylan, European bikes have different specs. Even different countries in Europe have different specs. Horsepower/Torque/Carb Size/Compression/Cam timing etc. Not trying to bully you, only help. Besides my Harleys, I build, race, and restore 80z and 90z Suzuki GS and GSXR.
@@t.s.racing im in europe pal ireland all the blades here from that era were 130 bhp from factory standard these videos are known for quoting wrong figures and i dont need help im a qualified motorbike mechanic i dont disagree on certain specifications being different. My point is the figures stated here are incorrect and alot of these old videos quoted wrong BHP and topspeeds. And no im not talking about the gentlemans agreement between honda kawasaki yamaha and suzuki to limit bikes to 299 kmh on the clock hope i seem knowledgable enough to not be "bullied"by you any longer 👍👍👍
Did it really handle that much better than a zx9r? I am a bit sceptical, lap times of standard bikes at the time certainly didnt show it if that was the case.
@@GoldenCroc The Zx9r is livlier and more aggressive the fireblade was more reliable and handled much nicer.
I have just got a 1999 zxr900 c2 and she's mint.
the zx9 is a beast the cbr 900 is like riding a electric motor. if you remember the zx was the first production bike into the 9's. sure they do feel bigger than a cbr ring in the canyon but a straight line they are fun
60 in first!
I Like that Kawasaki more because it ha's that normal cool Look on the front Like in those New bikes
For me 1. Honda CBR 900 R.
2.Kawasaki.
Honda look more,more better.
Christian Szilagyi your choice
Both bikes look really nice, but my money is on the green machine
@@farmerman7947 Yes siree
I had a tiger it was scary until a damper was fitted
Both of those bikes are higher quality overall than new sport bikes,stock the 7X9 would pulverize that Honda in straight line but maybe not when it gets really swoopy.
How awkward it's looking when a six foot odd inch person sitting on fireblade, Proportionately Kawasaki ZX9R looks much better and knee tuck inside rather two knees protruding outside .Very often Kawasaki has rattled everyone with new technology and features. Many may diagree. Anyway interesting comparison.
I had a fireblade 98 model bought it for $1200 in 2016. Sold it for $2500.
I would love to “blast around the Welsh hills on my 98 zx9
Have to settle for the Birkshires or tha Cabbot trail. Maby one day.
Great video watched more than once in two or three years.
How much were these when new?
I don't think a damper would have sorted the 9R, it was more complex i believe,like a frame building issue! BTW the titanium can wieghed a ton,so i stuck a gold ART can with goldy other bits to 'UNBLAND' the look of it. I saw silver rimmed wheels others did,they looked cool
I could be wrong there,but i did have one at 36
What’s the names of these guys who reviewed them? :)
Betty and Michelle.
I love the older sport bikes love them Built better look better just my opinion tho.
Noob question: Why do motorbikes seem to have far more powerful brakes on the front? Isn't that more dangerous?
The rear brake is useful on a motorbike, but it's not THAT useful in scrubbing off speed. I mainly use it for slow speed control, use it a fair bit in the wet as I'm wary of locking up the front in low traction, also for some slight reductions in speed and to adjust my line in a bend, but it's really not that effective a stopping tool. They say that 70 percent of your braking is from the front (I wouldn't be surprised if it was even more, and I've heard of a lot of trackday riders nearly exclusively using the front brake).
When you brake, the weight shifts to the front which has the most traction, while the rear has very little traction due to this weight shift. Even a single piston caliper can lock up the rear quite easily, whereas it's a lot harder to lock up the front in this condition.
I will use both brakes in an emergency stop, but really my priority is the front brake as that is what's going to be the most effective tool, and any additional braking from the rear is a bonus. The front brake is what is going to really stop you.
If there's one thing that I want to get on early and get right in an emergency stop situation, its my front braking. It's a progressive squeeze, and as more weight shifts forward you can squeeze harder and harder.
If there was a failure, I would be perfectly comfortable riding a motorbike without a functional rear brake even at decent speeds. I would only do a slow speed limp home without a functioning front brake, and even then that is pushing it.
@@bluezedd Brilliant answer! Thanks for taking the time. The reason I asked was because of my bicycle days where using the front break hard meant a trip over the handlebars!
Weight shifts forward when your slowing so all your grip in on the front
@@wesmatron It didnt, that was just a common myth. Try it yourself, if you have anything like a reasonable cycling/riding position there is no way you, or anyone else for that matter will go "over the bars". Dont know where that myth originated, heard it a lot myself when I was a small child from many people. Certainly the older bicycles that they were talking about didnt have close to the braking power to lock the front wheel even on gravel or anything similar. I can guarantee not one of them had ever even used the front brake. Funny how things can perpetuate.
Those bars look quite high by today's standards.
Love kawis but I can't look at that bike without seeing Mike from monster's inc
Not sure about keep crossing the white line more than once
I'll never use the HP lol ! I used to come into corners so fast on the breaks they would fade .
And that CBR could corner like stink ! With a kit in it its 175mph ,
I HAD the same bike your showing her 94 CBR .
I was grinding pegs on both sides !
Apollo Morris - breaks? What the fuck are breaks? And YOU'RE, the contraction of YOU ARE, not YOUR denoting possession of something.
Give us a BREAK.....or brake.
zX-9RC1....big smile,wot a machine,BIG FUN,had an R1 also,that was a great bike,then got an E1 KWAK...OOOHHH
M&P. Block ya on ebay at the drop of a hat.looool
zx was a faster and more explosive bike, but it is understandable, had a more HP
Had both, stonking motors in the kwack but loved the blades, they were just sexy af❤
In my opinion the Blade was always the best looking bike out there especially in that black and burgundy colour they had on the fox-eye RR versions i believe. If you wanted a bike that was more user friendly then the ZX9-R wins but I always again IMO thought that Honda build quality was always superior to Kawasaki. An example of that was a bike I had prior to both these bikes really becoming available was a ZXR750 and my mate had a GSXR750. Now the build quality on the Suzuki in comparison to my bike just wasn't funny. Small things that niggled like the Suzuki gear shift was milled thick brushed aluminium and my Kwackers gear shift was some flimsy tat scrap metal that you could knock up in your shed. The decision for me would have been easy back then based on looks and a cooler name the Fireblade wins.
I take it the zx9r is the same frame size as the zx6r of the same age.
Forget the paperwork...the zx9r has been underestimated, yet that's good if you are going to buy one. They wont be beat up and abused like the leader bikes such as the r1 or other leader bikes.
Rider tho what is a leader bike? It’s litre bike!!
My mate had the zx9, I had the fireblade, to me the kawasaki always felt cheaply made, not as nice or refined as the blade, abit faster yes, but not a comfortable ride, me mate sold his zx9, after a couple of years, I kept my blade for 12yrs and covered just short of 90k miles
I think it’s not about quality , probably more about different way of engine engineering . Kawa always looking to be faster and explosive , Honda to be durable with more mild rpm power curves and that’s why their engines have better longevity.
My zx9r had about 140tkm when I sold it to next rider. Didn't see anything bad in its build quality.
I'd have the ZX9R
I have an 01 and the front end comes up without hesitation, corners really well. I love it
@@luckyseven6402 I'd love one!
@@ericgeorge5483 paid 2k for mine 4 years ago 👍
@@luckyseven6402 That's an incredible bargain.
@@luckyseven6402 You are very fortunate.
Imagine launching the Ducati v4r in 98 and letting them ride it....(that's 120 hp and you'll never use it 🤪)
I love older sport bikes
Tbh fire the 919 is good and dependable 🙋
Don't make large sports bikes like this. They say the population is getting taller but they still churn out small sports bikes. I see a bloke on an Aprilia RSVR4 he looked ridiculous! 😂😂
Добавьте русские субтитры.
No
Honda fireblade 9oo RR. 😘
This Billy O'Brien Thomas I had a 98 model like this with a d&d pipe lime green windshield lv my bike go kaw
Gsxr 750 was the king....
Srad one ?
Will not deny, but ZXR750-H2 OOH LA LA,i loved being thrown around and bouncing in the air at 27,that was pure BAD fun............ZXR
@@adaptiveagile Yeh both ZX-9R and YZF-R1 launched in '98,i test rode the R1,uppety uppety all the time.....NUTS,then after beind knocked off my C1 i got a 2000R1! Pure bliss
@@adaptiveagile I rode the '98 on a test day,my thought's were how do keep the flighty front down,i was knocked off me C1,it was written off,then i got a 2000 R1....WOW! Total love and respect for that bike
After being wrecked off me C1-9R(in 2000), i chose to get the GIXXER on it's stat's,but it was just a grand over my budget,years later i got a '96 SRAD,YEH what a bike
zx9 in a different league, Had both. Kawasaki wins fact.
cbr do video é 1997
Lol there is a red vtr1000 in the background at 1:05 looks like the bike is totaled....
I love Kawasaki 🤩
Ninjaaaaaa
( I like Honda also )
Sooo at the they crossed the river xD
on the road ... why not in the track racing ...
i got a CBR90RR Fireblade sc28-s,,the lightest and shortest version of that line upp,,but today it wont be count as light,,think it has around 120hp
I have a 9 and I won’t sell it❤ but or say that this bike in standard form did the quarter in the 9s is complete 💩. Modern 200+ bhp bikes struggle to do this. Watch the vids on TH-cam.
1998 Suzuki Gsxr 750 Srad was a better bike that year
Cramped peg to seat set up on those. Look nice tho .
What is the miles per hr, cant they simply talk kmph. Its sounds like frm other world n then u have to do all that conversion in ur head to... Miles to Km
Why do you expect a british motorbike show intended for a british audience filmed in the 90s to use kmh?
I got a Zx9R for sale
Haha not sure how you can do any sort of sports bike comparison on a cold wet windy Welsh mountain! Lol
It looks like a carbon copy of the Honda. It's like they copied anything that could find without getting sued over it
@Rob Smith nope have both zx9r is quicker
Well this bike was last mot’d in 2007 😂 wrote off me thinks??.😂 and wow the fireblades last mot was 2022 😉 honda quality for ya 😎
Not exactly knee down action !!! 😂😂😂
Hard to bet a Kawasaki ...
Honda CBR 919 RR Fireblade SC33 е по- добрият мотор
Jeff stone is easily the most boring journalist ever to grace tv.
Horrible music, love the bikes
I cringe every time he says, "swinging arm". It's a noun, not a verb... "swing arm". I know, The Queen's English is different from American English, but still.
2superbes motos
that 98 blade is a steaming pile of shit , i traded a 96 blade on a brand new 98 blade and it was a step backwards , i ended up trading the 98 blade on a 98 zx9 and the difference was huge , most people wont notice the difference as most people cant ride that fast but when you start pushing it the zx9 is far far better
I think thats a -97 honda....Fireblade is waaaay better than the zx9 anyday anyhow.
No way
@Independent don't get mad
Ahhhh...... Kawasaki. That annoying kid who always tries too hard to prove himself with others. They've always been that way, especially now too trying to one up when it comes to displacement.
Ha! Ha! They just build great bikes