Through the Eighties motorcycle manufacturers were stuck in a groove, making faster and heavier motorcycles. Then the FireBlade broke the mould.
It was lighter, smaller, and more powerful than anything this side of a racetrack. The Blade became the seminal sportsbike of the Nineties and Honda sold shedloads.
Lined up against the R1 (1998's all-conquering hero) and the incredibly powerful GSX-R1000 (new kid on the block and kickin' ass) the latest Blade seems under-powered and under-braked. And lacking in ground clearance.
But Honda only has itself to blame for the great strides in sportsbike performance made by Yamaha and Suzuki. They'd been playing catch-up from the moment Honda introduced the Blade back in 1992. It was only a matter of time.
The 2000 model was radically changed in an attempt to regain the superbike crown from Yamaha. As light as anything in the 600 class, and even 5kg lighter than the Yam, the new Blade featured a 17in front wheel (all earlier models have 16 inchers) and USD forks. It also had more power than the R1 (150 compared to 148bhp).
In 2001 the Blade got an oversquare engine for higher revs, and fuel injection. But the Yam still looks sharper and more focused than the Honda. The 2001 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 is even more extreme.
So how come Honda is still selling loads of Blades? Because it's a better real world sportsbike. It is refined, comfortable, and easy to ride. It's got that user-friendly feel that has won Honda an army of fans.
Build quality, detail touches, chrome that doesn't rust and paint that stays stuck mean a lot if you are going to use a bike for more than Sunday rides and occasional trackdays.
The Blade may be more of a tool than a weapon, but it's one of the best tools you can buy.
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