Description
Click here for an instaVIN Motorcycle History Report on this 1996 Honda CBR900RR.
A full photo gallery for this CBR is available here for your perusal. Please let us know if you require any additional photographs!
Thanks to the introduction of machines like the Ducati 916 and the Yamaha R1, the 90s were a glorious decade for sportbikes. But the start of what we consider modern sportbikes came out of Honda when they introduced the CBR900RR in 1993, and it’s primarily due to Tadao Baba. Baba started at Honda in 1962 out of high school, and he steadily worked his way up through R&D.
The CBR900RR was his first solo project with Big Red, and the goal was to create a sportbike that was easy to ride. In an interview with Cycle World, Tadao noted, “I told people at the time this new bike would change the thinking for sportbike design, that it would be fun both in corners and a straight line. Originally we started with a CBR750RR but we already had the VFR, so perhaps make it a 1000? No. We also had CBR1000F. Instead we saw that if we took the dimensions of a 750, use the base motor but keep same bore and increase stroke it came to 893cc, so a new class was born, the 900 class.”
His outlook on current sportbikes was quite negative:
“How can these be called sports bikes when they are so very big and heavy? They didn’t deserve the name.”
You can probably guess what Baba focused on, and the results were staggering. The CBR900RR was just 4 pounds heavier more than the CBR600F2, and it was a whopping 76 pounds lighter than its lightest literbike competition! Simply put, it was a revelation.
This example (VIN: JH2SC3300TM000209) is titled in Massachusetts, and it has just been given a service by the head mechanic at Iconic Motorbikes – the work included new brake fluid, oil change, chain service, radiator flush, new steering head bearings, new fork seals, and new fork fluid. It’s a rare solid red example with a period Vance & Hines S-4 titanium exhaust (stock pipe included), aftermarket double bubble screen, belt buckle protector on the tank, and blue tinted headlight bulbs. It retains the stock turn signals and license plate mount, and you would never guess the mileage (21,687 miles) based on how clean it is.
Adam rates this a 9 out of 10, with the only issue being some minor marks on the wheels from past tire changes. Speaking of which, this has a 7 year-old Bridgestone Battlax up front with about 90% of tread left and a 5 year-old Michelin Pilot Power 3 in the back with about 80% of tread left. Mismatched tires are a common occurrence with this generation of CBR as it has a 16″ front wheel, limiting your tire choices (outdated link, but it gives you the idea if you weren’t familiar).
This is a beautiful example of a defining motorcycle of the 90s. It’s cosmetically nice enough to show with sufficient miles on the odometer that you won’t be worried to enjoy it on the road.
