I've had my 1999 RRX now since November but a couple of thinga I found was. 1. It doesn't seem as powerfull as other blades I have been on the back of. 2. The handling feels ' Twitchy '. Powerwise I have been on the back of an older first gen Fireblades and the guy just lifted the front off the throttles and the second one was a 2010 Loan bike where I ended up nearly painting my mates back with my lunch, that bike was an animal. But this blade seems more ' Refined ' maybe its just me and I need to get more throttle happy, or maybe where I am used to to V twins I aint pinning it as much as should. Handling The front end feels ' Strange ' like it could tuck under round corners it really doesnt feel me with confidence at all, maybe I might be better off with something like a speed triple or something as its making me angry because I know my riding is a lot better.
Maybe the suspension in not set up for you mate?? That's the first thing I'd check, then you'd know if forks and shock are up to it, maybe need a service since it is an older blade... Fixing a Vague front end feel should start with checking suspension adjustments... First things first check tyre pressures though. Easily overlooked.
Maybe your right I will get the owners manual and reset it to factory setting if it has been changed, never really thought of that TBH with you, the front tyre is pretty new and I do check pressure quite a lot.
If the front bothers you, do the 17" wheel conversion or go the whole hog and have 929/954 USDs with a 17" 3 spoke. Never had that problem with my RRW when it had a 16" front. Have you checked your steering head bearings and gearing? I run 15/44 sprockets and it lifts the front in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears.
So people must have an issue with a 16 on the front, head bearings seem fine there no clunk or noise from them. Maybe worth doing, I have to do the Harley forks soon so I might as we forking do them both .
The first Blades were manic and as the years went on Mr Honda refined several things,added a few more CC,s and made them more "rideable".The front rake was tweeked but they still kept that 16in wheel. I had a 98 (RRW), but not for long as I just could not get use to the feeling the front was going to tuck/wash out.I supose I was so use to other bikes with a 17in front wheel and had no cofedence in it........she went after 5 months ......bought a R1 and then would you beleive a Thunderace, kept that one for 4 years (4 Cadwell trackdays later).The early blades were harsh when at full chat,they sounded like they were "Pinking" or the timing was a mile out. Yours is the last of the carbed models and alas by this time Mr Honda had tamed it and was working on the new Injected engine.
My memory of my 98 & 99s front ends is that they were great. There was something I liked about the 16 but not sure what exactly. Didn't help the tankslappers though.
The front never ever washed out on me................just felt like it was going to,there were more than a few "SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT moments !
I had a 16 incher...ooer! and I always found that a good set of bridgestones really helped ie B010 and 016 were great. Having said that I do believe that your model was one of the more 'refined' models...nothing being in a too low gear wont sort though, lol
Some points made here which confirm what I thought, that 16 inch front gives me no confidence at all cornering at any kind of high speed, and the bike does feel slower than I thought it was going to be, no wonder the Hornet 900 I had felt castrated.
Pretty much everything that has already be said S&F. First of all, pressures. Then check suspension is set to factory, closely followed by having somebody A: check how tired the front end is and B: set it up for your weight and riding style. That will make a difference, no question. The 16" front wheel thing was a debate that dragged on for years during the early life of the FireBlade. Each year journos would speculate on what would be introduced on the 'new' bike and would all wax lyrical on 'why oh why couldn't a 17" front wheel" be one of them to make the ride more stable. It became the standard FireBlade debate until Honda finally complied to the pressure and relented. However, the whole question was a Marmite one anyway I know lots of people who never saw it as an issue and still ragged the tits off their bikes. I will say though they were all way to the left hand side of normal. £75 on a bespoke Suspension setup is one of the best investments you can make if you like to ride hard, but you need to make certain the innards are fresh first, and if the front is tired the back probably is too.
Went into the garage and started looking at suspension it had ALL been messed about with so I set it all back to standard the bottom adjuster on the shock was a sod but half of WD40 and some force and it moved, finger crossed it handles better tomorrow on way to work.
Lots of good advice there guys, sounds like if the adjuster is stuck the forks maywell be in need of some attention. Try setting the sag first as this may show up tired springs too. Have had my RRX from new and it has been brilliant for me, front tyre pressure seems critical though, maybe because of the tall tyre wall. I recently did the 17" conversion and the biggest difference is to be able to use sports touring tyres that seem to work better in cold conditions, so if you have only had the bike in the winter so far, the sports rubber may not be working that well in these low temps. Bought a 08 last year but still really enjoy the old RRX, the fueling is sooooooooooo smooooooooth.........and better for the license.
