I have recently regained my status has a cbr1000 owner. I had an 89 hurricane 1000 for 32000 miles and really liked it - easy to steer, fast, excellent for 2 up. Now I have a 1996 with the cooler looking plastic (depending on your taste) and the much wider radial tires. The 89 bike was nothing but confidence inspiring going into turns - I had a friend on a ducati 750 ask how I could go through a set of turns in deal's gap (WV) so fast - it wasn't overwhelming skill. The 96 has the wider radials which definitely look cooler, but seem to steer slower. It seems like I need to exert more effort on the handle bars to keep it turning at mid turn and it seems to take more lean angle to turn. I have not checked the tire pressures, but they were recently installed by the previous owner (racing michelins w/3 sprint races on them). Perhaps it's just the bias to radial difference I'm feeling.

Any thoughts?

Pat

 

I would check the air pressure. My brother got a bike back from a shop that put a new rear tire on it and it had 15 PSI in it. He rode the bike home and didn't get killed luckly.

 

Wot he said. Cheack ya pressures. I notice a difference when only a few PSI si missing.

A wider tyre does have more grip at the expense of more effort to lean it over.

 

cb Welcome, prolly wider tires and rims on the newer cbr. Imho... what are you do'n w/ those "race" tires on a sport touring bike... on the street ???!!!!! I don't think the frame, handle'n, wieght, design, had that in mind !!!!!!!! God help you in the rain !!!!!! They say, it's hard to keep race tires up to temps, when your not race'n. cooled off race tires, can be dangerous. Sticky fun tho ???? Glad you back on a cbr, awsome bike !!!!!!!!!!! Clean and free, ripp'n

 

Hmm the -89 and -96 have the same tire size.. front 120/70-17, rear 170/60-17..

 

I ask the same question that ripp'n asks. I certainly could get that they were'nt a pure slick and maybe all weathers? But like others say, check the tire pressure. As trips (and others) noted, having only a 3 pound difference is noticeable when the tire comes over the crowning edge. I will agree that the bike is much heavier that of "others", but I don't really find it difficult to corner. With my *** half off the seat, it takes less pressure on the bar to steer in as long as I'm letting my legs do the work.

I too have the 96. While it is no corner carver like an aprilia 1000 mille (my brother has this), I've ridden both and the cbr is very respectable in cornering. I am able to keep right there with guys on newer gsxr 750 or 1ks. I know much of this has to do with skill level, but still. I think dad said it where now it's more like 70% rider and 30% bike.

Sorry if I got off track on this thread (no highjacking intended).

 

I had an old Ninja 600R with 16" bias ply's, and from my experience radials handle much better - no comparison. Turn in might take a little more effort but I find it hard to believe once you're in the corner the wider radials aren't vastly superior to the narrower bias ply's. I agree with the rest, replace with some sport touring tires.

Quote: Hmm the -89 and -96 have the same tyre size.. front 120/70-17, rear 170/60-17..

From an article I read, Honda didn't offer the CBR1000F in the states in 1989 to get rid of leftover Hurricanes, but it was offered in Europe - maybe he is mistaken on the year.

 

The red/white 1988 model.


The red/white 1989 model.


There are 3 generations of the CBR1000F .. 1:st generation 1987-88 .. 2:nd generation 1989-92 .. 3:rd generation 1993-99.. But u guys probaly know that.


U can view the models here .. sorry but it is in swedish.. but perhaps u notice the differences betwen the years and generations? yes u do.. u r all clever boys. :-)
http://cbr1000.racing.gs/html/cbr1000/cbr1000s.html

 

Honda didnt offer the 1989 year in the U.S., and I thought it ended in 1997 and the Blackbird was 1997-2003.

 

www.hoc.org.uk/gallery/press/1999/1999press.html

The CBR1000F 1999 press material..
http://www.hoc.org.uk/gallery/press/...9_CBR1000F.PDF


The Blackbird was from 1997 - And still going strong.