01 Fireblade project and 94 Urban Tiger Blade purchase.

[Exuptoy]

Back in April I bought a cheap 2001 CBR900RRY 929 Fireblade which had been sat in a garden since I think 2020. It was in very poor condition but was priced right so was worth a shot. That has since sat in the garage and the TL1000S was gonna be first in line before turning my attention to the Blade.
This is how it looked….. not very good!

The intention was to get it running, throw some Auctmarts bodywork on it and get it roadworthy before moving it on and using the funds to locate a Foxeye Blade. At this exact time my lad threw me a curveball and bought the VW T4 and I’ve been stuck on that every spare moment I’ve had ever since!

Well being offshore you tend to have too much time to mooch around eBay, and to that end I’ve been very good in not looking at any more bikes as I really don’t have any more room and have enough projects on the go, however last week I got an email from the Fireblade Forum to update my details, so I logged in, updated said details and spotted a single post that said Urban Tiger Fireblade for sale (cheap). It had been up since July 24th and had no replies. So, I sent a cursory question asking if it was still available. Amazingly no-one had shown any interest in 2 months! So I arranged a visit on my way home from work last Sunday and ended up owning this gorgeous 94 UT FireBlade. I’m well happy.

It followed me home, honest….

So now I need to get the RRY sorted so I can create some much needed space and return the cash flow back to the bank account!!!

 

[Exuptoy]

Well, I parked the UT in the old garage and dug out the 929 with a view to checking how it was. I purchased a good used tank and when I was there bought the guys engine from his recently broken track bike. I bought 2 seats to replace the torn and tattered originals and bought a new battery and air filter.
I took my Shorai Lithium battery from the other Blade Streetfighter and there was no sign of life, jamming a screwdriver across the solenoid it did slowly turn over, momentarily before locking up. I pulled off the tank and airbox and found the TBs partially submerged in water in no1. Not good. Plugs removed and spun over saw a small shower of dirty water/fuel but at least it was spinning.

Dash lights were non existent and almost every plug I split was green with oxidation.
Upon opening the fuse box it was apparent there were no fuses, lots of plugs cut off, 5a connectors and shoelaces tying various things to the bike! Not good and someone needs a slap!
Anyway eventually I found the single 20a fuse carrier to the dash was intermittent. Jiggling this finally gave me dash lights. 27k showing on the clocks but although now spinning over on the key there was no life even with easy sprayed down the inlets. Eventually I found a crimp misplaced inside a green plug and after separating the plug and pushing the connector home, the HISS system was now flashing and allowing the fuel pump to prime.

However, the news wasn’t good. There’s a heavy knock on the bottom end and even after changing the oil for Castrol Power One Racing there’s a heavy rumble which is either the bottom end or something like the gearbox input shaft but it doesn’t sound good. I have a video of it running which I’ll put on here next.
It’s now on eBay with the spare engine for a grand including all other spares and if I don’t get any sniffs on it I’ll swap the engine over the next couple of months, stick some Chinese fairings on it as planned and after giving it a quick once over for the mot I’ll shift it on next season but ideally I need it out of the way sooner as my garage is getting busy!

I’ve had a bit of a sort out and got the Blade up on the lift and I might start stripping it yet.

 

[frank horton]

I like ur style....
wish I had a workshop with expanding walls.....

 

[roofman]

Your shop looks like a mechanical wonderland of toys and hours that need spending...going to be another good thread this. ..which reminds me i will get that T4 book in post to you.

 

[Exuptoy]

I like ur style....
wish I had a workshop with expanding walls.....

2 x garages side by side. I just juggle the space, moving things about as I need….

 

[Exuptoy]

Everything stripped back ready to drop the lump. It forms a part of the frame being a stressed member. Once the engine is released the thing becomes two pieces. Should be fun

 

[Argonman]

The Urban Tiger is a belter. I loved the carb fuelled blades and probably owned a dozen over the years. Some of my best biking experiences were on blades. Including numerous European trips with my chums. My old body won’t contort into the necessary shape for sports bikes any more. I always felt that a good blade made you ride 10% better than you were in reality.

Chris

 

[Exuptoy]

You aren’t wrong. I said of my RR9 blade, it made an average rider look good.
I had a 97 RRV (last Foxeye) and 98/99 RRW (the fat blade) both were awesome bikes. I swapped my first RRV for my first Triumph T595 and whilst I loved the T5’s (I’ve had 4x and a Speed3), getting off the RRV on to the T595 (It was a straight swap ) the Trumpet wasn’t as sharp as the Blade, but by **** did the triple engine make up for it!

 

[roofman]

Had a couple of early blades and even sold one to a member on here...great bikes but the 16" fronts just never felt right imho.

 

[Argonman]

You aren’t wrong. I said of my RR9 blade, it made an average rider look good.
I had a 97 RRV (last Foxeye) and 98/99 RRW (the fat blade) both were awesome bikes. I swapped my first RRV for my first Triumph T595 and whilst I loved the T5’s (I’ve had 4x and a Speed3), getting off the RRV on to the T595 (It was a straight swap ) the Trumpet wasn’t as sharp as the Blade, but by **** did the triple engine make up for it!

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My first blade was an RRT which i loved but my favourites were the RRW RRX of which i had a few. Like you, i managed to own a UT for a while. I moved from the blade to a new R1 which was quicker but i could never gel with the steering/handling so went back to the blades.

I liked the look of the Triumphs but never went down that route until much later as i moved away from sports bikes when i bought a Rocket 111 touring which was awesome.

Here's my last Triumph which i sold last year

 

[Screwdriver]

One of my favourite bikes ever, I have had several.

Bit naughty but this is how quickly it will get you up to 180...

Two Brothers exhaust. "Portable" VHS recorder strapped to the seat.


Second only to the Fazer Thou in my opinion.

 

[Exuptoy]

Had a couple of early blades and even sold one to a member on here...great bikes but the 16" fronts just never felt right imho.

See, I liked that.

 

[Exuptoy]

Sounds like the Blade had a few admirers here back in the day. Hopefully the Urban Blade will stay with me like the Triumph. Sure there are quicker bikes out there these days but on our pothole infested, camera’d up road network, bikes are just a bit of fun now, and for me both the Blade and T595 are just a look back to better days.

 

[Screwdriver]

Sounds like the Blade had a few admirers here back in the day. Hopefully the Urban Blade will stay with me like the Triumph. Sure there are quicker bikes out there these days but on our pothole infested, camera’d up road network, bikes are just a bit of fun now, and for me both the Blade and T595 are just a look back to better days.

Oh yeah. Big fan. BIKE! magazine did an article on me and my blade once. I have a copy of it here. Makes me sound like a right ****!

 

[Exuptoy]

Bloody RRY has fought me all the way. Thankfully the engine is toast as I had to cut the mount off the head with a sawzall after the bolt snapped in the head! Damn cowboys not using copperslip on the crash bung bolt, or cross threading it??? Never mind, at least it’s free to come out! Just need a slide hammer on the spindle to release the swingarm. There is movement on the spindle but it sticks after about 15mm of movement.

 

[Exuptoy]

Finally got the rear clamp off. Rust was stopping its removal. It’s finally in a position to drop the engine to the deck and swap the other one onto the lift and start bolting it all back up. That can wait till I’m back home next time in 2 wks.

 

[Exuptoy]

Engine out, cleaning up the surrounding area prior to replacing and dropped out the drag/drop link to clean it. One end stiff and wanted a regrease, the other end devoid of many pins, dry, full of rust and a chewed up bearing sleeve. New sleeve purchased this AM, £20 from Fowlups and NOS genuine needle bearing and bearing seals £22 on the bay.

I’m crossing everything that this lump is healthy.