1990s Japanese Superbikes Archives

Honda NR750

Few road-going superbikes are quite so race-bred as the Honda NR750. It was a direct descendant of Honda’s NR500 GP bike. The NR roadster was released in ’92. That was a decade or so on from when the four-stroke racer had been slugging it out with Suzuki and Yamaha ‘strokers’. Well, trying to, at any rate. The plucky Honda was always disadvantaged against its free-revving two-stroke rivals. As a result, Honda’s NR500 race bike was retired in ’81.

The feature for which the NR is famous is its oval pistons. Technically, they were not, in fact, oval. Rather, they were lozenge-shaped. At any rate, the ‘ovoid’ pistons were the NR’s most clear-cut connection with its racing ancestry. End of the day – whatever form they took – they obviously worked! The NR delivered 125bhp – at 14,000 rpm. Top speed was 160mph. That was notwithstanding the NR’s weight – a tubby 489lb. While the NR’s performance was impressive – it was not earth-shattering. Honda had done its best to pull a V8 rabbit out of a V4 hat. Effectively, to double it up. With that in mind, the NR’s V4 engine was fitted with eight fuel injectors and titanium conrods. Four camshafts depressed thirty-two lightweight valves. Sadly, though, the modifications did not equate to twice the speed!

The NR’s styling was almost as adventurous as its engineering. Its screen was titanium-coated, for instance. That was backed up by a brilliant finish – in every sense of the word. The paintwork and polished aluminium frame were particularly lustrous. The bike’s build quality was equally dazzling. In every department, then, the NR delivered. Above all, it oozed charisma – mainly on account of its unique engine configuration. Bikes like the NR tend not to clock up too many owners. And not just because of high price tags and running costs. Such a machine grants access to motorcycling’s inner sanctum. Arguably – more than any other roadster – it mixed visual and technological exoticism. For the Honda NR750, then, glamour was never going to be an issue!

Kawasaki ZZR1100

The Kawasaki ZZR1100 was a serious superbike. 176mph flat-out testified to that. Its 1,052cc, 16-valve, in-line four engine produced 145bhp. It needed to – the ZZR weighed in at a portly 603lb, wet. From 1990 to ’95, the ZZR was the world’s fastest production motorcycle – succeeding Kawasaki’s ZX-10, in that regard. It took the Super Blackbird to restore Honda to the top of the speed heap.

The high-grade performance stats were due, in no small part, to ‘ram-air’ technology. The faster the ZZR travelled, the more air was forced through its ducted fairing, to the motor. More air meant more combustion – which, in turn, meant more power. If it was not an exponential increase – it sure as heck felt like it!

For all of its brain-warp acceleration, the ZZR was a forgiving beast, at heart. Sold as a sports-tourer, its chassis came supremely well-equipped. Both frame and suspension were solid, yet flexible. With the right settings dialled in, the ZZR was as safe as your riding skills. That a bike as explosive as the ZZR1100 could be considered an all-rounder said it all about Kawasaki engineering!

Yamaha YZF R1

The Yamaha YZF R1 was about as close to a racer as a road-bike gets. Everything about it screamed speed. Its fairing parted air like a shark shifts water. Its tail-piece was sharp enough to shave with. In terms of its tech-spec, the R1 tasted number-crunching good! A power output of 160bhp. A dry weight of 389lb. A top speed of 170mph. Satisfying stats, to be sure!

But, the R1 was not just quick and aerodynamic – it was agile as an acrobat. Indeed, so flickable was it, that it was almost to a fault. Especially for younger riders, the R1 could made corners a bit too tempting! Short and slim, its wheelbase was minimal. All the better for flying through bends. Engine-wise, there were 5 valves per cylinder. 20 minuscule parts – doing a mechanised dance of staggering precision. Cycle parts were state of the art. Suspension and brakes were razor-responsive. In every department, the R1 excelled. As you would expect, it sold in shedloads!

The R1 is the kind of machine lives get built around. It inspires not so much dedication – as devotion. Whether at R1 owners’ rallies, track days or production racing events, the bike instils pride – and confidence – like few others. The Yamaha YZF R1 was a two-wheeled icon. And that will not be changing anytime soon!