How Long Do Honda CBR 929RR Fireblades Last? (7 Examples)

In the year 2000, Honda introduced the fifth generation of the Fireblade series: the CBR 929RR.

Its brand new 929cc engine featured fuel injection and larger valves than the previous Fireblade incarnations.

Between its redesigned motor and its titanium exhaust system with HTEV, the Honda CBR929RR Fireblade seemed built to last, but for how long?

Find out in this article!

Here’s the Short Answer to How Long the Honda CBR 929RR Fireblade Lasts:

There are well-kept Honda CBR 929RR Fireblade’s on the road with well over 50,000 miles. Since the average sportbike is ridden around 3,000 miles a year, a Honda CBR 929RR serviced regularly could last for over 16 years.

However, many variables like how aggressively you ride your 929 and how you store and maintain it can affect its longevity.

Read on for seven examples of high-mileage CBR929RR Fireblades and a few tips on how to keep your 929 running healthy for years.

Read our article which explains about How Long do Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblades Last?

How Many Miles Do You Get on a Honda CBR 929RR?

There are numerous examples of CBR 929RRs approaching, or that have already passed, 50,000 miles and are still running like new.

Four quick examples of high-mileage CBR 929RRs:

1. One rider I encountered bought his Fireblade brand new the second day they came out. The 929RR enthusiast has over 81,000 miles on their Fireblade now, noting that they had to replace a few stators for the bike’s life. Still, the owner notes their 929RR runs as vigorously as ever at 81k, even though he even raced the bike for an entire season. 
2. Another 01 Fireblade owner put 24,400 on a 929RR that already had 18,400 miles when he bought it, bringing the clock up to 42,800 miles. He provided somewhat of a service report: his spark plug blew at 21,600 miles. A spark plug blew off, dropping a heli-coil into the cylinder. The rider bought a new head gasket, but the bike is powerful enough to pop up the 250-pound front end when he jams on the throttle in first! 
3. A third rider spoke up and said they clocked 49,000 miles on a Honda Fireblade 929RR, and it runs like new still. 
4.  Finally, a rider bought an 01 929RR with 6,000 miles on it in 2002 to put 42,000 miles of their own on the odometer, noting that they always ride in the red, insinuating that they regularly push the engine to the limit without a problem.

What Is Considered High Mileage for These Models?

Most trade-in sources consider 50,000 miles to be high for a sportbike like the 929RR.

To determine longevity, there are factors more critical than how many miles are on the odometer.

Let’s look at some of them. 

Riding Habits

The CBR929RR is a sportbike. 

900+ cc street-fighters like the Fireblade are often sought after as stunt bikes. But, unfortunately, stunt bikes are more prone to drops, bangs, and delayed maintenance.

How the previous owner rode the bike is also an important consideration. Is it easy highway miles with minimum stress we’re talking about, or was the Firebird’s prior owner a trigger-happy city-ripper?

The 929RR packs a high-revving motor, tuned for lots of power and designed to be ridden hard, but that doesn’t mean redlining it 24/7 isn’t going to cause early wear-and-tear.

Where were they riding? If they were ripping around beaches, things such as dirt, dust, sand, and water could sneak-attack a CBR929RR’s engine, transmission, and bearings. It’ll slap your other components with wear-and-tear as well. 

Number of Owners

Who was the previous owner?

A single-owner CBR929RR commuter is more likely to have been well maintained than one that spent its days as a pass-around stunt bike in the city. Multiple owners isn’t a red flag, but a single-owner CBR 929RR is more appealing.

Does mileage really matter?

Mileage doesn’t really matter on a motorcycle unless you’re concerned with a bike’s trade-in value. At the same time, book value is a valid concern. Most people asking about high mileage on a CBR 929RR are asking how much life the bike has left. 

Multiple factors determine a bike’s lifespan, and mileage is a small one.

Please also read our article about 3 common problems of the Honda CBR 929RR.

How Many Years Does a Honda CBR 929RR Typically Last?

A CBR929RR Fireblade can last over 16 years; the average sportbike is ridden 3,000 miles a year, and some CBR 929RRs have been on the road for 50,000 miles.

That said, there are a few things to consider when calculating how many years a Fireblade has left.

Check Provenance

When considering how many years a 929RR has left, consider the bike’s previous owner history.

Start by asking for any repair or maintenance records. A Fireblade isn’t the cheapest Honda out there, nor the most common, so it was an investment for whoever owned it previously.

If the previous owner maintained their CBR by repairing and servicing the bike as needed, it’s much more likely to provide years of riding.

The CBR 929RR is a bike often ridden hard and pushed to its limits. Still, abuse can be not only repaired but also reversed.

A Fireblade that’s been damaged but repaired adequately and serviced regularly could be safer than an undamaged yet unmaintained Fireblade.

A 929RR with high mileage with some significant components overhauled and rebuilt can last for more years than a comparable unit with a low odometer reading.

A restored Fireblade, for example, might have components that have been replaced or even upgraded. Even if a CBR has miles and miles on the clock, one with an upgraded stator and R/R may even last longer without an issue than it did when it was brand new, but more on that later.

Inspect for Damage

Inspect the 929RR’s wiring, paint, and chrome for any damages that betray a drop, and ask if the bike ever took a spill. If it has, don’t fret. Ask about the repairs and inquire about any upgrades it got due to the fall. You may be happy you asked.

Let’s not forget that Honda packed the CBR 929RR with a liquid-cooled powerhouse of a motor built to take no guff while it rips up the streets.

So, if you find a good deal on a CBR 929RR with high miles on the odometer, but the parts are all good, and the bike runs like a champ, keep in mind that high-miles doesn’t mean low longevity; the Fireblade may be able to bring you years more of Honda street-shredding action.

Make sure to also read our article about the 3 most common problems of the Honda CBR 250R.

Is the Honda CBR 929RR Reliable?

If serviced, maintained, and if wear and tear are inspected and dealt with regularly, the Honda CBR 929RR is a reliable sportbike. 

Do you want a few more real-life owner examples of some reliable CBR 929RRs?

Here you go:

1. One rider I encountered in the forums says he and a buddy each own a CBR 929RR Fireblade. He has 46,000 miles on the clock…
2. … while his buddy’s 929RR has 70,000 miles! Neither has had any notable mechanical failure. They are very reliable, the riders report, but be aware of the weak points—the stator and the rectifier/regulator.
3. Another proud owner of a 2000 929RR approached 30,000 miles when they called the Fireblade one of the most underrated sportbikes out there, reporting that it’s lenient, easy-to-ride, comfortable, fast, handles with the best of them. They add that the bike has a high-build-quality, is reliable, and looks great.

Does a Honda CBR 929RR Last Longer than Other Motorcycles?

A Honda 929RR Fireblade is reliable, but it is still a sportbike; its high revving engine won’t last as long as a low revving touring bike or a moderately pushed cruiser.

There are a few things to consider when comparing the longevity of different motorcycles, and it starts with analyzing the history of each bike. 

For example, we mentioned above that a sportbike is generally expected to live a shorter life than a low revving tourer. While that’s valid from a general perspective, whichever motorcycle was ridden more regularly is the one that’s going to last longer. 

Regular Use Is Important

A low mileage bagger garaged for the past ten years has more potential to show problems when placed back on the pavement than a high mileage CBR 929RR that was ridden, serviced, and upgraded regularly, 

When any bike sits for an extended amount of time, tires rot, seals dry up, fluids leak, and moisture collects and corrodes. In addition, pistons and rings can seize, jets clog, and fuel spoils and erodes, causing rust and corrosion to build up in the gas tank.

Not only do the fluids that pulse through a regularly ridden Fireblade keep the parts lubed and the lines clean, a 929RR, or any bike that’s routinely ridden was probably well maintained. Its prior owner probably updated old components.

Riding Habits Can Make a Difference

All that said, if the bikes you’re comparing are ridden regularly, another significant consideration is how the bikes were each ridden. 

That sportbike owners tend to push their bikes harder than long-distance riders run their baggers is a fair generalization, but it’s still a generalization. I’ve known about some aggressive bagger rippers.

I happen to love eating curves on my tourer, downshifting before the sweeper than throttling through the apex with a knee on the ground. 

Were both bikes warmed up and eased into their RPMs, or was one of the bikes cold started and revved into redline every day?

Now, the CBR929RR is a liquid-cooled motorcycle. Compared to an air-cooled bike, a liquid-cooled motor is less susceptible to overheating.

However, if the previous owner didn’t keep up with the fluids, that advantage becomes disadvantageous.

Storage Methods Is Vital

How were both bikes stored? A Fireblade kept in a clean garage will last longer than a bike stored outside in the heat, cold, moisture, dirt, and precipitation.

But if a prior owner kept their garaged cruiser next to chemicals like pool cleaner and acidic fumes, corrosion could be even more of an issue than for a 929RR that was tarped in the driveway.

Also read our article about how long Honda CBR 250Rs last.

What Typically Breaks First on a Honda CBR929RR?

Charging System failure and Cam Chain Tensioner wear and tear are the most prominent complaints encountered from Honda CBR929RR riders.

If the cam chain tensioner wears out, it won’t tighten the chain automatically as intended. The loosened chain spanks around, conceivably causing damage to components in its vicinity and making a displeasing rattle.

For every two moto-maniacs who celebrate Honda for their reliability, there’s one who can’t wait to talk about their stators and regulator/rectifiers (R/R) and how they burn out early. The 929RR Fireblade was manufactured right in the middle of when Honda owners seemed to be experiencing this issue.

Honda’s unique engineering creates motors that go miles and miles for years and years. Still, they generate quite a bit of internal heat.

According to one mechanic, Honda didn’t develop an R/R or a Stator that could withstand the engine heat until well after the Fireblade was out of production. 

5 Great Tips to Make Sure Your Honda CBR 929RR Will Last Long

Here are five tips to keep your CBR 929RR in shape for decades:

1. Service Your Honda CBR 929RR Fireblade in accordance with the maintenance schedule outlined in your owners manual.
2. Store your CBR 929RR in a garage, away from corrosive chemicals and fumes.
3. Upgrade any components that are prone to early failure on the stock Fireblades, like the Stator, Regulator/Rectifier, and Cam Chain Tensioner.
4. Ride responsibly. The 929RR is made for ripping, but even high revving engines have their limits. Let the bike warm up before redlining it, and be aware that the power required to roast tracks and pull stunts has an effect on the motor.
5. Ride often! Here’s the good news. A ridden bike is a happy bike, and a sitting bike is sad. Stop reading, and get in the saddle of your Honda CBR 929RR and cruise your way into a long, healthy life.

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