Description:

Used relevant markets beckon with bargains for the super bikes of recent years. The PS-Check Used illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of individual bikes, explains what to look, and reveals why it is better to invest rather have a few euros more. Today: Honda SC57 and SC59.


The Superbikes are the pinnacle in the motorcycles. The combination of maximum power at the lowest possible weight combined with the latest technology to ensure rapid development of intervals that the high-end bikes fall significantly after a few years in the price.

Pilots who do not need the latest technology and the latest HP, have the chance, affordable second hand bikes to get hold of. Because on the second-hand markets are teeming with young Superbikes with reasonable mileage. However, the bargains out only with appropriate background knowledge to succeed.

For this reason, PS does in this and the next spending per a Superbike to the chest, revealing strengths and weaknesses, are tuning tips for road and track and explains what to look for when buying.

The first makes Germany’s best-selling supersport Honda CBR 1000 RR Fireblade. Unlike the two-year model cycle of Kawasaki and Suzuki remains the basis of the first Fireblade, internal code SC57, from 2004 to 2007 largely unchanged. No wonder, for the SC57 turns out to be true multi-talent.

Strengths and weaknesses

Typical of Honda Fireblade in the series shines the state with a normal, confident handling. In detail, there are also some nickel: The powerful motor develops its power while linear sucks, but with load changes. The chassis responds to clean and makes on the road any weakness is likely to turn out for track but firmer.

In addition, some pilots have reported blade with hard braking maneuvers by a strong shaking front end, the so-called fork flutter. But more on that later. The ergonomics of the SC57 is good to do sports and tours. Deserves praise of the electronically controlled steering damper that is unmatched in its impact to date.

The care measures for model year 2006 to improve the Fireblade in some points, without changing its basic character. The sprocket with now 42 instead of the 40 teeth that grow on 320 mm brake discs. But shrinking the cooler. Also, the vehicle weight is shrinking: Honda speaks of three kilograms, the PS-rich scales certified six kilos of weight loss.

In conjunction with the slightly more powerful engine and the raised maximum speed, the Fireblade has a total of something quirky, can on the track close the gap to the competition not. This is not changed, the chassis no. The fork should receive stiffer fork springs though, providing greater reserves and park the fork flutter, but the shock is too soft for racing.

So much for the actual condition. But what are the qualitative shortcomings of SC57, to which one must pay for a used purchase? Generally, it is in the ‘Blade is a very solid bike. The engine is considered stable, the build quality is high. The biggest issue the first series SC57-2004 and 2005 relates to the generator. In some models, there was a faulty coil, leading to less power and ultimately, a defective battery.

When assessing a used bikes can be checked only shortcoming of this by measuring the current flow. Should this not be possible, but there is no reason to panic. Honda has extended the warranty for this part of seven years, even the first year of the SC57 has thus until 2011 when defect still entitled to a replacement part.

Whether the offered motorcycle fork tends to flutter, can be tested as follows: (Attention, no ABS) In first gear, accelerate quickly to about 60 km / h, then short, slow but determined, briefly release the brakes and slow down immediately. Starts at the front to vibrate strongly, suffers under the motorcycle fork flutter.

The next known issue affects the final pot of the first two model years. Restricts a luggage roll or the cooling of the rear passenger underseat muffler one, that can occur due to the blistering heat at the rear light. Honda prompted a recall to fix this problem.

Also can resolve the above weaknesses of the series Blade. Let’s start with the engine. The standard in comparison to the competition somewhat weak engine has plenty of potential, but really only comes with not street-legal measures to advantage. Anyone who moves his blade on the street, should resort to an accessory-ABE-muffler (eg, Arrow or Remus). This increases the performance of the blade by up to four horsepower. The load changes can however do not resolve without intervention in the fuel injection system. Here on the legal side only helps optimize gas play and the chain slack.

On the road not conforming page already make small changes to great effect. Thus emerged the HP Tune-up in issue 1 / 2007, about 2,000 Euros, complete system from Akrapovic a true performance Mecca: Rich 14 hp more power the test blade pressed to the test – without any further modifications. An additional built-up and clean tuned power commander, together with sport air filter and accessories-Ram-air channel brought for a further 900 € “only” two PS increased performance, improved, however, the gruff response and resulted in the partial load range for more power. Other stacks improve the performance of the SC57 on. IDM Fireblade guru Jens Holzhauer still holds ready an additional tip: For intensive use on the track should the tuner, which replace the heat exchanger leading plastic Y-connector in the cooling system with an aluminum part: “The plastic heats up in the racing strong, which can lead to slipping of a radiator hose. ”

Chassis side, familiar Jens Holzhauer as well as his colleague Wolfgang Harbusch tuning of Wells on the potential of serial components. Both offer their own tags that contain a different cartridge for the fork, and modified shock-innards. Especially the 500 to 700 Euro conversion is expensive fork in amateur circles as a professional racer well received.

Fork flutter occurred in either of the two tuning forging. Holzhauer suggested that the results so far unexplained effect when the fork gets softer fork springs because of the first two years of construction to the hydraulic end stop and can no longer absorb bumps. In this case, a fork conversion help.