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The big news for the 2009 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade isn’t its new, oval-shaped indicators, but its revolutionary electronically-controlled Combined ABS system. This makes the Honda Fireblade the world’s first ever ABS-equipped superbike. This system takes none of the enjoyment out of riding this incredible superbike and it feels just the same to ride as a normal Blade, even on the track. The system stays in the background until the moment you get into a difficult braking situation, then the ‘brake-by-wire’ kicks in. This is a landmark motorcycle and surely the shape of things to come. Why would you ever want a bike without it?

It might not make the ultimate power of its 1000cc rivals, but the magic of the Honda Fireblade is its grunt and searing acceleration. The Honda’s gem-like 163bhp in-line-four-cylinder 999.8cc motor is capable of powering the Blade to the naughty side of 180mph, but more impressively it can do 150mph in a quarter of a mile. The power is easy to use, all the way through the rev-range and the throttle response perfect. This is one of the all-time great engines.

Honda invented the words ‘quality’ and ‘reliable’. The Honda Fireblade is the machine against which the competition is judged when it comes to build-quality. The paint is swimming pool-deep and all the controls are solid and operate with an oily perfection.

On track, the nimble, but stable Blade handles a lot like the RC212V MotoGP machine it’s styled to look like. The suspension is plush and soaks up bumps on the road nicely, while giving lots of support and control on the circuit. On the standard model the brakes have lots of feel and power, but the C-ABS model takes the braking to a whole new level. The ABS system stops the wheels locking in an emergency, but unlike more crude mechanical systems, there’s no pulsing at the lever, just smooth constant braking pressure. In normal conditions, if you only use the front brake, the system will apply a small amount of rear brake to keep the machine flatter, which increases stability on the way into a corner.

Spending just over £9000 isn’t a lot to pay for a class-leading machine. The Blade has cost around nine grand since time began but that hasn’t stopped it getting better and better over the years. Shelling out £1000 for the C-ABS is a lot, but it’s a superb system that doesn’t detract from the riding pleasure and might one day save your skin.

Honda has given its supersports weapon subtle tweaks for 2009, designed to give it more mid-range oomph and a smoother power delivery. New pistons, cylinder head and exhaust system have bolstered torque between 6000-10,000rpm, which makes the engine more flexible on the road. Luckily for us, this has been done without sacrificing any top-end power. The big news, though, is the optional electronically-controlled Combined ABS system, which is a world-first for a supersports machine. A new-style bellypan now covers the whole engine and the C-ABS valve unit for the front brake. The C-ABS version doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of riding MCN’s supersport 2008 machine of the year, and it feels just the same to ride as the standard Honda CBR600RR, even on the track. The C-ABS stays in the background until you get into a difficult braking situation, then the ‘brake-by-wire’ kicks in and will save your bacon, so sportsbike purists need not worry about the system getting it the way.

Honda didn’t really need to tweak the 107bhp, in-line-four-cylinder 599cc motor as it’s a gem in the first place, with a powerful, screaming top-end and a decent dollop of mid-range. The engine is especially effective at delivering incredible performance, thanks to the Honda’s lack of all-up weight (it’s the lightest of all the 600s). The Honda CBR600RR’s motor is already more flexible than the ’08 Kawasaki ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R600 K8 and ’08 Yamaha R6, but the tweaks to the engine and exhaust have made it even nicer to live with.

The CBR600RR is as rugged as a Tonka toy and built with the breathtaking precision of the finest Swiss watch. The build quality is superb, and the paint finish deep and flawless.

CBR600RR’s chassis: this is no bad thing as, like the engine, it’s class-leading. Stability in a straight line and through the corners is absolute, the suspension action and control is as fluid as pukka race kit and the standard model’s brakes are full of feel and power. This is a machine that loads you with confidence and flatters your riding like a Ducati 1098R. Honda’s optional electronically-controlled Combined ABS system is a thing of genius. In normal conditions the CBR works the same as a conventional machine, but in an emergency it takes over and stops the wheels from locking. It also distributes the braking between front and rear calipers to give maximum stability in all conditions.

The Honda CBR600RR comes with everything you need to hammer round the racetrack, including radial brakes, fully-adjustable suspension and an electronically-controlled, speed-sensitive steering damper. The only toy it’s missing is a slipper clutch. Add the C-ABS into the mix and it’s the complete package.

This is a lot of beautifully-built, high-performance machine for your money and worth every penny. The C-ABS system adds another grand or so to the price, but when you know it could save your life, can you afford not to have it?

The ‘updated’ version of Honda’s bum-basic commuter only needed a few upgrades over the original 1960’s design – CDI ignition is the main benefit, reducing maintenance. Otherwise, it’s still the crude but charming plod-along it always was – only emissions killed it off in the EU, variants of the Cub are still on sale in Asia.

The C90 is slow. Breaching a real 50mph is good going, and the semi-automatic three-speed gearbox’s high ratios are good for fuel consumption, not acceleration. But it does what it needs to – gets from A to B simply, cheaply and reliably. The heel-and-toe clutchless gear change is easy for a complete novice to understand, and doesn’t mark your shoes either.

Again, the C90 Cub’s chassis isn’t built for speed – all it does is connect the wheels, engine and rider. The leading link forks rise under braking, and even with the standard drum brake the unloading of the front wheel can lead to a crash on slippy surfaces. But treat it as a commuter rather than a sports bike, and it’ll comfortably carry you about town – the suspension and full-size wheels give a much more comfortable ride than a scooter.

There is very little too a C90 – leg shields, a fuel gauge and a decent seat are the extent of the luxuries, but then it is built to do a simple job on the cheap. Owners often add screens, top boxes and boards for the taxi driver’s ‘Knowledge’ – if you want any of these, it shouldn’t be a problem finding the spec you want.

The C90’s build is simple – a handful of tools will cover most maintenance tasks, though the robust nature means little repair is needed. The pressed steel chassis is prone to rust on old, neglected or high miles bikes around the rear wheel arch – check it hasn’t got near the rear suspension mounts. The swingarm is susceptible to rust too, the header pipe rots and the wheels can give out – all of which are easily inspected, preventable or curable, so you can afford to be choosy when buying. The engine should need little more than faithful oil changes (it can easily burn through the tiny capacity) and valve clearance checks.

In the current harsh economy, the C90 will win a lot of friends. They cost little to buy, insure, fill with fuel, service or repair – there’s no reason a C90 will ever leave you out of pocket, and as long as you accept it’s built for one purpose, you’ll be happy with it. A complete bike in any state rarely fetches less than £100 – you can really run them in to the ground and still sell them on.

Cheap-as-chips replacement for the venerable CG125 offers the same kind dependable utilitarian transport but with a dash of style. The CBF125 has flown out of showrooms since its introduction in January – so much so that dealers complain of not being able to get hold of them quickly enough – and we’re not surprised. It’s a Honda, it’s good looking, it’s cheaper to run than catching a bus, it may be the only transport you need and it costs just a shade over £2000 on the road. It’s even been described as fun. The only question seems to be: Why doesn’t everyone have one?

The CBF’s 124.7cc four-speed fuel injected single is squarely aimed at delivering fuel economy rather that thrills. With a top speed of around 65mph, it’s up to motorway use but you might not want to make a habit of it. Honda claim 11bhp, one more than its closest rival, Yamaha’s YBR125. In reality there’s nothing between the two in performance. In an MCN test neither could pass the other flat out.

Handling and brakes (drum rear and single disc front) are the right side of competent. For half-hour rides it’s as comfortable as almost any bike but on longer trips your backside will pay a price for the cheap and cheerful twin rear shocks, especially on the motorway. In town you may be reminded of a rocking horse when switching between braking and accelerating in stop-start traffic.

At this price something has to give. So perhaps it’s not surprising, if disappointing, that the finish on the exhaust doesn’t seem fit to last. An MCN test bike was showing rust after a few weeks of winter use. We have also heard from readers unsatisfied with the longevity of that matt black finish. Plastics are flimsy, with easily broken grommets. If the CBF has inherited anything from the CG125, reliability shouldn’t be an issue.

The CBF is all about providing only what you need for the cheapest possible price. In equipment terms that means numbers around the edge of the speedometer dial indicating what gear you should be in instead of a rev counter. You do get a fuel gauge, though. If you start with a brimmed tank, you’ll have about a third left by the time it says half.

In Top Trumps this is where the CBF would be unrivalled. Unless perhaps the other player had a YBR125 card. The CBF started the year at £1795 but has now gone up to £2020, just £49 less than the YBR. The CBF comes with fairing while the YBR is naked; but the YBR has a rack, arguably more important on this kind of bike, and the CBF doesn’t. Fuel economy figures don’t help. Honda claims 134mpg for the CBF but it managed an actual 87.5mpg in MCN tests while the YBR returned 87.3. In the end superior styling makes the CBF seem like a better overall package per dollar while both bikes offer economy levels to put public transport to shame.

The new VFR is a good bike – but it’s not a great one. And after all the hype and expectation (Honda themselves are pumping it up as “the Ultimate Road Sports Motorcycle” and it’s simply not) that is not good enough. Logically, to justify its almost £12K tag, the new VFR should offer abilities and specification head and shoulders above all others. It doesn’t. Although the basic powertrain, complete with V4 character, stability and build quality impress, there are simply too many niggly faults or omissions to be ignored. The tank is too small, the switchgear baffling, the instrumentation too basic, the touring accessories not good enough. It shouldn’t be that easy to find fault with a flagship machine.

The Honda VFR1200F’s all-new 1237cc V4 is immensely grunty and flexible and retains characteristic V4 exhaust bark. You never need approach 10,000rpm limiter/redline but if you do it (almost) howls like an RC30. On the downside there’s a slight buzz in the crotch around 4-5000rpm cruising speed there’s little Blackbird/ZZR/K13-style top-end rush and the gearbox is sometimes vulnerable to false neutrals or is reluctant to perform 1st-3rd shortshifts.

The Honda VFR1200F’s cast twin spar frame, shaft-drive and combination of decent but not outstanding 43mm preload adjustable USD forks and Prolink monoshock rear offer excellent stability and ride comfort but, at a big ???kg, the VFR12 is no sports bike. Despite the low and nicely waisted seat, you never lose the impression that this is one big, heavy bike. Steering is slow and laboured, ABS brakes are decent but lack the finesse and precision of latest Blade system.

The Honda VFR1200F’s finish is impeccable, in typical Honda fashion and, in truth, Honda has moved the game on with both the VFR’s superb paint finish (the result of some clever new technology, apparently) and novel ‘layered’ fairing design, which does an excellent job of both cutting through the wind and venting engine heat away from rider. Must be terrifyingly expensive if it falls off its sidestand, though.

The Honda VFR1200F’s £11,596 list price has been universally criticised as being too steep which leaves us wondering who’s going to buy it. At £12K a bike’s got to have major league appeal to win customers and I just don’t think the new VFR has it. If you want a mile-eating sports-tourer BMW’s K1300S and GT both offer at least as much ability and fewer niggles for the price; Kawasaki’s ZZR or GTR 14 more performance and technology while a Ducati or Triumph more character and sporting ability.

On face value the Honda VFR1200F is decently equipped – but the damning’s in the details. ‘Transformers’-style instrument display boasts LCD gear indicator, fuel gauge, clock etc, but lacks ambient air temp, mpg etc of latest range-topping rivals. There’s no traction control, electric screen or electronic suspension adjustment, a centre stand is an optional extra and, worst of all, Honda in its wisdom has decided to reinvent the wheel with its new switchgear design by enfuriatingly repositioning the indicator toggle under the horn.

Strictly speaking, the BROS 400 is heavy, underpowered and outdated. But the cheap grey imports are surprisingly nice to ride – they’re well balanced, steer well and the engine is flexible, torquey and characterful given its 33bhp output. That also makes it legal for new riders on a restricted licence.

Very similar to the Africa Twin engine (specials builders actually fit the bigger 750 in the chassis), the understressed motor pulls from low in the rev range unless you labour it in a high gear. Fuelling is classic crisp carburettor response, though power tails off higher in the rev range. Great around town, and it’ll sit happily at 80mph too. It has a surprisingly prominent and pleasant airbox noise too.

Suspension fatigue affects the Honda BROS – new fork oil springs and a new shock transform it. Then you can take advantage of the neutral handling, strong RC30-derived brakes and plentiful ground clearance. It’ll even take sticky tyres, though not in the correct front profile (which affects the speedo reading) – standard sized, modern crossplies are widely available and grippy enough unless you’re a lunatic or a trackday fiend.

Find a cared for BROS (ideally one that’s been loved and kept dry since import from Japan), and you’ll be astounded at the quality. Deep paint, quality fasteners and lovely finish all-round is nicer than most new bikes – including some Hondas! Understressed engine is unburstable, the chassis is tough. Make sure the eccentric chain adjuster/rear wheel hub isn’t seized, and there’s little else that goes wrong. Specialist backup is available too – new-old stock parts are readily available as well as pattern parts.

Basic - the BROS has a comfy, semi-upright café racer riding position but poor pillion provision. Underseat storage only accepts the standard tool kit, and the tank lasts around 90 miles before you need to flick the fuel tap to reserve.

Accept what the BROS 400 is – a smart, cheap new-rider friendly all-rounder – and it’s a great bike. It’ll cost pennies to run, and a good one is still a viable alternative to the half-arsed current field of 33bhp bikes. If you’re looking for a hardcore sportsbike then forget it, but the BROS is still a very capable and enjoyable first big bike.

Honda’s RVF400 was a pin-up race replica that had sports bike fans dribbling down their paddock jackets in the mid-nineties. The trouble was that Honda never officially brought the NC35 (its ‘factory’ code name) into the UK, which was a crying shame, although many have found their way here as ‘grey’ imports. Replacing the VFR400R (NC30), which Honda did officially import, the NC35 is a V4 400cc baby version of the mighty RVF750R (RC45). It looks almost the same as its big brother, but it has tiny fox-eye headlights, compared to the RC45’s ‘moon eyes’. It sounds great, is beautiful to look at and handles like a demon. Many can still be found tearing up the circuit on trackdays and club racing. A low seat height and lightweight makes the RVF400 a manageable machine for shorter riders. It’s also an ideal donor bike for a 33bhp kit for new riders.

This liquid-cooled, 399cc, DOHC, V4 motor with gear driven cams and four 28mm carbs, may be small but it’s beautifully formed. The NC35 doesn’t make peak power (59.4bhp) until the rev needle sweeps all the way to 13,000rpm. You have to thrash it mercilessly to get anywhere fast, which let’s face it, is the thing that makes the RVF400 so exciting to ride.

By today’s standards the RVF400 is a little bit soft around the edges, but in its day it handled with all the agility and precision of a 250cc Grand Prix bike compared to old litre-sized buses like the GSX-R1100, and relatively big supersports machines like the FZR600. Compared to the out-going NC30, Honda’s new pocket rocket it had upside forks and a 17” rear wheel replacing the old 18-incher for improved handling. It’s still good today and can be made even better with a suspension overall and fitting the latest sticky tyres.

This is Honda at their very best, so fit and finish is superb. Reliability isn’t an issue and there are some super-high mileage machines still pounding our streets. Because these bikes weren’t officially imported here there are some scrappy ones about and those that have been raced have obvious pitfalls.

Good condition RFV400s are still holding their money. Low mileage, good condition examples are fetching around prices around £6000. You can get pick up a high mileage model for as little as £1450.

The RVF400 came with all the latest kit: a stiff aluminium frame, single sided swingarm, 17” wheels, upside down forks and big brakes. There are no creature comforts here, just everything you need for going fast on track.