Baba's guiding philosophy for the CBR900RR was total mass reduction rather than outright power increase — a departure from the prevailing thinking in the early 1990s superbike segment. The project began from an advanced research model known internally as the "CBR750RR." By increasing stroke on an inline-four 750 cc engine, Honda raised displacement to 893 cc while targeting a power-to-weight ratio that matched or exceeded heavier-displacement rivals. The result weighed just 185 kg dry, making it only 1.8 kg heavier than the CBR600F2 in wet trim, while the next-lightest 750-plus machine of the era, the Yamaha FZR1000, was 34 kg heavier.
The first-generation CBR900RR debuted in 1992 with a 893 cc inline-four. A 1994 update improved the shift drum for smoother gear changes. The second generation, arriving in 1995, revised damping and spring rates, upgraded the front fork with a compression adjuster, and introduced more aggressive "fox eye" multi-reflector headlights with a covered design for improved aerodynamics. The frame gained aluminum components in place of steel, and the cylinder head cover moved to magnesium.
The third generation (1996) carried a 919 cc engine following a 1 mm bore increase, alongside a revised chassis with larger-section frame extrusions for improved torsional rigidity and a raised swingarm pivot. The fourth generation (1998) featured a stiffer frame, redesigned fairings, larger front brake rotors, and an engine rebuilt with 80 percent new internals aimed at reducing friction and weight.
The fifth generation, introduced in 2000 as the CBR929RR in North America, brought a completely new 929 cc engine with fuel injection, larger valves at a narrower angle, an all-titanium exhaust with Honda's HTEV system, larger 330 mm front disc rotors, and the move from 16-inch to 17-inch wheel diameter. Inverted front forks also appeared for the first time on the model. John McGuinness won the 2001 Macau Grand Prix riding the subsequent CBR954RR variant.
The sixth and final generation was the CBR954RR (2002–2003), displacing 954 cc following a bore increase from 74 to 75 mm. Revised fuel injection mapping, a larger radiator, and restyled bodywork accompanied the technical updates. Dry weight fell to 168 kg, with rear-wheel power measured at 135.8 hp (101.3 kW).
The CBR900RR was replaced by the CBR1000RR in 2004, which extended the Fireblade name into the litre-class. The CBR900RR's influence extended well beyond sales figures: its emphasis on power-to-weight ratio and overall mass as the primary performance metric reshaped how manufacturers approached large-displacement sport bike development throughout the 1990s.
The model also entered wider culture: the CBR900RR is the central subject of Brigitte Giraud's autobiographical novel Vivre vite (Live Fast, 2022), which explores the death of her husband in an accident involving one.