I tried both models today and can't decide if they are any quicker than my blade. The latest one was best to ride and totally bonkers at 14000 rpm. Would I just be better off fitting a quick shifter? It did make me think again about how the blade goes and that the dyno work I had done I have only noticed how good it is after riding the older bm then my blade and then the new bm. Think I have suppressed the desire to go German for now but after reading all the reviews about how great they are still makes me wonder what I'm missing.
If it's road riding that you do then the blade is the bike to keep. If it's tracks that you are more into then I'd say the BMW.
People say that all the time about the BMW, how bonkers it is top end, I ask you is the blade not bonkers when it's flat out? Maybe im weak but when im pinging of the limiter of a new blade I find it quite quick...lol Did you know that with all the hype of the 2012 BMW it's around 10bhp down on the 2011 on the dyno also they make around 178-180 bhp no where near what owners and the press claim (as per HM Racing and other dynos I visit)... Have a look at the dyno charts posted on here of the shoot out in the Us for an idea how good the CBR is.. Also the OEM BMW shifter is crap ask any dyno opp what they think of it! It's so crap when pushed it misses gears in the upper all the time! Unlike a decent shifter! Any BMW riders with a clue will bin it and fit something that works... Also my TDM900 keeps up two up on B roads, now that's a reason not to buy one....lol
I think it's a case of the grass is greener. Like I said I don't think I realised how good the blade is until trying them out back to back. Just hoping that today's service they have filled it with some magic non burning oil.
That's a gutter about your oil problem mate, my advice is stick with it, don't give up and pester the dealer until its fixed!
Try different oils - Clive Padgetts got some good ideas on oil to use. Re the quick shifter fit one, remember its about the only mod / part which does not wear and can be fitted to other bikes so the investment is not wasted / lost. Brembo M/C also helps - and told lightweight wheels transform the handling - but NOT cheap!
All they say about the oil is that the engine is so tuned that it is designed to burn oil. After reading the service book it says it in there to that it will use oil depending on conditions I think the main condition is how much use the throttle is getting abused.
Think the qs is on the list of things to do and with the cost of swapping bike I could do some serious up grades.
No one has ever given a real explanation to why some burn and some don't, main reason for that is no way of comparing one riders use etc to another's.. All I would say is keep a log of what your adding, mileage, and maybe some notes of use, hot day, cold day, just some info to help you argue your case should you need to.. I know it's pain in the ass but I would...even if just for a while! Re money lost on new bikes, like you say for what you would loose you cold add some performance mods, as said wheels make a MASSIVE difference to acceleration, stopping, handling and other factors of the bike, my thoughts would be engine mapping, exhaust, suspension setup/internals, brakes, shifter, wheels and so on.. My old upgraded 07 blade still holds my interest and the interest of others when out and about! BMW will have to do a little better before I chop it in!
Tim, give Fordy99 a shout and ask him, he chopped his blade in for a 2012 BMW so will be able to give you his thoughts.
I have already been and spoken to my local dealer regarding the HP4, they are going to let me know when they get pricing and availably etc. looks mint, one of the bike rags are going to review it next month, cant remember which one though. Having said that they all raved about the Panigale and not a mention about the build quality! !
Had a new S1000R in last monday have the HUGE BMW shifter taken off for our quickshifter. I have to say I really liked the look of it. Some great bits on it and loads of tech too. The rearsets are a work of art and the whole bike oozed quality imo but I still so love the Repsol look
I took a 2012 for dyno last month it made 10bhp less than the old one with full akrapovic however the owner swears its the better bike over his old 2011, he has money down on a HP4 but I'm talking him out of it, rather wait and see how adaptive susspention gets on in the real world, I wonder how your going to get used to a bike that keeps fiddling with the setup!
