I'm not a Fireblade owner, although have test ridden one (an 09) in the past and definitely intend having one in the future. At the time, I test rode a load of other bikes when trying the Fireblade, but decided on my Speed Triple which I currently have. I wondered why you all chose Fireblades - what was it that made you go for that instead of anything else? Also, what other bikes did you consider/try - if any?
For me it's the perfect all-rounder: it looks the best out of all the litres (subjective, of course), has the most refined delivery, is very versatile - have done track and 10,000 miles of 2-up touring around Europe on it, and doesn't look as obviously a c*ck-rocket like some of the others do. It's also perfect for a first litre-class sportsbike. It's as easy to ride round town as it is to cruise on the motorway. I had a GSX-R750 and although really liked that as a bike, my heart was always with the Blade when stepping up to the thou's. Never liked the ZX or the R1. Would consider a GSX-R1000 or S1000RR, but they don't look anywhere near as good as the Blades, imo.
I have had my Blade for 3 months, before that I had a Street Triple which I bought brand new and I barely did 300 miles on it before part exchanging it for my wonderful HRC, the reasons were that I love the build quality of the Blade and all Honda's really, I also rented a Blade when I went to the Isle of Man TT this year and found it was not too uncomfortable on long rides, also I just wanted the speed and to get to have my sportsbike phase before it is too late. Lastly I just got a bit fed up with Nakeds, I had the Street Triple and also a Honda Hornet 600 and CB1000R. I have to say the Blade is by far the best bike I have ever riden and I am full of excitement when I remember I have one in the garage. Im a very proud owner Fotgot to mention... it is so bloody easy to ride
ridiculously easy to ride and built well, own an RC8, had loads of ducatis and used to have an R1 4xv track bike. Whilst the RC8 is more of an occasion when taking it out for a ride its much more of a handfull which at times i just dont want (especially on track) Took the blade out on only the 3rd time id ridden it round donington and had an absolute hoot. Piece of piss to just jump on and ride like you stole it or bumble about minding your own business. all rounders dont get much better imo
I had a 4xv R1 and was definately going to buy the new one until I rode it and hated it and took the blade out straight after it and was amazed how quick and easy to ride it was. Just to make sure I was making the right choice I went on to test a zx10r, RSV4 aprc , RC8, 848, 1098 and even tried two nakeds the KTM superduke R and CB1000r. I liked the RSV4 a lot and would of bought that if it was not for the price and finance package aprillia offered. So it was a new blade with a great deal, free kit and 0%. I really could not be happier with the bike, and if I waas not thrilled enough with it,The bike blew me away when I took it to cadwell park this year, the best thing about this bike is it is so versatile, easy to use and I think it looks great (HRC's) obviously
I grew to love the way they look, i hated it at first after years on a 2006 600rr. Also the honda build quality, I've done more miles on my blade than I did on the Ducati, yet the ducati looked like it had done 15k and my blade is probably in better condition than when it cames out of the factory.
It was the smallest , I had a go of an R1 and it was huge . Plus its a favourite looking of the jap bikes . I didnt want to spend the money they wanted for the BMW being 2010's bike of the year so went for 08 and 09 bike of the year being the Fireblade ( Fast bikes BOTY by the way )
Most of the bikes i have had have been Honda's my last bike was a 55 plate Yamaha and i just loved it power, chassis and grip it had everything tour all Europe in it, i waited for the new Yamaha to come out and hated the rear end and also having to pay a fortune for new cans because those cans were just a mess, my Mrs wanted a new bike and decided to have a test drive on the new 08 blade so i thought why not , i didnt like the front of the blade so i had taken it off my list before even driving it, so the Mrs came back and she loved it she has a 600rr so the extra power she loved so i took it out for a run ...... big mistake i fell in love with the power the balance, brakes and the best of all the build quailty the rest is history.... i got the blade and she got a new 600rr ..... if calsberg built bikes they would build Hondas .....simple !
All the technical reasons above are true. It's a great all rounder, it's compact, it's damn near indestructable. When it's beaten in magazine shootouts it's usually because this bike does this thing better and that bike does that thing better. The thing is once those bikes have performed their trick, what do they see in their mirrors?... I don't think there is a better set up bike right out of the box. Honda don't have an overwhelming need to trick the bike out electronically because it's better to make the bike handle correctly than intervene if it doesn't. Quote from August 'Fast Bikes' "If you're trying hard on the FireBlade then you're not riding it right". 'Nuff said. That's why we should have bought one. Why did I buy one? Back in '92 during my self imposed bike hiatus I saw the name of Honda's new 900 sport bike and thought 'Cool, I'd love a bike with a name like that' Plus if you're not too accurate about it you can (possibly) translate FireBlade back into Japanese as 'Go on Ken'. So I had to.
I had an rrw blade for 10 years and loved that bike, it taught me a lot and got me out of a couple of (rider) mistakes. I do like the BMW but the price is mad, so took a test ride on the new blade and that was it! my mind was made up, the jump up from the 98 blade is vast and i new it was for me, funny though cos when it came out I HATED the front end look, now I think it's just spot on. Like someone else said I feel proud everytime I go in my garage. The wife doesn't like all the time I'm spending in there though!! But that's another story. Lol
That's exactly what I thought .. it reminded me of that Amazon river dolphin (can't think of its name right now) from the front . I'm just sooooo happy that I had an afternoon to waste and thought I would have a play on all the demo bikes at Kent Honda . The Blade was the last bike I rode and I was blown away ... the rest is , as they say , history
I narrowed my first litre bike down to th rsv4, the rc8, the 848 evo and the blade. In January this year, I took my youngest out for a macdonalds, ended up diverting to hunts in Manchester as they where selling a 6mth old black and gold blade. It had a few marks, so I plumbed for a new one at £1k more. It was snowing outside, so never even test rode one...I just bought it there and then....felt perfect for me. The most expensive big mac in history, and never told the missus until it was delivered 2 weeks later. she went ape shit.
Si, you're my hero! Got Mrs. Vino to sign mine off whilst she had a massive hangover. Ended up costing me a boob job (for her). Tough life.
Because it represents the best value for money!!! £8,995 brand new with 20% deposit and balance on 0% for 3 years!!! Previously had a Ducati Desmosedici RR and a Ducati 1098R. Ducati 1098R lost more money in depreciation during 3 years of ownership than the Blade cost brand new, also thousands of pounds in running cost!!! Prior to those owned a GSXR1000, R1, GSXR750's, CBR400RR.... List goes on!!!!!
Mrs Ken was giving me all the bad kind of vibes when I bought mine. When I came out and said 'you don't want me to have it, do you?' she said that it wasn't that, it was that she was expecting a spit in the ears grin when I took off the crash helmet after test riding it and it wasn't there so she assumed I didn't really like it. Once I explained that I was too shit scared to grin after the test ride everything was okay.
Yep, spent £70,000 at the Ducati dealer. £40,000 for a Desmosedici £30,000 for a 1098R Living the dream!!!!
