Just after opinions from people who use them in the real world, every day, all year and in all weathers (except ice and snow maybe :lol. Just how practical are they. Forget the luggage side of things, i already use a Kriega US-10 on my current bike for my lunch !!!! What about the comfort aspect, reach to bars, filtering, clutch bite when slow moving through traffic, mirrors etc etc all the real world stuff that matters. No '' track day hero '' credentials are needed.
I've comuted for 2 years on an 09 and 10 blade with no ABS. Perfect in my opinion. The mirrors fold in easy to squeze through gaps, get a loud can so the cages can hear you coming, i wear a back pack no probs, its comfy (for an awesome sports bike). Clutch is a tiny niggle, but just chose your routs to be in bus lanes and faster traffic, filtering situations. YOu can always get a -1 front sprocket which lowers the gearing and makes it a little easier on the clutch - and it ripps for doing wheelies..! BUT and this is a VERY BIG BUT... your bike WILL get stolen. Unless you have super secure parking, forget it. We've had 3 blades nicked from Soho in 6 months, 2 in NCP carparks! (plus a 2010 zx6..). The thief factor is the only negative in my opinion. It has made me buy a hack to commute on as my insurance is insane right now. good luck
My candid opinions (based on commuting for years on various models of Fireblade, no ABS though)... The clutch isn't as slow traffic friendly as the previous hydraulic version For me, it's not quite as comfy as the 04-07 models, but better than the 02-03 for example Very low end (2-4k rpm) grunt has been reduced from the previous model Gearing needs to be lowered unless you enjoy being in 1st gear all the time Fuelling is perfect (even better with pipe and PC) Transition from off to on throttle is smoothest ever (due to some tech I forget the name of) There's a system which adds a tiny bit of throttle when you close the throttle completely (again I fiorget the name of it) - this can be annoying The stock exhaust will rot if ridden in bad weather (actually if ridden in any weather) I love the bike in general though!
Cheers for that, i always felt the hydraulic clutch on the 07 model felt a lot heavier than the cable version on the newer bike. As for security of the bike..... no problem at all. I work in a place that has very very close security, there is little chance of it going anywhere !!!! Excellent news then.
Yup. All the time. I bought the bike new at the beginning of January this year, and did 1,200 miles on it upto the end of Feb. I won't ride when it's silly icy, but frost and a bit of ice doesn't bother me, neither does the rain... I hate black ice though.
Ditto, no silly ice skating antics but i ride all year and had to take the car last week because my current bike was in for servicing etc.... OMG i had forgot how horrible getting stuck in traffic really is, it was a real eye opener. I doubt i will ever get a car again to travel to work. I just want something a bit more interesting than a CBF600N.
Really? I thought the new blade has the best lowdown grunt of all the current superbikes? More than the beemer, new Kwak..?
It's got more Mid range Torque than most of the other Superbikea but I think he revering to the last model Person I purchased my bike from said the same thing-slightly more low end grunt but after that the newer model takes pole. Carl
The clutch is a bit touchy on this bike especially in and around London. Low range power is lacking, but can be seen as a bonus for every day driving as can make for a very mellow drive, however for more spirited driving it can be a bit cumbersome, nothing some aftermarket parts can't fix though. Apart from that two things to note when buying are ABS system problems and excessive oil burning, both are apparently unfixed as of yet into the 2011 models, although there are lots of stories battering about only some of the ABS ones are alarming.
The oil issue is still a concern for me, i really am disappointed in Honda for not tackling this head on, this will linger for years to come, and when ever anybody mentions the RR8 it's the oil issue that will spring to mind.... sad really.
I reckon that for every person with oil issues there are 100 that have no problems at all. I would not hesitate to buy an 08.
Ive got an rr8. Had it on the road for a while then turned it into my track bike. Never burnt or used any oil like that, and its been ridden hard on track. Its already been mentioned here, prob was a small problem for some but blown up out of all proportion. M
I Find the RR-A awsome through city centre traffic. Alot smoother than my 600. I found the low end pull a little low untill i fitted a slip on, Pulls my arms off now !
Hudson, I commuted all last winter on my 2009 ABS. Very comfy for me, and a phenomenal commuter. Good clutch, quick, light and nippy, excellent control when manoeuvering on the rear brake. A delight.
I know this is a resurrected thread, but have been commuting on an RRA CBS since July, and I have seen peoples comments about perfect fuelling, mine is a dog with on/off fuel shunt in 1st/2nd gear traffic crawling, its as bad as the 929 was, and have been wondering if a PC would cure it, but now wonder if mine has an issue. I had no problems with the 954 and RR6, but this one is a pain in slow speed traffic crawling. Apart from that it destroys every other Blade I have owned, so I guess a shitty bit of fuel mapping may be the price I have to pay.
And I forgot to say the mirrors are smashing but a bit tight. I have to pull elbow in to get a good view.
Agree with the above, i think a bit of fueling mapping would go a long way, my 954 has a power commander and when it went into the dealers for its fork recall the mechanic who rode it said it was one of the silky smooth and one of the best he had ridden, the fueling can be made a lot better.
