Well three months in and 3000 miles and I couldn't be happier with the bike, this weekend I put on the new pilot road 3 tyres which seem bloody impressive from the off, I was pleasently suprised with the BT015's after the Dunlop qualifiers that were on the blade (absolute crap!) but I have heard a lot of good things about the PR3's both wear and wet/dry performance so thought I would give them a go which is a departure from the Metzler Interact K3's I had on both blade and 1098 but out and out sports tyres are no longer the requirement on a day to day basis. I also gave the bike a good clean and polished the headers up (took ages lol) After having the suspension set up by MH Racing the bike handles like a dream now, no more running wide out of the corners ! and with the custom map by Somerset Dyno its smooth as silk and a healthy 121 bhp at the back wheel the bike is epic What still amazes me is how nice this bike is to ride come rain or shine it has been a pleasure to ride on my 480 mile a week commute, coming from the Blade and then Ducati 1098S its been a breath of fresh air and it has rekindled my love affair with biking, which I thought was close to the end after my back problems ! All that's left to get is some rizoma rearsets to replace the poor quality OE rearsets which have little paint left on them and is one of my two gripes the second being the lack of paint on the sump near the oil drain plug due to stones etc being thrown up ! will have to see what can be done about these issues when it goes in for its 4000 mile service at the end of the month. So here are a few pics
Honestly ..... manageable up to 85/90 (if I was to go that fast) but very uncomfortable above that, I have learnt to accept that it is a good thing as I should keep my licence, the Blade used to have a natural cruising speed well above the national limit and you didnt even know you were doing it ! I do 40 miles from Bristol to bridgewater everyday down the M5 and it is the most miserable part of my journey On A and B roads its perfectly fine and I dont notice the lack of wind protection
Good to hear. A naked muscle bike is high on my list of potential replacements for the Blade. A Speed Triple is tempting but not the new ones as they look like they were made from crisp packets and Kawasakis. My mate has an XJ6 and the last time we went up over Haldon hill, I over shot him simply because a gust hit him straight in the chest. One minute he was there, the next he was in my mirrors. That kind of third party input would not be welcome to my riding style.
Id suggest you try the CB1K as its like having a blade but with added comfort, I have not been put off by the lack of wind protection, you can buy screens to help matters but IMO that ruins the look and feel of a naked bike, I have become used to the limitations on the motorway but the rest of the time I am as quick if not quicker than I was on the blade. I can always pop over one day if you would like a go
was thinking of selling it for a hot tub... know any decent makes? ps - now i know why you keep inviting me down....
I had a Tuono which was an absolute hooligan tool and fantastic fun right up until I took it on the motorway. Then it was very unfun in a very unfunny way
See another commuter on a HRC CB1K most days, really nice looking bike. Yours is looking the nutz there Jamie.
Couldn't agree more but for now it does what I need, its not perfect as you know but it ticks most of the boxes
Looks great Jamie. I test rode one before I bought my first blade. Good fun to ride for sure. Has your Mrs been on the back?
No she has not yet as I took pegs off, but unlike the blade I can fit them and the seat in five mins Besides it looks better with one person on it and handles better Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
You do make it look small, Mr C. I'm not being funny, I was trying one on for size last night and I felt lost on it. It had black wheels which do look slightly less hideous. I think the next bling you should buy for it should be some wheels not designed by Denys Fisher, mate.
