I am not sure how much longer I can live with the Blade, I am getting much more aches and pains even after a 20 minute ride and my neck and shoulders are telling me to take it easy. I have owned Blades for the past 10 years and absolutely love the bike, easy to ride, very forgiving, bullet proof, fast enough for me and IMO a great looking bike. I only do short runs, up to 1 hour, and do not do any touring. I did have a CB1000R for 6 months but found it gutless and uninteresting to ride, so which of the current nakeds is the best option if I choose to change? I know this is sacrilege on this forum but I also know you guys are very honest and knowledgable.
just a long shot fella but can you not put rearsets and bar risers on the blade? that way you keep the performance and get the comfort
No no no no you've got it all wrong... Let me break this down for you. Your travelling from A to B and the journey time takes you 20 minutes, those 20 minutes are just enough to cause neck and back pain... So what we need to do is reduce the neck and back pain because this is where the issues lies... The answer is simple, you need to reduce the journey time, if the journey time was say 10 minutes then there is less chance of suffering back and neck pain.... Answer= ZX10r, this bike is so fast that it would easily reduce that same journey from A to B, to a mere 10 minutes or less There is no need to thank me for this incredible advice.....
I'm in the market for another road bike and tbh for different reasons looking at the potential change to a naked... For me there is only one answer. Speed triple. Ridden pals to know they are good enough for the road in any company, look cool enough to carry it off and have the branding which IMO has been fantastic in recent years to make you want to own one... Some of the others are prob better bikes now, but none of them I'd want to own... Know what your saying about the dukeR art, but I couldn't buy a bike that doesn't actually let you have the power on tap the engine can give! Bullshite that....
I only said it as a off the wall kind of suggestion, you know top of the tree for bonkers naked IMO, rode BVGs and was shocked just how bonkers it was! I mean BONKERS, didn't even give it much in the way of beans but man! it's friken crazy that bike, made my moto feel like a moped! shocking! Think he had 170+ mph from that bike on the runway! mad! Love the SpeedT and SteetT.
Yeah and even the 80% odd power you get from 100% throttle still eats most bikes!! But to pay all that money and not be able to just turn it to 1:1 would grate on me big style... Even if I couldn't handle it - I'd still want to experience it That said, in black it looks mean as.... Can't comment to much as haven't ridden one, but for 14 odd k, I'd want it to be a switchable between modes.
Well i guess my suggestion may not be of interest to you given your comments on the post..... CB1000R ! I have one for my 30 min commute and with a PC V fitted i find it plenty powerful enough, certainly for a 20 min ride or so your engine will have only just warmed up.
Totally agree,on the bike ,was looking at a Speed triple myself,rode a mates street 675r,couldn't wipe the grin off my face,like a pushbike on steroids,think i could live with either quite happily
2014 Aprilia Tuono V4R ABS review - Telegraph 2014 BMW S1000R – 160hp, ABS, & Optional DTC & DDC BMW S1000R review - Telegraph
I've got a 2013 Speed Triple - overall a great bike. Good fun to ride. I found the suspension very harsh on standard settings but backed it off not and it is much better. It drinks fuel (generally get around 105 miles before the fuel light is on). Standard rear tyre (Racetec) only lasted 1300 miles but I've put Pilot Road 4 on now which feels fine and is lasting well. Comfort is obviously much better than the Blade. Mine has not been as reliable as I had hoped - maybe just been unlucky. Cheers, Ian.
I'm with Arthur on this, although I'll recommend the lesser KTMs too (a slighter older 950SM or SD for example). You can't help but have fun on one of them.
