Being scoffed at by Ducati owners for having a base model or idolised for having best SP blade. Difficult one to answer. I wouldn't have either I'd wait till the new blade comes out and compare it to the other 1ltr bikes on offer.
The blade feels no more special or different to my existing blade to justify the price tag other than the bling on it ... I can add more bling to mine for a lot less than the cost difference. The panigale just feels utterly extreme. It really is a track only bike. My own opinion obviously. Buy what you really want and don't worry what others think
If your intent on spending £15K then I'd go stock S1000RR Beemer or nearly new HP4. The Pani will be worth more than the Blade come sale time out of the two mentioned.
I have tested and ridden both, the sp is just a blade with a few add ons. Nothing special that can be achieved with any normal blade, residual prices are not great either so no contest really, but the pani is not fantastic all the time either, it is a pig in traffic and low speed, excessive heat in the summer and runs out of revs very quickly which feels like riding a 600 sports bike as you constantly have to make sure it is in the right gear!! fuel consumption is poor too. Take your pick but buy what feels comfortable for you to ride and not what your mates think is cool as it is your money!! but hey if you only ride some 600 miles in summer then who gives a sh*t how comfy it is, but for me who covers 16000 miles a year it does matter!!
Do what I done and go from a 2013 Blade to a 2014 899 Panigale. Dont get me wrong, I couldn't fault the Blade, it did anything you asked of it easily although I personally was never 100% confident in the twisties. I never felt totally stable but it was probably me as I felt the bike was a bit big for me. The 899 is better for normal use on the roads than the 1199 although the new 1299 will be a beast. I feel in control of the 899 more as it feels tiny in comparison. It does feel special as well, it is something you can just look at. The Blade SP is no doubt a brilliant bike but is it worth £15k, a lot more choice for that money.
There is something lustful about the Panigale but something desirable but safe about the Blade!! Sinewave totally respect your post but the BMW nah mate not for me
Your talking rubbish there ocd on your above quote unless your bike is worth 8k but on a new blade against a sp its worth every penny the suspension alone is 2 1:2k calipers £600 matched Conrod Pistons £1200 top yoke subframe I would say the thick of 5k aye you might bling up as you say for less but not the quality of kit what comes with the sp if you can get me the same speck for less let me know and I will take two
Not sure they can be compared, I know you have to ask the question but they are two very different bikes, don't think any Ducati (other than the multi) is a sensible daily bike, ok then maybe a monster if any Ducatisti are listening The Honda is a great do it all bike imo, but then as we all know times have sort of stood still for the Blade and others have moved on with tech, for a daily bike I could be drawn towards a good electronics package, smooth fly by wire throttle with usable modes, complex ABS, maybe electronic susspention to smooth out those B roads, even built in heated grips this time of year could be a must on a one bike does it all Superbike priced in the SP and 1199 range. If that bike was reliable and dealer support was good you could indeed find yourself sat in Bahnstormer looking at a shiny new S1000RR, and who could blame you...lol My problem is I like them all you see, so this post is somewhat a waist of your time, as said, the best advice is find one you like, a test ride is a must as sometimes the old saying never meet your heros comes to mind, bikes I have loved the look of I should have never rode, as a good few have disappointed, to be 15 grand disappointed would cheese me right off...lol P.s, I rode the SP and loved it, so much I could have gone out and got one! This one
Every penny? No. When it comes down to it, it really is nothing more than a glorified Blade with some bling. £5k of bling maybe but it's still a Fireblade... That kind of money opens up the doors of something much more special which was my point.
Yes adding some nice quality suspension and better brakes to a bike does indeed add some nice kit, but who really benefits out of this compared to standard kit, I am happy with my suspension and brakes but having the upgrades will not make me a better rider and probably not with some 99% of other riders? Sure it looks bling and it has the allure of ' I have better stuff than your bike has ' but surely it all boils down to how good you can ride the machine and feel confident does it not?? Matched pistons means nothing, blueprinting well that might interest me but Honda spiel is all about selling and making money.
I did think the SP felt special tbh, susspention is plush, engine super smooth and quick! My customer had a 2010 S1000RR and then a 2012 S1000RR both for X years and swears his SP is a better bike all day long. For 15k I think it's not bad value for money, the Ohlins are not just OEM Ohlins they are the real deal FGRT gear and TTX plus the motors hand picked etc, I know for a fact to build a good blade you need another 15k on top and that's without touching the motor. Anyway, it's only money.... I agree a stock Blade is just as good for me.. I ride a TDM900 daily! Best bike ever imo for daily use lol
PS I bet my TDM is as quick as a Pani R down the 272 this time of year, you know you have to finish to win it too don't you
