I bought my 2013 4 weeks ago second hand. The bike appeared clean with no evidence of hard running. Everything standard exhaust, screen, sussy settings etc. Running tight at 6000 rpm so plenty to go to run in. Bike purchased at 6400 miles now at 9730. Comfortable bike more so than my speed triple. Road suspension is really good after some tweaking. Soften the bike up a little. Junked Bridgstone tyres and got PR4's excellent in all weather and suit the bike for road riding. Everything still standard and will remain so, except for double bubble screen for comfort. Great sound from standard exhaust and doesn't get on yer tits commuting at 04:30 in the morning for the 80 mile eachway run to work. Returning about 10 to 10.5 miles per litre, between 6 and 8000 rpm but will drop to the 9mpl with the revs up towards limiter. So I'm getting between 130 and 140 miles till the reserve light commuting. I have experienced the softening of the front brake but not to the bar unless i initiate it, so I just don't do it and leave the hand span adjuster out to the fullest reach. Have always done so anyway. The problem will happen in heavy town traffic with continual quick release and application of the front brake lever without letting it out fully before reapplying the front brake. I have learned to keep this under control by one application to initially slow the bike then only use the back brake and throttle control for slow speed manuvering remember the bike has C-ABS and will apply the front for you. It's a great system to use in the city anyway, diesel and shit on the road. I'm lovin it. I personal like it and it will not happen with one initial pull of the front brake then using the back till you have fully released the front. Once in the city I don't touch the front now. Go bang on that back brake and give it a try without using the front, you will see what I mean. I in the past have had all sport 600's apart from CBR 600, a R1, 2xZx10r,Aprilia Factory, 2006 Blade, Superduke, 2013 Speedy and now my CBR Well done Honda Great Road Bike
Good review! Interesting you come from a speed triple ive been looking at going the other way and changing my sp for a speed triple r not had a shot off one yet tho?
Good review - surprised you fine the Blade more comfortable than a Speed Triple! I had a Speed Triple last year and found it way more comfortable than my 13 Blade.
If your getting the triple, I would get the R for sure as the standard suspension is crap. It's a very harsh drive. I would not have one over a blade though. Blade does everything better imho. The wind blast is a bitch.
The seat was to soft and caused me back problems, I prefer to be leaned over in sports bike position.
Totally agree with the comment on the Standard Speed Triple suspension (mine was a 2013) - really harsh compared to a Blade - wouldn't get another.
just purchased a 2014 hrc colours and loving it,does not have the abs like my last 2011 repsol,but there are clear advances that they have made with the bike,such as suspension ,gear indicator,slightly different riding position,re-map of power is good also,lighter wheels,they have obviously listened to customer feed back and improved the thing,s we normally would,so fireblade is still an excellent bike.
....BUT isn't the weight in the wheels in a better place, i.e. around the hub area instead of towards the spokes/outside edge which should make for a better handling bike?
This is my first 1000 Blade (09) but have owned many of the top litre bikes in the last 15 years, 2001 R1, 97 & 98 fireblades, 01 RSV Mille R, 98 Daytona 955i, 02 Speed Triple 955i, 94 Exup 1000ru, Gixer 1000 K3 & K5 but I have to admit the Blade is probably the best bike I've ever owned. I have been constantly tweaking mine since I purchased it and it now wears a 2012 rear shock (night and day better!!!), Yoshi, Bazzaz, GI Pro, DB, R&G stuff etc but even as standard the handling was superb (put my K5 thou to shame) and my Speed Triple had K Tech gold shim kits and was revalved and resprung to suit, but the Blade is still a better bike in EVERY respect. I found I missed the head down arse up when I owned the ST so that may be different if thats what you want to get away from but me personally, I was in my element once the ST went and I bought the K3.
I bought my 2012 anniversary around 4weeks ago too, overall a great bike, but the suspension is not as good as i would like, as always it is compromised by needing to cope with pillions ABS is fantastic, i agree that the lever feel alters alot, but having got past that the brakes are superb. Since i only got the bike as a stop gap til my sp1 rebuild is finished i am going to resist putting an aftermarket shock on, but i am sure it would improve the bike no end (if anybody has a quality shock for a 2012model pm me ;-)
Good write up! And kudos for just over 3000 miles in 4 weeks. That's going nicely! I haven't tried the speed triple R, but tried the standard speed, and although it was reasonably comfortable, felt like it had bags of cement tied to the front forks in terms of getting it to steer compared to the blade. Enjoy!
Hi mate, I've just come from a 2015 MY Speed Triple and I'm now on a new blade....if I can give any advice then do try before you buy. I kept mine for 2 months and had to get rid.....slow, heavy, noisy, horrendous engine braking, and power either off or on with no in between. The blade is just perfect
If you get shot of a Speedy after 2 months then you've missed the point entirely I think. I can honestly say that the 955 (I know it's not the 1050 but is essentially the same engine) is one of the best engines I've even experienced. So much grunt in the midrange and that sound is just addictive. Torque of a twin with revs of a four, a superb do it all engine. It's just as a package the Blade is better. Don't get me wrong the Mille R made an average rider seem amazing but they need riding differently to a four, the same as the Triple.
Good review. I came from a Street Triple R - which I only did 300 miles in three months. Didn't get on with the naked thing at all. But it did ease me back into biking after a 21 yr gap. Chopped in the Triumph for a new blade two years ago. Although better in many respects to the Triumph I wasn't sure if i had made the best choice. i had doubts whether the blade is too much for me/too big for me & wasn't confident. I have just recently ditched the stock Dunlop Qualifiers for M7RRs & got suspension set up. Completely different bike - i feel more confident. Changing the tyres has made a massive difference. It's now a keeper.
forgot to tell about the higher screen as standard and the set back footpegs and different key and all black frame and front spoiler for down draft ,oh and lighter wheels! it,s just so good ,balanced ,oh and suspension reset sertainly helps as a wee bit harsh oot the box.
Well I'm now at a stage in my life I don't chase the latest must have, I'm not a racer so don't need all the racing stick it on my bike shit. Spend a hoorin amount of cash on over loud exhaust that's gona bust my lugs and give me a headache when I'm not in the mood, and risk havin the Police chasing me down for whatever anti biker bullshit they can think off. I don't need anti wheelie. I don't need traction control. I don't need a computer that's gona fill my head full of digital numbers and flashing lights. All that will do is never make me happy with my choice ha ha. Hold on its raining now,what button will I press for raining hmmmm? Ahh FFS something ain't working better take it back to the shop. Na fuck that bull, I'm no a racer I don't need it. All I want is a throttle a set of brakes, good tyres and suspension. I will do the rest which I think I can do very well. Was timing a guy at the front of the fast group at Knockhill on his R1 2015 he was between 54 and 56 second laps same as me on my 2004 ZX10 back in 2004 on the old track so what to think bike or rider? My advise find something you like and keep it. Not easy.
Hey scotty, 100% with you man. Rider makes the difference , check out cal crutch low on you tube trackin a 750 naked, shit that's fast, good lap times. But we all be passionate about bikes and like to tinker, contentment would have saved me a fortune over the years lol.
