The last naked I had was a 2011 z1000 DAF. Really,more ally good bike. Very short gearing though and when pressing on you want to change up into 7th lol. Crappy tank range too. Everything else is bang on. Great bike that was...goes, stops and handles great. Looks like a transformer too.
I think I'd be looking at the Aprilia or the Naked BMW S if I was after a naked. Purely on looks alone but you obviously have to live with it! Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
As Jimbo says the Street is an absolute tool. I've been on litre bikes for over 15 years, K3 & K5 Gixer 1000's, RR9 Blade, Mille R, 01 R1, old blades etc and I never thought I'd see myself going for anything less than a thou. Decided to sell the Blade at the end of last year and get a Speed triple. Took out a 13 (I think it was) and it was too similar to the old 02 955i Speed I owned so took it back and said it wasn't for me and I was gonna keep the Blade. Was advised by the salesman to try a Street 675 and I laughed at him and told him don't be daft (I'm 15 stone out of leathers). He insisted, I took him up on it and could not get over the lack of weight. As said above it really feels like BMX with an engine. Got £5k for the 09 Blade and got a 13 Street R ABS for just over £6k. It now has almost a grand in carbon on it, HP Corse pipe, K&N, Arrow map, Speed throttle tube (quicker action), +2 rear sprox, and I've just stuck the Daytona arse end and rearsets on it. It is seriously a real world bike. Don't rule one out until you've ridden one (after the Speed and you'll see what I mean). No offence Jimbo but the lack of weight and instant punch and the fact it revs to 13k where the Speed stops at 10.5k means you can ride it like a sports bike.
The only thing I didn't like about my naked bikes was that I didn't get the wow factor every time I opened the garage. Would have another Street Triple R in an instant if I could also afford to keep the blade as well.
The only thing I didn't like about my naked bikes was that I didn't get the wow factor every time I opened the garage. Would have another Street Triple R in an instant if I could also afford to keep the blade as well.
Yeah, see, I DO get the wow factor. I can't get over how good it is. I know the Mk1 was mental in first gear but anyone who has lived with the Mk2 after owning the Mk1 says it is a better bike and makes more sense. The Mk1 owners who just try one for a few miles don't seem so keen and love the older one.
I loved my Blade and would go so far as to say it was the best sports bike I have owned. Even better than my K5 (waits for the abuse! ) but the STR is a real world bike. Fast enough to stay with the 600 sports bikes, handling is sublime due to the lack of weight and braking is immense. You can tour on it, scratch on it, track it and it keep coming back for more. It does;t have the legs of a litre but thats the only compromise, and if you're in the market for a naked then thats something you must understand or you'd be sticking with a sports bike.
Agree with all of the above, but it was the lack of litre oomph I missed. Went everywhere on the street flat out with huge grin. They turn you into a hooligan. Felt I would get into more trouble on the street than on the blade
The Blade for me was so so easy to ride! I couldn't act like a hooligan on it because it was just too sublime! My VFR 400 was a different matter though! I used to ring it's neck round the bends everytime I rode it! One of the best bikes I've owned I think. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
None taken mate. Totally agree with you... Tbh Abv said exactly the same till he rode mine.... The r is a bit better though with the pvm wheels and arrow low boy it sheds a bit of timber. Still a big old girl though, but I like man handling her. Was blown away by ricks though, weight made power not an issue and his with he mct set up was set up brilliant. The rev limiter took me ages (and the only real negative of the bike tbh) to get used too. As said.... Street is IMO the best value all round bike out there
A big thank you to everyone who commented on this thread. Sometimes it is hard to come to terms with 'reality` something I have been trying to ignore for a while. I rode my Blade three days ago and had to stop after 15 minutes because I was in too much pain to continue. Over the last 6 months I have had to do this several times, I then realised that it has been a long time since I was not in pain riding. Even with higher bars the Blade is just hurting my wrists and hands too much, a big thanks to age and arthritis ! Even wheeling the bike and turning it around in the driveway has become difficult. There are some great bikes out there and I thought long and hard about which one to get. So I decided to write down what I needed as opposed to what I wanted........ I really wanted a KTM 1290, Tuono V4R , Speed Triple R , Brutale or Ducati Streetfighter but for all sorts of different reasons they were all well above what I actually needed. I needed something lightweight, easy to wheel around, upright position, close to a dealer for servicing, reliable, easy to use in heavy traffic and towns, good build quality, capable for some fun on the twisties, low seat so I could get my feet planted when stationary and an acceptable appearance. On Thursday I pick up a 2016 Street Triple RX in black/red with less than 500 miles on the clock. I am still in mourning for having to give up the Blade but I know that I am doing what I need to do. I will miss the bhp and torque of the Blade and the protection from wind blast ! But the Street was really great to ride and is more than fast enough for what I now need. I am looking forward to a new chapter of bike riding.
My mate & his missus have an assortment of bikes in their garage. ..including the first 92 blade & a new Explorer....but the bike he takes out for the grin factor every time is the Street .......enjoy
I'm glad your happy with your new bike mate. Riding to me is to enjoy, not to be uncomfortable. Enjoy it mate. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Thats good to hear fella, I think you will be even more surprised when you live with it long term. Called into my mates today who was going to JT's in Swansea to view a XJR1300 as he needs a pillion friendly bike to take him missus to the IOM next year. He came off his crosser on Thursday so was beaten up and aching around his ribs and arms. By the time he got to JT's he said he was hurting so I offered to ride his S1000RR back home and he rode the STR. He was very impressed with the STR and couldn't get over the lack of weight, amazing brakes and punch from the 675 lump. I enjoyed riding the S1000RR but in all honesty I don't miss the Blade as the STR does it all for me. Sure it wouldn't keep up with the S1000 on full chat but there wasn't anywhere really that I felt left behind and on the narrow roads and stuff without straights there wasn't much in it even to the extent that the STR made more sense. However, I never get fed up with the pull from a litre bike though.
This morning I picked up my Street Triple RX. It has been a while since my last naked so I thought it might take a little while to get used to it............it took about 10 minutes. What a great little bike, so easy to ride, lively but well balanced and everthing feels so planted. Brakes are more than enough, even tried the rear brake and it actually works. The induction roar at 10,000 revs plus is so nice you just want to keep it there. Stock exhaust is pretty quiet, so maybe something I might change later but I do not want anything to stop me hearing that induction sound. Rode it home the long way, well 40 miles more than I needed and I think I made the right decision in retiring from sports bike riding. Although my right hand was a little painful (it is all the time) my wrists, arms, neck and back were fine. Will have to adjust my overtaking a little, my Blade just went past everything so quickly and of course the little Street does not have that type of power. I was,however, pleasantly surprised by its punchy acceleration. I am going to miss the Blade so much, but circumstances change and right now, the Street is much more suitable for what I need.Now where's my pipe and slippers ?
I have a naked bike exfire plenty of miles on clock but still goes well. I binned my last one for a newer model who likes to play badminton much more sporty
Nice one @exfire been out on mine this morning, they really do inspire lunacy and hooliganism. I find myself taking far more liberties on this. Mine is +2 on the rear sprocket, is fitted with the Speed3 throttle tube (quicker action), the plastic air intake filter thingy in the headstock has been modified to flow more air and the bike is fitted with a HP Corse exhaust with Arrow map and K&N filter. I have to say it is FAR better than standard. I've also gone back to the standard arse end too and removed the Daytona seat unit.
