Bloody hell what a bike took the standard new blade out this morning while my 2016 was in for its first service. I lost count how many times I said f-cling hell out loud in my helmet, everything about it is a huge step forward , only grip is the seat is hard and the horn button gets in the way when using the indicators. Lovely noise from the air box and exhaust. Is it worth 5k more than mine definitely.
I felt the same Gary Lots of criticism from those who haven't ridden one saying the new bike has all the same parts as the old one, Honda have said the engine has 90% new internals and the frame and swing arm have been improved and lightened. I believe them. Did the one you tried have a quickshifter / autoblipper fitted ? They are superb so smooth and slick, much better than those ion other bikes I tried. I've got a red one on order can't wait to get it
No it didn't have the qs/blipper ☹️ Everything is so much plusher from the dash to the engine bolts, it's taken them since 08 to replace the last model and they have so got it right this time.
i have quickshifter and blipper on the standard work like a charm , way better than aprilia , ducati and yamaha unit
Well the Ducati Panagali gearbox felt like it came off a tractor like the engine, so the quickshifter didn't really help and often as not it wasn't quick.
I went out on this, wish i hadnt Yeah the tank is smaller but 30 secs in your forget about it The exhaust looks shit but makes a lovely noise The weight, it feels very like the 959 Panigale Wasnt keen before jumping on it, came back later than expected with a grin on my face
Alot on here have said the new blade isn't worth the price tag so what do you guys think the standard new blade should be priced at?
Standard bike £13k SP1 £15k SP2 £19K @lambchops made an interesting point in one of his vids where he highlights Honda spending a load of money on an exhaust that people will simply replace. The standard new blade isn't a fully new bike and doesn't have the toys that the newest R1 etc have, and so in my opinion should be priced accordingly. I was out yesterday and someone turned up on a new blade and it received very little attention from the bikers there. Sadly Honda have dropped the ball and the SP1 should be the standard blade and priced against the standard R1.
Rutter was very scathing of the blade in a test he did. Rode the new r1, new gsxr and BMW. He thought gsxr was the best and the blade completely frustrating and lacking in many departments. I've been looking at getting a new bike and sad to say I'm not remotely inclined to part with a large wedge of dollar for the new blade.
I also read the Performance Bikes Rutter test. They weren't impressed with the new bike. Even more surprising was their lightly modified 08 Blade set the quickest laptime around Donington. Beating the new S1000rr, GSXR, R1 and new Blade!
I agree with that pricing. I'd be ordering an SP as Blade number 8 by now. Now I'm actually tempted to take the Suzuki out for a spin. I think they've nailed it with the pricing.
Yes the pricing is good on the GSXR. But in my opinion it's not as good as the blade, it's a good bike but if you ride them both back to back, to me the blade just felt better quality and classy in comparison.
