Hi @dmc12 . I heartily agree with @gcon45 about the riding position/ergonomics of the 2004 - 07s. I have repeatedly expressed my view that out of my 3 Blades, my 04 is by far the comfiest in that there is less 'crouch' in the riding position. (I am 5'9") I understand your comment about the neck craning. It is a legacy - as you'll probably agree - of the sports bike, but something you may well adapt to. Many overcome this by fitting rearsets, but you'll need downward adjustment - not only rearward. From what I have read, most one litre sports will offer a similar riding position. I have read comments of Yamaha R1 being an even tighter fit as is the BMW s1000RR. I have tried (and nearly purchased) an Aprilia RSV but found that disappointingly tight. As for the ride, you are probably correct in assuming the tyres are compromising the bike's handling and tipping in. Quite possibly, the disappointing aspects of the bike might have clouded your judgement and therefore put the whole package in a negative state. Given that you'd enjoyed the 650, I'd stick with it and take the plunge and look at the Scotland bike. It's an investment in your future and could tip the scales. We should not be put off by mileage. I scored a mint bike from Glasgow earlier this year. Six-plus hour round trip from W. Midlands, but I've NEVER regretted doing so. Cheers!
Go for the red black @dmc12 , love my HRC 07, get some money knocked off though , looks a bit too much
Mark, that's bang on the going rate for a dealer sale of a good 2007, although I think the dealer might be employing some 'poetic licence' by saying it's 500 quid off! In any event, I agree that we should ALWAYS crunch the seller for a better deal, because most, as do I, puff the price to allow for this. I'll add that there are many in lesser condition than this one. @dmc12 should also factor in that the bike is precariously close to needing its 16,000 mile service and that is an approx 400.00 quid job.
Thanks for all the continued advice. There’s a lot of tatty and higher mileage bikes on the market for less than £4.5k, but this is definitely the best one out there at the moment for less than £5k. The combination of impending major service and also the lack of dealer stamps (previous owner did the servicing himself - and there are copious receipts for oil which suggests it actually was done) give a bit of ammunition to make a lower offer, although it’s a long way to go (London - Edinburgh) to not do the deal over £100 here or there! More concerned about finding the bike as bad on the neck as the one from yesterday. Read a bit about riser bars - woodcraft etc. Are these sensible? Don’t ruin the geometry and woolly up the handling?
I would rather see oil and filter receipts and the like than trust a stamp in a book , was once done on a car for my daughter, the service stamp dates and mileage didn't tally up with the dates and mileage on the MOTs. as for the handling I have never found a prob , not a flighty as a 918 Blade psycho ps nothing wrong with home servicing , do all mine
Just don't tell the dealer how far you have travelled in the first place, if he knows how far you've come he's gonna think 'this guys travelled 6 hrs, he's not going home without this bike'. He's then got you over a barrel! As far as comfort is concerned......you're younger and shorter than me and I've only ever ridden sports bikes. I've never once thought about riser bars. Don't do it (they look ridiculous on a sports bike)......it's like admitting you're over the hill and ready for a Goldwing!
One potential problem to consider with riser bars is fairing clearance. I have seen some ghastly cutaways done to fairings to cater for this mod.
One thing I've found constant in my lifelong sportsbike riding career; you'll get used to and adapt to the seating position. I am in my mid 40's, 5'10" and 165 pounds. I still can't see me riding anything but a sportsbike.
Well I’ve not made it up to Scotland yet to take a look at the red/black one, but there are other options at this price point - like this 08 Blade: https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/honda/cbr1000rr-fireblade/7715745/ Assuming you can get over the looks, what are the major differences between the 07 and the 08 in terms of what you’d notice to ride? Slipper clutch a definite bonus on track as I’m always locking the back wheel shifting down into 3rd on the 650. Any handling/riding position differences of consequence?
Because the 07 is underseat exhaust and pointed nosecone (among other things) whereas the 08 is single RHS exhaust with blunt nose. You would find the 07 a bit roomier insomuch as the seating ergonomics. For me, the ride is about the same, but I have not had mine on track. Side-by-side, I prefer the 2004 -2007s over the 08 - 11s.
