Hi from wet Cornwall as I type . On the verge of getting a SP2 for 1st Sept 69 reg hopefully deal will be done next week
Hope you get it for a good price cos it's the biggest Honda rip-off ever. A couple going for £15,999 which is about right for a fancy paint job and set of wheels.
Simple. Because the bike was initially touted as 'a road legal homologation special' and would be preferenced to race teams. I purchased one of the first of the then new 2018 'J' models in March 2018 at the rec retail of £22,549.00, and in the belief - and with the dealer's backing - that I was fortunate to secure one. As a road-going bike, I believed I was paying a premium for exclusivity (same for my ordered Triumph Daytona 765), because the bike itself offers very little over the 'basic' SP other than, as mentioned, the paint, wheels, and revised cylinder head which, in Honda's own words, offers no greater performance than the standard motor. However, I am not, and never have been, critical of the bike itself. It is a magnificent machine that looks good, handles great, and offers power way beyond my abilities. The reason I label it a rip-off is because there is absolutely no exclusivity about this bike, no demand for them - as evidenced by SP2s languishing on dealer's showroom floors priced from the original £22,549: ref: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CB...996394?hash=item592e9af46a:g:9JQAAOSwd8ZbPVMV down to £17,000: ref: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2018-18-...662260?hash=item1a794432b4:g:4wgAAOSwe5ZdQX-J with a couple more at £15,999 with only 500 miles. These prices would suggest a part exchange value of £10 - 12K or a lengthy period on eBay waiting a prospective purchaser. This rate of depreciation far exceeds that of both the standard and SP versions, so therefore adds credence to my point that the bike was grossly inflated price wise at release.
Grear response Nigel, I know where you are coming from about the depreciation my 1299s is in the same mold £22k to buy can only get £13k on other marques, where as with the sp2 I've been offered £17k.. Reason ducati on is going, I do trips to Europe doing around 2500miles per trip over a 10 day period so basically 30 days, 6 issues on those trips, and on the other 2000 miles I've done in the UK 2 other problems... Even Ducati dealers offering me less than most saying they have a few for sale now don't want another.. Which is in my book shite when you talking about a V4s Corse has a purchases f### em So depreciation I know about it can't be any worse than Ducati or tbh anything else
I think as @nigelrb has explained that unless you’re getting a steal of a deal on the SP2, you’d save a chunk of cash going for the SP or even more on a standard new blade with zero performance differences that the majority of riders would notice. With the weather forecast for the next week or more here in the UK its even more of a buyers market. Good luck and I look forward to the pics of whatever you go with
Just an update still not done a deal, due to warranty issues on my 1299s, 4 weeks in dealers and still not fixed waitng for the factory to return from 2 week holiday shutdown I guess !!.. Can any of you tell me about this false neutral the Fireblade that some seem to suffer with ?
I can tell you that I have not experienced it either in quickshift or clutched change up or down, and that is under most conditions save for track use.
Nigel, have you read this review before taken from Bennnetts Ins. from a tracktest ? “That was a bit unnerving. It jumped out of gear nailing it from third, fourth, trying to get fifth... and I literally had to stop to get it into gear. Then it happened again round the back of the circuit, and then I had another problem going down the gearbox when it wouldn’t go into gear. So three times altogether, in the space of a couple of laps. I ended up on the grass at one point. The first two times, going up the box, shifting without the clutch, between fourth and fifth. Coming down the box, it was between fourth and third. I pulled the clutch in right away, but it was a problem. “I’m confident it wasn’t me – I tried being more positive with the shifts, but it’s not given me great deal of confidence with it. “I had no problems with throttle control though – apart from that it was perfect.” .
Yes, Brom. I have read that. And other tests and reports both for and against the 2017 - 19 Blade. I don't know why you post that because it seems to suggest that you accept that all of the bikes have like problems. I responded to your question: 'Can any of you tell me about this false neutral the Fireblade that some seem to suffer with?' and offered my appraisal of my 2,000 miles. The reason for this, in my view, is that some riders do not appropriately set the QS sensitivity via the dash settings. Reinforcing this is the fact that the 2017 - 19 motor and gearbox remains 'essentially' unchanged from the 2008 model (a fact conceded by both WSB and BSB teams) and so a conclusion can be drawn that since those previous models displayed no 'jumping out of gear characteristics' it is unreasonable to believe that the suggested problem has only recently manifested itself. I, and perhaps other owners of the 2017 - 19 Blade on here, would not discourage you from buying this bike simply because of these reports. Even better, I urge you to get a decent test ride on one (preferably SP with QS) ((I doubt you'll get to test an SP2)) and put it through its paces yourself. Finally, I hope Ducati come to the party and fix your bike sooner than later!
Thank You Nigel, on taking in on your nonsense approach, I put the deposit down today from Vertu Honda Nottingham, by far the best deal I've been offered anywhere., Hopefully collecting around 7th September, providing my 1299s gets the warranty work completed.
Congrats - Bloody Italian companies are unreal you cant get them to answer a phone or email in August no wonder their economy is in the toilet
You will love it, where are you located as I got my SP2 from Vertu in May and live in Papplewick area
Just to add, full Akraprovic system with Based in Cornwall John, if it were a case of a few hundred £'s I'd have bought locally, but we're talking thousand's of £'s literally
