Exactly I would not rush to buy the new one wait and see if any issues recalls 1st ....interest that BMW on the new X-R is not the new engine that bike came out nearly a year ago and still issues and many customers still waiting...at the end of the day the sp is mass produced there will be plenty to go round ....
I have a mental image in my mind of you with a ruler measuring items trying to scale them to your preferred size
I know Nigel laughed and I get that. I am going off the shocking sales of the outgoing model. Therefore I pitch it at £19000 and £22000.
That must be one of the lessons of the current Blade - as they sold once the price was lowered a bit. The other initial problem, which they seem to have addressed with the new one, is the big difference in what they look like. The current model the SP is the eye catching looker with the lovely paint job and gold wheels - at a price. The stocker in red and black is no looker in comparison. The net effect is that you do not buy either. You do not buy the SP because it is too expensive, and you do not buy the stocker because it is not as good looking as the SP, which is the one you really want. That is what happened to me anyway. Now the two seem very similar in appearance - if someone does not want to pay the premium for the SP then the stocker looks almost the same and a buyer would be just as happy with that I am sure.
That's why I would not buy the new sp as the standard looks the same and if the standard is 19k they would be having a laugh ...16k max would be my guess...my view is that the sp paint job should be different bit like when I had my 14 plate in HRC colours they then did the same scheme on a cbr 500....so that went....
Agree. A very valid argument. I have made my points bout electronics on another thread. I do not need (nor can justify as an average rider) Ohlins and Brembos. I do not need a quickshifter, but they are damn useful. But I like them for the spec, the bling factor, and it being the top model. But, the key question as raised is can we justify the suspected £3 - 5K extra for these elaborate additions. I will get one of these bikes, BUT it will be a serious thought process about how far I would stretch for what really is very little extra. Re pricing, even though @Lozzy was admittedly out of the park with a previous forecast, I think she's pretty close now. The technical innovation and higher spec (diamond coated carbon or whatever) will defo raise the price. But it cannot be overly disproportionate to other makes. I too would see the base a shade under £20K with the SP perhaps stretching to £24K. As previously stated, pricing will be announced on the 15th - the day prior to NEC.
I spent the dough once, even if it blew me away i will never take that hit again, but i am more than happy with the looks of my SP and the performance and sound would last me two lifetimes. New one is looking fatter with the downforceFins. I am glad they did not stick them all over the bike like flapping paddles, imagine breaking one off. I like the colours though and there has never been a bad blade in looks or performance. However i am 6 foot and find my 2018 SP much roomier than the 2012 and have done a 300 mile day on it easily, this looks a serious step towards tighter ergonomics, higher pegs are a killer for ageing hips. I will no doubt get a shot of one, my dealer will be rubbing his hands together in anticipation but i will grow another leg before i made the same mistake twice. That’s not a slight on the bikes, they are absolutely outstanding as all blades have been, its the marketing and early adopters penalties i can no longer stomach. Still i hope its a success and that Honda can flex there muscles on the race circuit. Good wishes to all the new purchasers i know how exciting that is.
For me, the SP cannot be more than the S1000RR M Sport which has more equipment/features and has a 3 year warranty.
for me im fairly sure I would look like a elephant riding the back of a tortoise on the new blade. I'm always asked if mines a 600 and when I tried the current model at work for size a guy said if you fart that blades getting lost . Modern stuff is so small.
Logic says you're right, Charlie. But Honda has always priced a bit above comparative models, mush as Toyota has done the same. This is what prospective purchasers will face: R1 at RRP £16,799; ,GSX-R1000R at RRP £15, 499 or BSB replica at £18,999; or Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R from £14,499. Ideally, the new base Blade should fit into the £17K price point with the SP sitting on £20K. But Honda's history of higher pricing has never affected their ability to remain the top Japanese producer. The sad point is that we, the purchaser, appreciate the product and quality and (generally) willingly fork out the premium price.
