All that carbon made it look so much more Special if that makes any sense? Or I’m just shallow the only thing that doesn’t look to good is they brushed the swing arm then lacquered it which looked a bit naff?
Not shallow at all....A top end bike should look top end....I look forward to having a look when I am there.
Did you spend much time at the Ducati stand @nigelrb ? Any thoughts on the new V2, V4 and V4 streetfighter?
Certainly not from my local dealer. However, after just a phone call to one an hour away, they are prepared to do £20,000 changeover, which in real terms makes the RR4 worth £3,499. I'd probably cop that with the sacrifice of not having to frig around with eBay. Am presently emailing dealer pics and will visit tomorrow or Wednesday. You guys know I don't do a lot of miles in one session, so the riding position is more annoying than concerning. I'll just cut my loops to 20 miles. Strange thing is, and quite honestly, if the bike didn't have Honda on the tank, I wouldn't have a bar of it!! Woz, it is class. Pure class. Feels good and looks good. I hope the swing arm lacquer doesn't peel. That concerns me. Nup. Bleedin' people everywhere. Got a nice Ariel for you though: I only walked through Ducati, so can't give any detail at all. I don't do well in crowds and was starting to get p!ssed off. They did have a nice selection of past Dukes though, both road and race.
I found it very comfortable mate with plenty of room, not to much of a stretch, and some might say about time but a small factory like Ducati (take note Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha)have introduced for the v2 a bike trac tracker with a years free subscription.
Might it not be an idea to keep your powder dry on this one for a while Nigel? My gut feeling is Honda have priced themselves out of the market with these new Fireblades. I know your position as a retired gent probably negates the usual risk most of us might take buying a £23.5k Fireblade but even so. Surely you don't want to pay all that money for something that may end up heavily discounted in 12 months time? Also if you're letting the RR4 go for £800 less than what it's worth you'll be effectively paying £24,300 for the new Fireblade. Now that really is an eye watering number. Buyer beware.
You talk complete sense as usual, Charlie. I have intimated as much in earlier posts, agreeing with others that they'll fall to discounts after about 6 mths. I'm not sure that being retired makes me a bit more reckless or impulsive, but I guess that's me. Anyway, as a result of my local dealer's manager phoning me just this minute, they have agreed to the £20,000 changeover. I do the paperwork tomorrow.
I don’t think the guy on the stand was too impressed with me when he asked me what my thoughts were of the new blade...
Did you know that most of those personnel are agency staff and not Honda employees? They don't know their stuff! But come on, Golfy. Share with us what you told him!!
Yeah did realise that. He asked for my honest opinion; I gave it to him. Put simply I asked how Honda justify the price tag for the bike, what makes it worth so much more than the other equipment that is out there, at a considerably lower price tag. Whilst I did indeed compliment the bike, unfortunately I don’t think it’s a crown taker. That being said I have been known to be wrong before so I hope I am again. Didn’t get much of an answer so just added myself the to Ron Haslam race school prize draw and left
And I was trying to shoo them all away today!! I was doing heaps of eavesdropping and there wasn't much favourable talk about the riding position.
I seriously doubt I could ride it for more than a handful of miles before I lost the use of my lower legs due to the blood supply being cut off.
Agree. I'm stepping up my gym program to drop some weight and improve flexibility. Nevertheless, many on this thread have said they would not buy the 'first release' of any new model. Due to public reaction so far, I feel confident there will be more 'relaxed' ergonomics on the update version. In the interim, it should not be too difficult to drop the pegs and inch or so - there's ample ground clearance. I shall privately commission our friend @mk3golfcab to adapt something and give him the 'HRC' master cylinder socks I took off my RR4 this morning!
Cheers. Delivery is still loosely timed as April. Going to dealer later this morning to hand over the RR4. Busy putting pillions back on and pillion seat and then I'll give dealer Chinese white cowl and sell the OEM Pearl White! That's what 'm talkin' about!!
