It's all gone a bit quiet on here! Are there any customers that have heard anything from their dealers yet? Or even done any test rides? I know Honda Norton Way are testing at least one but unsure if it's available for the public just yet. In the dark from my dealer with the same "March/April" launch. Also, speaking of Norton Way, they've got a dealer specific deal on 2020 reg bikes for 2 free services (@nigelrb) as well as £150 worth of accessories included. Might see if my dealer can match that
Wait a while there will be all the above then 0%?plus service plan etc.....nothing is selling at the moment except hand sanitiser...
yeah new blade has lots of promise, did well for a completely new bike I thought, room for improvement...
I’m pretty sure with the current state of affairs effecting pretty much every corner of the globe expect delays! logistical nightmare for some. I’m seeing big delays for components from Europe. Crisis situation!
I've read lots about the new blade needing to be revved harder than the 2017/19 models to get the most out of it, with low down torque suffering as a result. Does anyone know why the different engine modes couldn't sort this out - e.g. an engine map that provides higher relative torque at lower revs for street riding that flattens off earlier in the rev range? The one thing that is putting me off considering the new model is it seems to be only really good for track riding / weekend spirited rides, rather than an all round animal of the 2017/19 models. (Sorry if this has been covered earlier - so many pages to this thread!).
its down to the new Bore and Stroke (81 x48.5) of the new blade, bigger piston/bore less travel/stroke (smaller conrod) means less low down torque, you will have to rev the beast to get the best out of it.
Thanks @SimonRR but (and I am way out of my depth here) don't remaps play with the air / fuel ratio? Couldn't more fuel be chucked in at lower revs to get more torque low down? I could be talking total rubbish. Just wanting to think of excuses not to move to a S1000RR for my next bike (which I'm told does fancy stuff with shift-cams to enhance the low down grunt).
Where (in the rev range) an engine is capable of producing torque is the result of valve timing, combustion chamber shape, port length and lots of other mechanical design decisions. You can use electronics to reduce the torque available (effectively by not allowing full throttle) but you can't use them to increase available torque. That would require mechanical alterations to the engine.