Looking at pictures of the new 2022 bike and it looks amazing but I must admit I still have a thing for the original, what do you guys think?
Loved my 1996 and 1998, the under seat space was great, chain/lock, cigs and lighter, bike docs, wallet. These days it just about fits my service book when I take it for one.
In my 2014 I can get the small tool kit, an alarmed Disc Lock, and a 4 pack of Co-op Crispy Bake Pork Pies! Can confirm, have tried it
As nice as the new bike looks it doesn’t fit me well at all and if my 2015 bike is anything to go by? I would imagine a pita to get to everything compared to 30 seconds and into the plugs on the original bike. I’ll take the original
Old one for me, never ridden one but love the look. Too much gubbins on the new one and too expensive.
You are correct when you say they are too expensive but I was offered a decent part ex etc and it worked out £19500 for an SP. I couldn't say no.
Old one , pull the choke out , turn key , flick starter button, go ,,,,,, easier to work on too Plus I can't afford the new one but it looks great this one is a keeper
No single bike is worth close to that for me when I can get a huge amount of fun for way less than half that. Each to their own though
Older one for me but I'd go 929/954, the last of the Tado era bikes. Comfortable, light, space under the rear seat and road bike; which is what the Blade was meant to be and where I do all my riding. I've no use for a track bike on the road and putting the rose tinted specs on, this gen had just enough power, weight and handling to make it feel just about right.
Bottom line is very different bikes, but on the road due to today’s constraints, A to B you get there in roughly the same time, main difference is on an old one, you feel you worked to get the tea and butty, whereas on the electronic versions it really isn’t much of a challenge any more. For those that haven’t or don’t ride old ones, probably don’t realise just how advanced they were when new, and setup properly now, are no slouches, but can’t live with the brute power of the latest bikes in a straight line. The only other issue you have to consider is that you need to be able to work on a bike yourself if you own an old one as most dealers now haven’t got a clue what a carb is and you sometimes need a lot of patience if your trying to source certain parts, whereas the new ones are rather more constrained in what you can do due to all the electronics.
I looked at a couple of 929's and a 954 a few weeks ago before I bought my '14. The problem is that they were too much money, and the 954 was asking nearly 5 grand for a bike with nearly 40 thou on it and I also had some concerns while viewing it. Maybe I didn't look hard enough, but I couldn't find a nice older bike for a reasonable price. I saw a nice '95 Urban Tiger, but 6 grand! So I paid 7.5K for my '14 with just over 4K miles, but, if I DO find an older blade (or god forbid a good VTR-SP1) I will probably switch. The '14 for me feels a bit without much personality, er, like a solicitor wearing a race suit... ?
Yeah I looked a couple of years or so ago and a 954 was starting to fetch decent money. I also had the SP1/2 and RS250 on the list and they are strong cash now. I just didn't have the space when I looked and am a bit gutted the 7k mile 954 I spotted for £3k would have had no home at the time.
I agree 100% with @Kentblade and as I've mentioned a number of times before the old R/W/B RRN is my favourite and gave me over 11 years service and went on to feature in a number of magazine articles via it's new owner.
Luddites. How far back do you want to go? Bring back ignition points. Non O ring chains. Drum brakes SLS only. Analogue mileometers (I’d like these back). Foam air filters. Non folding foot pegs. Kick starts. Crap headlights. Dodgy aftermarket fairings. Spoked wheels. Tubed tyres. Push rod valves. Chrome Crash bars. 5 litres of duckhams Q £4.99 from Halfords or Charlie Browns. Just saying
