So the Beemer had its first service yesterday so thought I'd share a comparison of my last two bikes. 2012 S1K vs 08 Fireblade - both bikes bought from new and I part-ex'd the Blade for the S1K. First impressions: The BMW looks bigger than the Blade but is actually smaller, foot pegs are a tad higher and the seat has you over the bars a lot more the Blade. Not a bad thing just an observation, it does give you a great feeling of what the front is doing though, which on the Blade was a tad detached. It was reminiscent of my old 05 ZX6R, which had a fantastic front end and gave great feedback. That said it could be tyres, the BMW came with BT 016 Pro and the Blade had 2CTs at the end. On the topic of looks the BMW has some terrible plastics - I have 2 BMW cars and the plastics are really good quality on them so I don't understand why the quality guys let this slip through. It seems the bike builders spent on their budget on the engine and chassis and to satisfy the accountants they had to make do with crap plastics to bring it on the money. If they did this on their cars they would get a pasting by the Top Gear boys. Still it gives me an excuse to put some carbon bits on the Xmas list On the road: The BMW chassis is much more 'precise' and you are able to place it in a bend and change your line if needed. That's not to say that you can't on the Blade, just that it is easier on the BMW. Lots of mechanical grip on both bikes. The Blade is a LOT more comfy - I toured on the Blade (France, Switzerland, Wales !) but I can't see me doing the same on the BMW. Too cramped. Took it up to Bolton to see the in-laws and after 100 miles I needed to get off to spare my wrists and stretch my legs. To put that into context we rode to the South of France in 2 days on the Blade and I felt fresh, no aches or pains at all. Brakes on S1K are awesome and easily beat the Blade by far. Initial feel from the brakes on the Blade was good but it did require a bit of a tug and they did fade after a hard track session. The BMW brakes just stop the bike, no fuss, no drama but they do need a bit of 'finessing' to get a good feel, if you gave the BMW brakes a good tug you could be over the bars (I know !!) Now for the fun part, the engine. The Blade had an engine which was smoothness personified, no fuelling issues, just smooth power whenever you wanted it and I didn't think I would ever get an engine so creamy again - until I rode the BMW that is. It is really, really smooth. BMW make some great engines (their straight six engines are in my opinion some of the best in the world) so I shouldn't be surprised.... but I was. That said the Blade always felt like it had something holding it back, when getting a lick on above 10K revs, it just felt that there was a giant hand saying 'now then sonny, we shouldn't be going that fast' and stopping the engine from breathing a little easier. Mind you at those speeds that could have just good old common sense tapping you on the shoulder. With the BMW engine though above 10k and the same giant hand is giving you the finger and urging to hurry up, whilst blowing more air into the engine. It is the only bike where (CLICHE ALERT) it truly feels like it was pulling my arms out of their sockets. The torque above 100mph simply shoves you back and shoves the bike forward - love it. On the track: I'll let you know when I pull my finger out and get it arranged. Summary: So in summary, chassis, brakes, engine are all better than the Blade, which in turn is more comfortable than the BMW (that old Honda cliche again about fitting everyone comes to mind). It depends what you want from your biking. I work 70 miles from home and commuting on the bike is out of the question so I am unashamedly a weekend warrior, so my biking is my way of letting off steam and getting my adrenalin fix and the BMW delivers more than the Blade. Thanks for letting me put pen to paper, I've tried to be objective (on a very subjective matter) I know there are a few guys here who have also moved from Blade to Beemer. I'm glad I swapped bikes, just need to spend more time 'bonding' with the new bike now - the Blade became very familiar (like a comfy pair of slippers) so it was time to move on. Cheers
Good write up Fordy and thanks . The swop doe's go through the mind every so often however the looks of the Bmw (Lights) still put me off and now maybe comfort ? I was in Tweksbury yesterday and up the main sreet comes a husband and wife team him on a new Panigale and the missis on a 1098 both looked and sounded great having had a chat with them (They were on the way back from the GP) they were very happy with the bikes with no negatives given.
The blade beats the panigale into a cocked hat when it comes to build quality. The finishing on the fasteners, the plastic under the tail and behind the yoke is woeful, and the standard foot pegs are crap. The quality of the carbon is horrible on the front fender and rear hugger, and the exhaust heat shield under the rear will look shit in under a year... It will Pitt and rust. There are bolt heads naked on the riders seat and other parts that make it look like an old school mz. Still looks the business though, but at £20k for the s model, its inexcusable IMO. The best part about it, i wanted it in yellow as red is a bad Jonah colour for me, so asked to get it sprayed up.....and the price extra for yellow???????? An extra £4.5k.
Was on track against 2 pannigale's last Friday they aunt 195 bhp or whatever they recon because my GSXR was pissin on them !
2008 blade compared to the 2012 BMW is not really a fair comparison . i have heard good things about the new BMW the old ones had a few issues but all new bikes do , i was looking at a ex BSB BMW but picked up the blade instead money wasn't much different but the blade was a much better spec and proven
Imformative write up thanks. I'm Sure MrB will be reading and re reading this as he too is considering a BMW 1000rr
Excellent write up fordy, Very subjective and honest appraisal of both bikes, I like the BMW its a great bike and I am glad you are getting to grips with each other Some pics would be nice purely for mrB to have a look at
it was in the i smoked to Pannigales group :-}} well done you should have punted off into the bushes as you went past
Good write up cheers, i rode my mates 2012 beemer i wasnt over struck on it if i am honest, very cramped, cheap plastics and i found my 2011 blade alot smoother, to be fair i only rode it for a few miles didnt like the conti attack tyres at all. My mate paid £13600 for his beemer my 2011 blade was £7800 = £5800 diffrence theres not a cat in hells chance i would pay that much extra for a bike that imo is about on par with the blade. Agree with others ducati need a lesson in finishing there bikes off for the top dollar they are charging
The BMW can kiss my blades arse! As one did yesterday left it for dead on the twisties couldn't stand those ugly headlights in my mirrors!
Hi Phantom, don't sit on the fence mate. To be fair to the Blade and to the BMW, they are only as good as the pilot. I've been zapped on a track day whilst on my Blade by a 20yr old 250 two stroke piloted by a 70 yr old
I don't think there's a crap litre bike anymore...they are all ace... In fact, i don't think theres any crap sports bikes from 600cc up anymore. The only one i would never have, is the RSV4, too small and tank range is dreadful. And the engines blow up ( 2 mates had them, and had nothing but problems). Horses for courses i think. It's the rider that's the bottleneck, not the bike these days, i feel.
Thought I would stir the pot a bit! The BMW is a awesome bike I test rode one when I was looking at the blade! For me the blade is awesome. But it's each to there own! All bikes are awesome really!
