I was test riding the 2010 model - but i have checked with my mate (who works for BMW) and it turns out he did arrange for the slick key to be set for me when i picked it up sorry didnt know that bit
Yes the traction control is far too obtrusive in race mode, I found the best solution was to switch off the traction control and control the bike using the throttle, used the same technique on my tunned Ducati 1098R !!!
No worries, no Im certainly not a drifter, but I'd say I'm quicker than your average. That's exactly what I'm saying, over crest of hills front wheel lifting, and out of corners yes the t/c was cutting in and lights flashing all over the show, wasn't like it slowed me down that much, just jerked a little and done my head in. Can't really say for myself, but being smooth and concise is what I'd say is my strength at riding?? Put it this way, I took the bike back with the tyres rippled and starting to bobble on the edge so I rode it properly yeah, And I was certain I'd buy it with money ready yet I didn't... Says it all really.
I did test ride one but in the wet, i wasnt hanging about and i have to say I loved it. Maybe the t/c was the reason that I loved it that day and it probably helped me out without me realising it on the day.
In the wet no doubt it's the nuts, to give you that safety net, think I'd actually like it then thinking about it. Not adverse to riding all year, and you get wet on tour, but even then 90% of the time I ride in dry, the. T/c is a no for me....
+1. If you do a lot of riding in bad weather then all the bells and whistles are a great thing to have. but as i hardly ever ride unless the roads are dry i dont need them, yes i ride fast but i am well aware i dont ride anywhere near the level that i would be needing abs, anti wheelie,traction control ect, the way i see it is i ride the bike and if i balls it up then i have nobody to blame but myself
it's just a copy of a Japanese bike with every electronic gadget they could think of. I don't see the appeal at all.
Guys, after saying that I w as keeping the Blade I sold it for a...... BMW S1000RR. The Blade broke down twice, once in France and then again ar home, so that was it. Since then I've taken it to France and had a track day at Mallory Park and the Beemer is different to the Blade. The traction control came on at Mallory but I wasn't going any faster than the Blade so I guess that it was 'helping'. Also although the suspension is harder than the Blade I haven't tweaked it yet, it has a huge amount of mechanical grip and a lovely front end that you can press into a corner. I think it comes down to personal choice
took a s1000r out last weekend for an hour... bike hadn't had its first service so was limited to 7500-8000 revs only used race mode... turned the abs/tc off after 30 minutes.. couldn't have any real fun due to the rev limiter the problem with the limiter was as soon as the change light came on.. it stayed on until 6th gear (that would be 50 mph over the national limit on a dual carriageway.. thankful i was on a private road) accelerating hard. had the bike nodding due to the tc ... had this in one bend but didn't bother me.. just let the bike get on with it coming out off corners it didn't pull as hard as my blade (but my blade is -1 front +2 rear.. so expected really) ... the bmw without the limiter and gearing changed who be another matter.. brakes were good with plenty of power blipping the throttle you would some times feel the clutch lever ping/move when changing down the box... which wasn't expected.. but i could live with it.. the gear assist worked ok at all revs... not just when you were giving it the berries front end feel was.. well... different.. took about 15 minutes to gain confidence in the front .. (time tweaking would improve the feel) transitioning from one side to the other was very good .. well it felt good got back to the dealer and told them the test ride with the limiter was a waste of time... let me know when the first service and been done and the limiter removed asked about slick mode, but they told me they don't like letting bikes go out in slick mode... taking the s1000rr out this weekend without the limiter at the moment I'm really not sure it worth the extra spend over my 04 blade
Totally agree mate. I too had test ride with limiter, waste of time. Stick with it though, IMHO it is better than the Blade, only you can decide if it is £x.xx better though
Just spent 18 months deciding what new bike to have, eventually came down to S1000RR or Fireblade. Had multiple 3 hour test rides on 2011 and 2012 BMW with sport pack and Blades both 1 up and 2 up on "real" roads. No brainer in the end, I just ended up riding more quickly and easily on the Blade. Last test ride I did with the BMW I cut it short and I was glad to get off it. One memorable comparison was opening them both up on a bumpy bit of straightish A road. The front end of the blade went a bit light briefly, the beemer bounced up and down as it's traction control attempted to throw me off. Build quality on the blade is much better, the screen and fairing on the BMW flap about at high speed and it just feels "cheap". I liked the brakes, heated grips and quickshifter though. The shifter was great fun but felt like it would do well to last out the warranty period. This is all just my opinion and all the litre supersports were great rides but for me and the girlfriend the blade was easily the best. It just does everything well. I guess you can polish a turd and cover it with electronics but it's still a turd underneath. (no offence intended)
Saddo, set of R&G heated grips are £40, a proper HM QS which is far better than the BMW one by all accounts is £450 - £500 - add them and you will find bike feels very different. I've not ridden a 're-geared' blade but told again it really sharpens up the responses on the road as you seldom need to go 150+
gearing on my blade means it has 152 mph top end according to gear commander website.... as you say.. you rarely need more back to bmw took the same '12 bike out this morning for a little over an hour ... this time without the limiter fuel light came on after only a couple of miles... so had to put some petrol in the tank.. the least i could do.... ... would of been nice if the rev light was changed to suit the new rev limit ... it was still set to come on at 7500.. so had to waste some time focusing on the revs to avoid hitting the rev limit the engine is very good... (i think we all knew that) at speed it doesn't feel as stable as my blade (high speed test on a private road) .. but i'm sure this could be sorted with some tweaking ... (high speed compression on the rear was too hard too) was even more impressed with the brakes during this test.. tested the abs a couple of times... (especially like the fact the rear only does the rear... don't like the linked system on honda's abs) slipper clutch worked well throttle roll off is great and seems to allow you to roll into bends with ease.. roll off needing no thinking about tried wet and sport mode very briefy (2 minutes)... these modes turned the engine into a steaming turd... understand why they are there ... but anyone buying a 1000cc bike should have enough throttle control to not require these two modes changing down at higher revs approaching bends didn't have the same harsh clutch lever movement i experience when the revs were limited.. (still a little movement.. but much improved) handles slow corners better than my blade .. (just less effort) got back to the dealers with the 0 miles remaining on the petrol gauge (opps) what struck me is how easy the bike was to ride quickly walked back into the dealers... pretty much decided its the bike for me got offered 3400 for my hrc coloured rr4 (blade now completely standard... and in tip top condition... only refitted the standard can last night... which was a bitch compared with the arrows slipon i took off) against a 11 plate sport model with one owner (2800 miles... only 100 miles between the last two services.. 1 year apart... new rear tyre ... everything completely standard) for 9750 .. then i got back on the blade .. and the blade is still pretty amazing to be fair ... going to see how i feel after sundays rideout on the blade
ANother thought, an RR4 to RR8 is quite a step up in Honda tech. Even the RR4 to RR6 was quite a change. Have you considered finding a c. £6000 RR8 / RR9 bike and selling the RR4 for around £4,000 - £2,000 is much less of a 'cost to change' than the £6350 BMW need to get you onto the S1000rr Some of that £6350 could be spent on a QS and finding a 2012 rear shock for the RR8 blade ? (about £200 - £250 for the rear shock)
