Just thinking is the current Blade going to be a future classic / cult bike ? Plenty of heritage in the fireblade name but in a biking world that is going tech gadget mad is the current bike the last and best analogue superbike ? As the biking world goes digital mad with traction control, anti wheelie, semi active suspension etc....are we riding the last great rider aid free superbike ?????? Which imo is all the better for it.
Nice Sentiments Blade ,but sorry no You only have to go back a little ..SP1 and say the Suzuki TL ect to get that image.
Can not see it really with any of the modern mass produced bikes, maybe some of the rather exotic stuff or the very expensive stuff that is desired by all but totally unafordable, given the Blades mass market appeal and the seemingly large numbers out there (with them lasting decades into the future) i can not really seem them gaining a cult status.
Can some some of the colour schemes becoming classics - like the 2008 white and black. Not the burgandy , not the yellow brogan ones which are burgandy re-painted after they would not sell. Repsols sold in too many years think the 2009 HRC was quite flash with its gold wheels. the 2012 White / WSB paint job possibly as its a high spec paint being pearl white metallic
I definitely agree BladeRR8. People forget it's overall quality and engineering and people are being blinded by the visible gizmos on show elsewhere.
I love my burgundy/candy/cherry/old person's curtain's red (with some black instead). I mean what other bike comes in such a fine colour? *cough* Deauville. It's a street sleeper and a copper cojoler.
I think the very limited genuine Honda TT legends reps could become desirable in the future. What was it 5 they did in total.
I think all the reasons above, brilliant and correct as they are, are only viable from our, meaning FireBlade owners perspectives. To the great unwashed, the blade will be remembered as the instigator of the lightweight, over engined, decent handling sports bike genre. In 1992 there were very, very few good ones. Now there really isn't a bad one and that's down to everybody else fighting to match and outdo that very first line in the sand. So, if the FireBlade is remembered as a classic at all, it will be that very first model that will be in the history books. And I agree with JM1. I think the Candy red and black schem is shit hot.
I m not convinced myself but thought might be a good conversation if nothing else. I was nt suggesting Blades in general just the 08 model onwards as a modern classic like the gixer k5. Every new bike has more and more rider aids which as they grow in sosphication you could argue riders get less and less skillful therefore will a potential market be created for people who want the best riders bike produced before rider aids tuck over control.
Just a thought and perhaps a little bios as I'm a dub nut. How many Golf GTi's have been sold over the years and at the time were they best car of their era? Went to many a Vw show over the years were there's shit loads more Interest than at an equivalent Porsche show. One one the greatest classic cars is one of the most mass produced and probably slowest (original beetle) The point I'm making is a true classic isn't about being the best, it's about the impression it's left on peoples life's and the following it gathers.
Alblade just to let you know the 2009 Hrc the white is pearl sunbeam white these are true hrc coloured bikes all the rest are just known as tri-colour the bikes where special editions
I think if people are road racing/TT fiends they might remember it for what Hutchinson, McGuinness, Plater and the gang did with it. It's not too shabby round Suzuka either. In 20 years time I don't think it'll be looked back to with anything like the affection that the 1992 bike has/will have. I think to good-looking aficionados like ourselves it will be remembered as a class act. Amazing race bike. Peerless road bike. An honour to own one.
TBH I was thinking it might be a classic as it was the last bike with out all the rider aids and thats why it might be remembered as a cult bike i.e a riders bike for people who don't want a bike with all the rider aids and isntead want the best bike before the digitial era took over.