First of all hello to everyone! I'm from Pakistan & I'm about to buy a fireblade for myself and have the following two choices; either a 2009 U.K spec or a 2010 U.S spec one. They're both stock & mileage is also pretty much the same for both. The U.S one is slightly more expensive but not by much around $600 or so. I know that the U.S spec bikes have restricted ECU's with the top end performance dropping off. Which means i'll have to get a Z-bomb/IRC & get the ECU flashed to gain it back. The U.K models are obviously unrestricted so no need to get the ECU flashed. Another difference is in the HP figures, the 09 U.S blade has around 150hp & the U.K one 163hp, so 13hp is quite a big difference. Even if i get a Z-bomb/IRC it will still make less HP than the U.K one. My source for the UK HP figures is the MCN shootout in case you're wondering: http://www.1000rr.net/forums/attachm...5&d=1238267670 So i don't know i'm confused, i'm leaning towards the UK spec one as i won't need to do any mods to get rid of the restrictions in the ECU & also the extra HP couldn't hurt. Which one would you guys suggest? Here are the color schemes for both: UK 09: U.S 2010:
I like both, but as you have pointed out the uk will give you more power and you won't have to she'll out on the bomb etc welcome to the forum
I have had 3 brand new bikes from the u.s which I bought from taz motorcycles in Peterborough! All three where full power the same as the uk bikes! Had bikes dyno'd so I know they where full power! So is the reduced power a new thing for the u.s? The u.s bikes however did have a different wiring harness!! Found this out from a friend who crashed his u.s GSXR600 and the uk switch gear wouldn't plug into the u.s bike! Thanks Gary
I,m not sure about this guys but dont the Yanks measure in EN and us over the pond measure in DIN ??,.......................abit like the US gallon is smaller than the UK gallon. I,ll collect my hat n coat as I leave!
finding it strange there is a pic the first one, of a blade in the lounge, another bike in there also? strange way to sell a bike? I would pick the UK one myself
I guess it depends, the regulations got stricter from 2009 so maybe older bikes weren't affected as much. I'm pretty certain there is a difference though as i've ridden a new U.S spec Z1000 & a U.K spec Z1000 & i could certainly tell the difference. @ Remal, Hehe, that's not a lounge, it's an extremely tiny showroom! Wait i'll post another pic.
I'm wondering if a U.S bike with a Z-bomb will make the same power as a stock U.K bike? Also another deciding factor could be whether 09's are more susceptible to oil-burning issues, or was that only with the 08's?
californian bikes are restricted big time, all other US models differ only in fuelling, the looms are generally different because the us bikes dont run HISS, the easy way to de-hiss a uk/eu bike is to run US ECU's with slight loom mods.
As far as I know they are the same motor spec other than the IRC. They also have a fuel Evap tank unlike the UK bikes and reflectors all round, thats it as far as I am aware.
After doing some more research I'm leaning towards the 10 now. Unfortunately there are no race tracks here so I'll only use it as a weekend ride on the streets or the occasional twisties. So I guess the little HP difference after the z-bomb will hardly be noticeable on the street. Plus there's less chance of it being an oil burner. So 10's making more sense now. Here's the 2010:
So finally picked it up today! Took it out for a short run today, it's an amazing bike in it's stock form. So must be killer once i add on a z-bomb & slip-on!
Does anyone know if these power restrictions affect the 05 model blade as I have seen one for sale here in Ireland it has reflectors on the side of the forks and on the tail . This is said to be a give away for a U.S.A model I would like to know the facts before I contact the seller cheers.
