With all the excitement of the SP blade its easy to overlook the 2014 Bike which has the following changes over the 2013 on for very little price change (list prices anyway) Taken from Honda's web site CBR500R | Supersports | Motorcycles | Honda (UK) Is anyone tempted by one of these to replace their current bike - for me the new suspension plus these changes while keeping price 'sane' makes it look a more tempting option - esp if / when the 3 / 4 year 0% offer comes available. Get the wheels painted gold on the tri-colour one will make it look ace For 2014 it is once again evolution for the CBR1000RR - with an additional, new direction. Its 999.8cc, 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine's has received extensive work, with Honda's engineers focusing on the cylinder head - re-shaping the inlet and exhaust ports and polishing the combustion chambers 'gas-flow' to improve efficiency. This has effectively improved both the quality and quantity of airflow at high rpm when air resistance becomes much greater; increasing combustion efficiency and outright power. The valve seats have also been revised to match the cylinder head work and the intake funnels are now 'slash cut', a design used in WSB. The engine now makes more power and revs higher, and harder for longer. Peak power of 133kW - up 2kW - arrives at 12,250rpm; torque is improved in the 4-6,000rpm area peaking with 114Nm delivered at 10,500rpm. As ever, the all-round usability of such a potent engine - especially throttle control at partial openings - has been a principal factor for Honda's engineers. Key is the Programmed Dual Sequential Fuel Injection system (PGM-DSFI). Remapped to match the revised cylinder head and updated power and torque output, PGM-DSFI delivers precise fuelling and an accessible power delivery, especially at low speeds and low rpm, where response is particularly refined, predictable and progressive. The MotoGP-derived slipper clutch ensures full power transmission together with ultra-smooth gear shifting and light feel at the lever. In the critical hard braking, back-shifting corner-entry phase it decreases the torque passed from engine to the rear wheel, reducing the chance of traction loss and increasing stability. The aluminium gull-wing swingarm is deliberately long. It operates through MotoGP-derived Unit Pro-Link rear suspension to deliver outstanding traction and rider feedback. In response to customer feedback, the 2014 CBR1000RR riding position has been made more aggressive. The foot pegs are set 10mm further back, and the handlebars made wider, and brought 1 degree lower and 5 degrees forward compared to the previous model. A new compact car-style 'wave' design ignition key offers improved security and greatly reduces the chance of breakage. Also new is the fuel tank cap - it uses an improved breather design for better venting. The CBR1000RR uses multi-function LCD instrumentation with a cockpit display dominated by the digital bar-type linear tachometer that scrolls left to right as engine speed increases. Beneath this are the main numerical readouts: gear position, coolant temperature, speedometer, clock/lap time, trip/fuel efficiency/fuel consumption and odometer/numerical tachometer. At the bottom of the display are lights for headlight high beam, neutral and indicators.
My dealer is lending me one in a few weeks to try and see how I find it over my current one - he knows I'm also looking / considering a new Z1000SX which Honda have nothing to match for the money (£10.5k with ABS and Paniers)
I was going to get one from Dobles, but still in negative equity on my current finance. So monthly payments went up...that was never gonna happen. Shame really because i was using as a way to update and get rid of ABS for ease of future servicing.
I hadn't kept up to date with the 14 my changes..... Think I'll give it a try and see if it's noticeably different.
Same here - think everyone looked / focused on the SP without seeing the above - was only when my dealer pointed it all out I thought 'that's worth looking at' - oh and its got the higher / race screen as standard too!
Yes, it was easy to miss the fact that Honda had introduced a standard 2014 model. All the focus was upon the SP. In fact the Honda website is in a bit of a muddle about it too. If you see a Repsol bike when you look at the 2014 Fireblade model it is really showing a 600RR.
I noticed that to kevin, i wouldn't want them to put that 600rr headlight on the blade, that looks awful
My 14 model blade was delivered yesterday. Here she is in all her glory!! All I need now is some decent weather.
It is on a 63 plate. I had paid a deposit on a 13my Repsol with ABS but decided against that with all of the issues with the brakes that I have heard about and the cost of servicing them. The garage managed to get me this one for £11k, I thought that was reasonable so went for it. So far only the tail tidy fitted but will be looking to make a few minor mods over the next 6 months or so. Next up will be a hugger, when I find one I like, and some levers. My main effort at the min though is to run her in and scrub those qualifiers in.
Al There are quite a few heavily discounted VFR1200s about looks like honda are being forced to offer discounts in franchised dealers now.
See the thing is I would really like a 2014 Blade but at the same time there really is nothing wrong with my 09 model ok I don't have ABS but I've just put the 2013 wheels on it which has vastly improved the look of it and not to mention cost me a pretty penny. I would also want to transfer all my goodies across to the new model but I just don't know about getting something on Finance again when I own my 09 Blade out right. I think it relates to the age old saying if it ain't broke don't fix it maybe I'll hang on to it for another year and see what they offer in 2015. Regarding the ABS models though I would like to try one just because I ride all year round and in all weather so would be nice to have I think especially in the greasy depths of winter when drizzle and frost mix.