This is my dilemma Having had my Blade for over 4 years now from new, it's been 4 years of fun, fun fun faultless fun on track and touring europe. Ever winter it hibernates and when I get it out in the spring I remember why I love the blade. But this year I was hoping for a change and has my heart set on a new R1. But today I was talking to a very well informed chap when taking the bike in for a service, MOT etc...He works with many bike magazines and knows many of the bike journalists. I asked him what he thought about the new R1 and his reply, To early to tell until he hears more and gets one in the shop to have a good look at. But he did say "it was going to be a race bike for the road and very different from my blade" In sorts he also mentioned about waiting for the new blade and said it won't be until 2017. I asked nothing new next year. Nope should be 2017. Not sure what he know's i don't but must be aware of something people are talking about. Not sure I want to change from something so different from the blade as I love it. Plus my hips and legs after so many op's won't have much fun on a race bike i'm using all summer. So having a word with the wife. Her suggestion (And she never suggest things like this much). Wait until the next blade. Keep my 11 plate Repsol. Then if I like and want the new blade to buy one and keep the 11 plate solely for track. RESULT. god I love my toys and was hoping to change this year but having the kit car and GT86. Do I really need a Track blade and new one once it does arrive. Fingers crossed in the next 2 years. YES I do. so for now I intend to test ride in the summer the new R1. see how i get on but most likely will be keeping the Blade and hoping to get a new one once out. Hope it's worth the wait
My Repsol is 3 years old this summer and I thought about changing it, having had 3 blades now I thought about the new BMW and then I thought about what I would need to spend to change what essentially is still a new bike to me. I'm going to stick this year and perhaps invest in a cheap track bike. I would need 5-7 grand to change to something worth changing for and that's just a waste of money if I think with my head.
I'd wait the year till the blade came out, and then test ride both back to back. It will also get any faults (if there are any) addressed on the R1 by then.
Like all of us I love new things. And want a new bike but I don't want to jump and get a bike i'm not has happy with as I am with my Blade. Plus the wife saying keep the bike 2 more years turn into a track bike and buy a new blade Can't say more than OK. will do
I am still waiting for the new blade, only been waiting years now!! But it will be good knowing that Honda have a big fight on their hands with the competition! I will also keep my blade as it performs equally well against all the new stuff already out there, and let's be honest not many people can explore the differences between a new Pani and my old blade!!!
ONE BIG reason for wanting a blade would be that I would get HUGE amount of greff off you lot beina admin of a Honda Blade site turning up with a R1 no matter how good they are
It would be strange of Honda if they broke their 4 year cycle on the blade, especially with a new R1, BMW, Kawasaki and others out this year. They will be desperate for a new Blade next year.
New year, same story. Am sure Honda will eventually bring out a new blade, but as I don't fancy asphyxiation I won't be holding my breath.
It's a hard decision, my fear was that it may not be a four cylinder (Which I love) and the price, there's not many of the new one litre bikes that are not in the £14 - £15k mark and I feel the new blade will be in the same price bracket, maybe even more. The 2015 blade is still good value at £12k and the Gixxer at a little less.
Not a bad wife then, like mine, when I was looking for a blade, looked at a HRC as couldn't afford a Repsol but she said get what you really want or you will regret it. So now I have a Repsol.
The 14 year bike has 2 sets of revisions over your 11 plate one, the better suspension from 2012 and then the improved engine for 2014 I would find a used 14 or 15 model year bike and a bet the cost to change won't be too bad and it will keep you going to the 'all new' blade in 2017 Plus things like your QS will fit, and if you don't have a one treat yourself to one
If it was me id be saying good bye blade and hello R1, 2 years is along time to wait for a bike to come along and none of us are getting any younger !! Yes the R1 is going to be a race bike for the road much like an rsv4 and a few other bikes, but having been lucky enough to own an rsv4 in the pass I have to say it is without doubt the most comfortable sports bike i have ever ridden. When the new blade does come along Honda will have changed the bike so much compared to what it is now, I don't think it will be as familiar as you think it would be.
If you've got 2010/11 blade then 2015 blade is pretty much the same bike. I would wait for the new one. You can always get the older one if you don't like the new one. Personally I think getting attached to brand is not the best thing to do, because you miss out on better stuff.
Having had nearly three years riding my 2011 blade and now having the 2015 blade, I think I can give an initial impression. 1. The obvious differences - The fairings are much better visually, the nose is sharper, the side fairings are much better, with trims along the trailing edges that just finish it off better. 2. Dash...... Way better, easier to read and at last a gear indicator for those moments when your coming up quick on a roundabout and lost track of what gear your in. More useful than I gave it credit for....... LOL. 3. Pegs are further back, I'm not too tall and I noticed it straight away, my legs felt more stretched out. Probably a taller rider would think of it as an improvement, I prefer the 2011 position. 4. Clip On's........ Slight change in height and angle, I honestly didn't notice it, but there is a difference, but I tend to sit more upright. 5. Biggest Improvement, the suspension, this is definitely noticeable from my old 2011, much plusher, but seem to react to bumps much better, this is the best update without any doubt. 6. Engine, Can't really comment on this yet as I'm running the bike in and short shifting at 6k. But seems a little smoother a low rpm. 7. Prior to my old 2011 bike, I was a Kawasaki rider and loved them. But the Honda's build quality is much better and hence me sticking with the blade. But I agree, you should at least test ride the others, especially the BMW & R1, but you'll have to have a few more thousand in the bank than you would for the blade. It's just how much your willing to spend for a nice toy. 8. When you look at the prices of the latest 1ltr bikes, they're quickly approaching the £15k mark and some are already over that, I just wasn't willing to spend that on a weekend toy. That's what I paid for my Audi S4....... and to me is too much to pay for a toy. Everyone has their favourites and everyone has their preferences....... Handling, Looks, Acceleration, Colour, Brand, Country of Origin.......... Go with what YOU want, not what people tell you to want.
Hopefully later this year my next is gonna be the Aprilia RSV4 Factory ! Don't panic tho and start shunning me, i'm gonna hold onto the blade forever !
I remember seeing you on your knees, bowing down to the RSV at the show...... LOL. It is a great bike, no doubt about it.
