I have had both. They are both excellent in their own right, just 2 different approaches. For me I love the basicness of the blade but also loved the sheer grunt of the BMW. WOuld I buy another BMW. Yes if I had the money. However the Blade is ticking all the boxes for me atpresent so very happy
That is not what I am getting at, that is why I said two bikes the same. - BMW as a brand does nothing for me. I do not relate to it. If anything I see them as just another big corporate. I would not pay any extra to have a BMW. But Honda, as a brand has much more meaning to me.
I haven't riden either, and please correct me, but doesnt one have an electronics control pack and the other not? Strip the S1000 of its nanny protection and compare the two bikes, no? Isn't it like comparing a car with seat belts with one without? Which one would you take the greater risks in? If the S1000's electronics can be completely disconnected, if.. then how good is the bare bike? I doubt BM could teach Honda anything, just my guess.
On the subject of electronics (such as traction control), I have just finished reading Guy Martin's book "When You Dead, You Dead" and in particular what happened to him in the accident at the 2015 Ulster GP - where he broke his back: .............................................................................................................................. Page 811: " I reckon the bike's traction control had shut the throttle for me, when I'd have kept it [the rear tyre] sliding more. And when it shut off it gave the tyre a chance to grip again and caused the bike to buck me off over the highside." ....................................................................................................................................
Well sounds like its a good job my R1 has "Slide control" too then, which keeps a rear sliding when needed, also great for leaving black lines out of corners lol The new Blade will have all the electronics too, so I hear, does this mean you will NEVER buy a new Honda either
I would trust Honda, or Yamaha for that matter, but not BMW. I have not done any track racing, but it seems to me the surface of race tracks are much better than your average British road. Tracks are nice and smooth, and traction/slide control can be made to work very well. Now, on the imperfect British road, I would imagine it is a harder task for the traction control system to take in white lines, patches of poo, holes and all the other stuff found on the normal bumpy uneven roads - the suspension bumping up and down and all this stuff going on underneath the tyre which it reacts to - it does not predict where the white line ends or predict where the patch of poo begins - it just reacts as it happens. Now are you going to trust this box of electronics to do the thinking for you on the road ? At normal speed limit speeds you should probably be able to keep your eyes open and manage these things for yourself. If you are going over the speed limit and the bike electronics get it wrong and throw you off - then they will just say it is your fault for speeding and you will not have a legal hope in hell of arguing that the traction control was at fault. I am not against it, but just more careful about where I place my trust.
The BMW traction control systems are designed for the road and work very well. The problem you get is when riders think that they can ride like twats and the TC will stop them falling off. It doesn't, it just helps prevents lots of them. Fairly sure the modern TC systems would have stopped my crash as they would have stepped in as soon as the rear broke traction. By the time I realised it was too late. And this is only in respect of a 15 to 20 mph spill. Condition of road caught me out. I know for a fact the BMW S1000rr I had, it's TC would have stopped the rear spinning straight away. But I don't blame the blade for not having TC. I chose to buy a bike without it and I was unlucky. Buy the bike that you want. Doesn't matter who thinks what is better etc, doesn't matter that we will never get near the bikes limits. It's what makes you smile that counts. Whether that's a Honda C90 or a Goldwing. Honda will need to make the new Blade comparable to the competition in order to generate sales. That means TC, euro 4 compliant, semi active suspension etc
From Motorcycle Live Show website 2017 marks a special milestone in the history of Honda, when it will celebrate 25 years of Fireblade. Expect to be reminded of some of its most magical moments, to mix with the riders who have ridden CBR1000RR to victories again this year and to get a first look at Honda’s full 2017 supersport line-up
Honda Racing CORPERATION..... Just saying like. You don't get more corporate than the big H The first gen bm I rode on the road was better the more you turned the gizmo's off. Too intrusive IMO As for learning something off bm's..... Honda could do with learning how to build a stocker or TT bike.... Something sadly the bm is king of both right now The later electronics are something else. On track anyway as only place I've tried them. TC on my 2015 zx10 is awesome too, saved me two highside at Cadwell recently. Not even rode the very latest model which is meant to be epic to say least. Pal races hp4 and goes bloody well on it, but sometimes prefers his standard.... Strange hey Road bikes, not fussed tbh, like to think I'm capable enough to do with out. But if a bike has them, fair doos.... Give it a go. Can turn it off anyway if ya like. Each to their own. Be boring if we liked the same things. Anyone who says technology isn't good, clearly hasn't tried a quick shifter popping through gears cranked over and full throttle on track.... Makes me feel like a legend anyway! And anti wheelie isn't always such a bad thing
@ Jimbo Vills Nice Kawasaki, in very capable hands. The big four Japanese manufacturers are back. They are producing excellent bikes of all types, and BMW will find itself competing against all four Japanese manufacturers for market share. The Jap bikes are also very competitively priced - so far this year the Honda Africa Twin is the best selling bike in the UK and Europe** Also, in the sportsbike segment, there is a new Fireblade on the way, and equally importantly a new GSXR. This on top of the already excellent R1, R1M, ZX10R and Ducatis - for those who want to spend a bit more money. So how is any company going to react to this increased competition from from multiple producers ? My worry is that we, the public, will become the Beta testers as they hurry new products into market. That Honda has taken time to produce a comprehensive update of the Fireblade is a good thing - reassuring that, hopefully, they have got their sums right before giving it to the public. This is important, because people's lives are on the line. ....................................................................... Refs. **(Bike mag Oct 2016, Page 71).
Totally agree mate..... But now is no different to any other time as manufacturers update and release bikes to try and claim top spot. Competition improves the breed and all that. Honda have got to go the route of all the others to compete, just shows you how good the 08 blade was in its day as it's still a competitive and awesome road bike. Just can't wait for the new one. Sure it'll be fantastic.
I can't ride a 250 to its full potential, never mind a thou! All look great to me, and are way better than 99% of us on here. I want a Vespa after going to Sorrento the other week, with a man bag and a nice Italian suit and shades. Lovely jubbly.
