Went to test ride a CBR650F, all went to pot when I asked to have a go on the blade

i currently ride an r6 , time to change so decided to go sensible as I commute into London on it every day. Decided a CBR650F would do the trick as it’s 70m a day. Decided to try the blade just for laughs. The rest is history.... currently looking for a red anniversary model 2012 onwards. The big debate is whether I should get abs or not. Been doing a bit of reading and would welcome any advice on abs or not. If yes, any particular year onwards to go for? Help and advise greatly appreciated

 

Get the blade, you won't be disappointed. As for ABS, well, I'll let those with stories tell them.

 

There's currently a thread running with this very query. Well worth checking out. https://www.1000rr.co.uk/threads/abs-or-not.36042/#post-470354

 

ABS my friend you just lit the fuse now wait for the carnage ..

BY the way defo no abs if it wasnt for that i would still have my 16 plate

 

The blade is awesome, I've got a 15 plate non-abs so can't offer any horror stories of the lever coming back to the bar...but going by the many tales on here and the main ABS thread I'd say avoid it.

Best of luck with it all

 

You will be assimilated...

 

I personally wouldn't and didn't go for ABS when i switched to my Blade, I know some folks haven't had any problems but !

 

The avatar is of a non-abs 2012. The bike was advertised as being abs, which is exactly what I thought I wanted. Be careful what you wish for... I now know how lucky I was. I'm sure if it had been a car it would have (or should have) rivalled the VW scandal...

 

Another non ABS here, 2013. Some very cost effective mods to make the brakes shit hot.

 

just picked mine up today
go for the blade
only thing I didn`t like was the service it had(oil over filled) and the clean it was suppose to have( stevie wonder)

 

wow, there's certainly a lot of disgruntled abs owners here. From what I can make out. there are thousands of blades out and I would say the majority are fine, however there obviously is a small %l of faulty units floating about. Reading through all the threads, taking into account the maintenance cost and for piece of mind, I think i will go for the non abs version.

 

Read the post on here about abs . More than a small % bearing in mind the amount of blades that are abs versions it will be a fair percentage. And when it comes to brakes 1% is too many especially when Honda snivelled away from it

 

got a 2012 anniversary edition non abs,no problem once you realise the rear brake is as good as the ashtray on the handle bars

 

totally different bikes & use.
For me, I think for all year commuting the CBF would be far better. For recreational, fun and light commuting, the CBR is far better.
I seriously looked at the CBR 600F as a second bike but dragged my feet for too long till it got superseeded by the 650 which is heavier and has less power

BTW, wouldn't disabelling the ABS have an impact on any insurance claim not to mention breaking of the law (based on removing a standard safety issue on the bike)? Just wondering

 

I have a 12 regd. Blade with ABS thinking it might save me if I messed up whfn riding. I bought it before reading the forum comments. The bike's done 10k miles without any bum twitching or reported lever to the bar moments and I've not paid the £400 to have it serviced neither. I'm very happy with the ABS.

 

I just picked up a red 2012 anniversary blade, non abs. Very pleased with it, a lot sharper and not as comfy as my 2014 r6, but so much more power.
I had spent almost a month trying to convince myself to get something sensible and more appropriate for commuting but only an hour to convince myself to buy a blade, this is what happens when you buy with your heart rather than your head

 

Well done matey, its seriously is a top commuter bike, tourer, track blast and fun days. Enjoy it.

Having had 7 over the last 20 odd years and done all the above, trust me you wont regret the decision.
Plus the 2012 to 2016 is a cracking package, particularly if you don't want all the electronics of the current superbikes, and it does not lose out for not having them.

I honestly believe its the best all round 1litre Superbike ever made, sure there are better track tools that run rings around it out of the box, but for a day to day bike, nothing has beat it yet.....................pull pin wait for explosion............

I am over the 250K mile mark on Blades and have loved nearly every minute of riding one. Except for................nah not going over that issue

 

Welcome flakey. You won’t be disappointed glad to see u got the right year and colour (imo)

 

Here's my bike filling up at the service station, £1.49 per liter !!! Rode 170 mile home with the exhaust in my ruck sack, needless to say, it was exhausting....

 

I see what you did there.