I had planned on test riding the standard Blade in the Spring to see if Honda could tempt me to Blade no.9. At these prices there's no way I'd entertain it. I will go and test ride the Ducati V2, as 150-160bhp and £15k looks like a sweet spot to me for a bike to be used on the road. I'd even consider picking up a 12/18 month old RSV4 if I was to go for another litre bike. Knowing the guys well down at my local Honda dealer I feel a bit sorry for them. No doubt Honda UK will expect them to stock these, at least a couple at a time, and they'll end up bearing the brunt of poor sales and heavy discounts. Fortunately they also sell Triumphs.
Position looks loads more aggressive I can feel my back aching from here but guess it's more track orientated
great pictures Raphael, obviously the question that’s on everyone’s lip is, Will the chain guards still fit
It looks great, but it has to win races. It has to beat BMW and Ducati at the races. Simple as that. It will look a very different bike with a BSB, WSBK or a TT crown than it does now . It needs a crown to give it prestige - then it will sell like hot cakes.
Do we know if the SP is a mass production model or just a limited run for homologation? Given the identical top end specs I suspect the former. That Black looks abs Bad Ass btw!!
Wow! A special guest appearance from DF. I'm calling into your local dealer (B) on the way home from NEC on Tues. I couldn't see the 2020 as a bike for you as you're more practical than those who would just drop their money on the sales desk. Agree that Triumph has some good stock at the moment; and at quite reasonable prices. Cheers!!
It's mass-production. And that's half the problem with the price. It's too high for a non-exclusive bike. We paid the same RRP for our SP2s and got a heap of improvements over the base model, not just Ohlins, Brembos and QS. The 'homologation' components will be signed off from the production model.
I'm thinking on whether to keep the Street for another summer and the Ducati coming in at £15k is tempting considering the minimal commuting use it'd get. Richard Kimberley is a great guy if you pop in. I've found the dealers tend to be kept in the dark as much as the general public around new releases though.
I wouldn’t say cramped mate but very much on top of it with a reach to the bars, it felt a lot more race bike than road bike if that makes any sense?
Couldn't disagree more. Why do you think it makes a big difference how the race bike performs? Sure some people will buy because of race wins (you for instance). But the vast majority won't....especially not at those prices.
I am personally happy that it wont fit me and its too expensive, of course the honest reason is that as i said before i won’t accept taking such a lose on a bike ever again in such a short period, but in some ways that’s enabled me to bond even more with my 2018 SP, outside of the racing variant which is a different bike anyway, most people have loved the new blade when they have given it a chance, i certainly think its one of the best i have ridden and preferred it over my 2012 which high pegs crippled my hips. The SP i have chucked 300 miles at it and truly felt i could repeat it. We can all complain of the cost and the loss we new buyers suffer but the simple fact is that someone must buy the new bikes to feed the market only then can others can take advantage of the depreciation suffered by someone, So when someone does buy new they do it for the joy, the experience and the fact they luckily can and at that point the cost is irrelevant because they have made a decision to swap bits of paper for bits of metal and so the cycle starts for others as new becomes used and others can join the experience of owning and riding great bikes, however everyone has a limit, i feel i have hit mine and i am glad...... i hope its not a risk though that more might feel the same. We have enough threats to our hobby already without cost being one of them.
Cheers Mr '64. I'm feeling so much better now that I know I'm appreciated for feeding the market. Of course I agree wholeheartedly. And this will always be the cycle. As a side issue, I must admit that I've also 'fed the market' with a few depreciated (or is that unappreciated?) wives. So yes, there is always someone willing and able to accept our leftovers.
20k for a standard blade like some on here I had a 2014 HRC new for 10495 at the time got 7k on a trade in 4 yrs later ...price way way to much 3k at least above other brands....I will give it a year like when the sp came out then deals will kick in...now I will wash my sp as looks like I will be keeping it for a while pending test rides around March time ...20k gets you a low mileage v4s ...17K gets you aprilla RF...FFS...
Cheers, Raphael. This, as we know, is what happens with anything 'limited'. There will always be those (some would say 'suckers') who are prepared to pay over the odds for these things. Fully accept your point and it is amplified by the fact that Yamaha's base R1 is only one grand dearer, and a bike that offers so much more. However, the Triumph is supposedly something special, but only time will tell. Really gotta do something about those mirror stems though. Reminds me of a member (who coincidentally just this minute posted) making a comment about big ears!
