That's a really good review. Thanks for linking. Confirms what I thought, that the old model is a better road bike. And that comes from a 2 stroke man
I think any criticism given to it as a road bike are probably fair. From the very off, the spec sheets the press launch every reviewer in the world told us all that this was a track weapon not a top road bike. Fair enough. If your at the front of the fast group on track this is probably your wet dreams come true. Me usually comfortable at the sharp end of the middle group or at the back to middle of the fast group arent going to go any faster on this bike. The debate though is does the V4 , bmw etc offer a better alternative on the road? I'm not sure as I think the v4 jobs are just as much a handful on the road maybe the gixxer is best as a pure road machine but the build finish is a bit poor Suppose the debate will continue for many months to come.....
BMW is the best option imho. As much as I dislike their crap reliability, for £15k for the base model, I really don't see the Honda as a realistic option.
⁹ Problem with a base model is just that. It's the base model and I would always think I wish I had got the top spec model. (I'm a little bit if a snob I suppose) If I were changing today...I really dont know what I would do.....probably keep what i have. Aprillia...too focussed and crap Italian build Honda..way too focused for me BMW.....nice...but expensive....and I didnt really get on it with it on a test ride Ducati.....lovely...but it's a ducati so no thanks I like my bikes to work Yamaha.....just ugly Suzuki.....poor fit and finish but nice engineering Kawasaki......needs a proper update and I had 2 zx10r before my blade so got the tee shirt So yeah I'll just keep what I got for now. That said I think the the 2020 Cbr is awesome just not for me and I'm sure many people will LOVE it
Tin foil hat time again folks: A lot of interest around the new CBR, so they use it to attract you to watch a vid - which tries to sell you the BMW ! Tricky blighters
Yes I totally agree and the GFV figure is the real slap in your face. Even worse on this one at a £24000 ticket price. That’s why no one else will get mine as a bargain, at least on my deal I had the 0% on my side, 12 months time it will be mine no matter what. Hindsight, live and learn, never again, moment of madness all spinning around in my head but my 2018 sp1 is a cracking motorcycle to own in the end.
Couldn't agree more. I had an RR6 I had from new. Chopped it in for the 17 blade. Yeah it is better, but not massively so. Insurance went up massively, a load of debt (albeit at 0%). Never again.
Yes, that's probably the thing that is putting me off the most - insurance costs. I went from a CBR600RR (14-plate) to the RA-H blade and my insurance (best I could find) doubled to around £800+ as I normally commute into central London 5 days/week. I had a tracker installed but the insurance company didn't care.. So I can't imagine insurance, for me at least, would be less than £1200 for 8,000 miles per year including commuting into central London (7 years no claims) for the new blade. You might think I'm mad commuting on a blade, but I find they're actually really good to filtering between traffic which is pretty much 90% of my 25 mile journey, particularly as the mirrors / bars are low enough to avoid most cars & van's wing mirrors. I wonder if the more aggressive riding position would make this just too extreme to commute on.. If only I had enough cash for a weekend-only bike..
Having ridden one there's no way you would commute on it.....it's a out the garage out for a blast fast A roads then back again....when I was heading back to the dealers into a bit of traffic it hates it ...London woukd be a nightmare on it...
I have to say i find my 2018 SP1 one of the comfiest sports bikes i have had, more room than the 2012 i owned and the ZX10R’s i have owned. Its always been a benefit of a Blade. That does not see to be the case now from the amount of comments on its ergonomics. I have done 300 miles on Scottish twisties and came back fresh as a daisy and i am a long way from being a spring chicken.
I’d be amazed if you can insure a 20k plus bike doing 8 k a year including commuting anywhere near London for anywhere near 2 grand? But i stand to be corrected mate
I think my 2018 cbr is way smaller than the 2 zx10rs I had and not just a little bit either I mean way smaller. I'm only 5 ft 8 and I find the honda cramped in comparison. It's a faster road bike for me but it is definitely less comfortable with more wrist pressure and more cramped knees with the higher pegs. I appreciate comfort is an individual thing but I personally wouldnt say it was more roomy than the zx10r. Tbh I think the gixxer is prob the roomiest and easiest to get on with but unfortunately its a gixxer
Maybe i am getting more flexible with old age or my memory is failing me, i am 6 foot, long legs too but somehow the SP fits me better.
That's where the BMW wins it is a very comfortable bike when I had a spin on one plenty of leg room just like the K5 GSXR if anyone had one of them....looking forward to see what Kawasaki do next year new R1 will be 2022
Run out to Bala as new rear seat cowling fitted and obviously had to test the handling after such a weight reduction!!
