Hello everyone, I'm Antoine, 37, french dude. Please bear with me as I skip the mandatory introduction post for now, I'm quite angry and confused at the moment. I'm looking for some point of views to take me out of my misery (in a positive way), cuz it hurts. I just did 1800 kilometers to buy a second hand 2019 fireblade in pristine condition. Back at home, as I dive into the setup I realize it does not have wheelie control tweaks; also the manual reads ©2016 Honda motors. Oh well, it's a 2017 model first sold and immatriculated in 2019 then. Quite pissed. Traction control has been a godsend for me more often than not, and I was really sold on the last improvements on the 2019 model. I don't care about wheelies and the less refined abs is also not a deal breaker, but I wanted the best TC available on this bike. I'm both waiting for the seller's reply to my unfortunate discovery and weighing my legal options (probably slim). Also, another part of me wants to say f* it, the bike is immaculate, save yourself the hassle and ride it, you'll love it anyway. Can I have your thoughts on this ?
Hi and welcome. First question is how do you know it is a 2017 model, have you checked the VIN? Is it RA-H? I was holding out for a 2018 (RA-J) model myself (having test ridden one), but a immaculate 2017 reg bike came up and I couldn't say no. Only 360 miles on it from new. No regrets.. it rides beautifully. It still has some pretty advanced electronics. Wondering.. how do you ride that it activates the TC all the time? Perhaps I'm just smooth with my bike, but I never seem to provoke it.
Hello Saqib, yes the model number states CBR1000RAH 2ED/FIREBLADE. The VIN is JH2SC77A7HK001063. RAH stands for 2017 then ? Yes I'll probably love it anyway ! I can't help but feel cheated and bitter though. Thanks for your answer.
Yes RA-H is 2017. Also the 10th digit in the VIN is a 'H', which denotes 2017. I would be annoyed too. I would try and return the bike. The phrase 'buyer beware' comes to mind though.. If they do not accept the return.. well it is still a beautiful bike. Just enjoy it. It is still 2019, and worth more than if it were registered in 2017. in my opinion though.
Welcome matey to the forum, yep it’s a pisser when you don’t get what you think, but eh, traction control and wheelie control, has always been down to your right hand, so if your happy with the bike just revert to the old fashioned stuff, seems to have worked pretty well ever since they invented motorbikes That said back the 70s did flip a GT250 when I thought I was the next Kenny Roberts and got a bit loose with the right hand traction and wheelie control device
Hey I used to be on the same team when ABS were clunky invasive pieces of *, but since I had a 1290 KTM I became an electro-zealot. Those things just works ! So I called the seller, the shop and it's boss. The seller appears to be genuinely honest, just not the type of guy that likes to dive into settings. The shop told me what I believe to be the truth (yep it's 2017, yep it's been around for awhile), the boss on the other end seems shady, contradicting various claims made by both the seller and his shop, and telling me I still made a good deal for a 2017, so it's ok. What a gentleman, I must give him another call tomorow for further developments. For the record it's Arc Motos Service in Orange, France. I don't think I have the will to get into a judiciary mindf* with him, I don't even know if there is a legal ground for that, I'm contemplating the idea of biting the bullet. Thanks for your kind replies, really helped to vent the frustration out.
If you've gone to buy the bike thinking it was a 2019 knowing beforehand that the 2019 bike had improved electronics then if it were me I'd want my money back. Would have been a bit easier to swallow if you had no idea beforehand the electronics were different between the years. In the UK you'd have 30 days to reject it for a full refund if you've been misled into thinking it was a 2019 I think.
I think I'll make up my mind tomorrow after another call to the seller and the shop boss. Do you think the 2019 traction control might do a better job at saving my butt on twisty wet little roads than the 2017 ? It's really all that matter to me. I heard the 2017 TC might be late and brutal and 2019 corrected that. I don't intent to go on track for now, but I usually ride at a quite fast pace on road once I've figured how each bike works. Thanks again for your input.
I am not aware the traction control was improved but could be wrong? I believe for the 2019 bike they just split the wheelie and traction into 2 separate controls so you could adjust each individually. I have a 2018 ( so my TC and Wheelie are connected) and I think I keep it on level 3 and very very rarely does the TC flash on the roads. The front wheel comes up under acceleration and just stays there about a foot off the ground and I can't genuinely feel any electronics kicking in. Maybe the anti wheel does but I don't feel it. Linked or not I think its pretty good and quite sophisticated
I have a 2017 bike, and similar to Paul.. I never feel the electronics kicking in at all. They seem to work in the background, and pull the front wheel down when needed. I never see the TC light. Its such a well sorted chassis though. Feels very planted to me (on the road at least).
Epilogue: Arc Motos Service lies through his teeth and takes me for a fool, arguing that 2017 and 2019 models are the same, that no 2019 models where sold in France, and insists that I still made a good deal so it's ok. I need the bike right now to go to work, and I won't get into a tedious tripartite legal battle accros the country. Fuck them, they won.
Dont let it get to you. Slag the dealer off on social media and become an irritant to them but at the end of the day you have a really good bike that will deliver and you will learn to love it. Its just a shame they have taken the shine off your new purchase . Focus on the good stuff and get some pics posted !!
The first area of contention is was the bike clearly advertised as 2017 model registered in 2019? If yes, then you maybe did not pay full attention to the little prints and enjoy the bike you have. If no, then you can return the bike for refund under "goods descriptions act" (or similar legislation in France) and take legal actions if refused. I would bet my bottom dollar that there would be a lot of visual & hidden difference between the 2 year bikes. You should be able to find details launch & ride test reports on both models on the internet. I think from 2016~ honda started incorporating fly by wire and traction control. The latter beeing a bit of a sour point specially if you changed the rear tyre size. Knowing honda, they had a lot of catching up to do and would have fine tuned their 2016/17 models. Nevertheless as mentioned by other, the 2017 is a great bike for you to enjoy
It was advertised as 2019 all the way by the seller, and I didn't care to learn and spot the subtle visual differences between 17/18 and 19 (I'm an expert on that matter now, if you have any question). I still think he was honest and really believed he bought a 2019. The dealership on the other was all lies and manipulation from the get go. It's a hard pill to swallow, admitting you bent over and moved on, but I can't afford several months of bullshit and paperwork in my life right now, I just wanna ride and go to work. I'll enjoy the bike for sure once I'll figured it out
You were ripped off. Simple as that. 2019 is simple to distinguish from a 2017 or 18. Turn the bike on - the dash will include the W wheelie control level symbol. It is front and center. Cannot be missed.
Although, to be fair you do share partial blame for not knowing the details of the product you were buying. But overall the dealer did rip you.
